• HUNTING ATLAS AND HANDBOOK AVAILABLE
• ATTEND THE CUSTER STATE PARK BUFFALO ROUNDUP AND ARTS FESTIVAL
• APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR 2004 STATE PARK VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
• PHEASANTS SHOWING LITTLE EFFECT FROM WEST NILE VIRUS
• PROTECTING BAT ROOSTS IN THE BLACK HILLS
• WALK IN THE PARK PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FALL COLORS

HUNTING ATLAS AND HANDBOOK AVAILABLE

"South Dakota’s latest hunting atlas and handbook can be picked up at most GFP offices," said Communications Manager Chuck Schlueter. "Since the initial supply of hunting atlases are limited, we are asking hunters to only pick up one and to be patient as more arrive. We should have all of the atlases prior to the start of the grouse season."

The Hunting Handbook has the general laws and regulations that hunters need to know. It also has information on license requirements, seasons, shooting hours and more.

The South Dakota Hunting Atlas is a consolidated brochure of maps that display Walk-In Areas, state Game Production Areas (GPAs), federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), some School Lands and some Bureau of Land Management (BLM) properties.

ATTEND THE CUSTER STATE PARK BUFFALO ROUNDUP AND ARTS FESTIVAL

CUSTER STATE PARK– The annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and Annual Arts Festival will be held Sept. 27 through Sept. 29.

The weekend activities begin with the Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday near the State Game Lodge. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

"This year's festival will feature plenty of entertainment and activities," said Craig Pugsley, visitor services coordinator for Custer State Park. "Come and spend a day or the weekend with us. We have more than 70 arts and craft exhibitors, as well as western and American Indian artwork and a variety of food vendors."

The festival will kick off both Saturday and Sunday with a pancake feed at 8 a.m. with dancers, cowboy poets and western and American Indian performers to follow. Stringbean and the Harvest Bluegrass Band will perform on Saturday, and D.D. and the Fayrohs on Sunday. The Care Country Cloggers and 7th Calvary Drum and Bugle Corp will perform both days. Festival activities include the cowboy-mounted shooters, a Reptile Gardens program, Birds of Prey program, gold panning and living history demonstrations.

The 14th Annual Buffalo Wallow Chili Cookoff, sponsored by the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce, will be held Sunday, Sept. 28. As many as 50 chili chefs compete for cash prizes and trophies. To enter the contest, contact the Custer Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-992-9818.

The Buffalo Roundup begins early Monday morning, Sept. 29. Spectators should arrive between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. For safety reasons, spectators are asked to remain in the viewing area until all the buffalo are corralled, around noon. "Buffalo are dangerous and unpredictable animals, treat them with respect and do not approach them," Pugsley said.

After the roundup, the public is invited to ride the free shuttles into the corrals and watch park staff brand, vaccinate and separate the herd in preparation for the Nov. 15 auction. A chuckwagon, buffalo cookout will be served in the corral area during this time. The cost of the meal is $6.50 per person and includes a buffalo barbecue sandwich, cowboy beans, chips and soft drink. Jasmine Pickner and Mallorie Haley will provide entertainment from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Arts Festival and Buffalo Roundup activities are free, but a state park entrance license is required to enter the park.

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR 2004 STATE PARK VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

PIERRE – Anyone who enjoys the outdoors and meeting new people may want to consider joining several others in the Volunteer In Parks (V.I.P.) program.

Volunteer opportunities exist throughout the state in many of South Dakota’s state parks and recreation areas, including along the Missouri River.

"We are recruiting volunteers for parks in every part of the state," said Lynn Spomer, state parks volunteer coordinator. "And now, with the transfer of several recreation areas formerly managed by the Corps of Engineers, there are many new volunteer positions available in parks along the Missouri River."

Spomer added that 107 different volunteer positions are open for the 2004 season. Volunteers are being recruited for campground hosts, as well as for maintenance, programming, visitor center staff, office staff and special projects. Most of these positions are open April through October, although year-round positions are available.

Volunteers may work full-time or just a few hours, all spent in the heart of state parks and recreation areas. Campground hosts who work at least 24 hours a week for a minimum of 30 days receive a free campsite during their service at the park. At some parks, where space is available, other volunteers may also camp for free during the duration of their service. Volunteers who wish to commute from their home to the park may work the number of hours they wish.

Park volunteers have a great experience and park visitors enjoy and benefit from the improved and expanded services provided through the V.I.P. program.

PHEASANTS SHOWING LITTLE EFFECT FROM WEST NILE VIRUS

PIERRE – Although there have been very few reports of the West Nile Virus affecting game birds in South Dakota, the public is asked to help in watching for signs of the virus.

"We have not seen much impact from West Nile Virus in wild game bird populations in South Dakota," said George Vandel, assistant director for the Game, Fish and Parks Division of Wildlife. "But we know the virus can infect game birds, and we would like the public to report any signs of pheasants, grouse and other game birds that appear to be ill or may have just died of unknown causes."

Vandel said that West Nile virus had been found in the blood of both pheasants and grouse. He also noted that two prairie chickens that had been fitted with radio tracking devices for a study on the Fort Pierre National Grasslands had died, and subsequent tests showed the virus in their blood. Both Wyoming and Montana have reported cases of the virus in sage grouse populations.

"We have been closely monitoring for the presence of this virus in wild game birds, and it is very important for scientific testing that a sick bird be picked up while still alive or recently killed. If any decomposition sets in, testing becomes very difficult."

"Since sick or dead wild pheasants are very difficult to find, where we are most likely to first observe West Nile Virus is with birds in a pen-reared situation. Most commercial pheasant facilities will now have their birds located outside in flight pens. Pen reared birds still require daily attention, and if they become infected with the West Nile Virus, hopefully the caretaker will notice and report the sick bird." Vandel encourages individuals who encounters sickly birds, whether wild or pen-raised, to contact a GFP office or a conservation officer.

Vandel also encouraged hunters to take normal precautions when cleaning game birds. "It may be possible to transfer the West Nile virus from the blood of a game bird through an open wound or sore on a hunter. Therefore, it is always good advice for hunters to wear rubber gloves and wash their hands and cleaning equipment with a disinfectant immediately after cleaning their birds."

Health officials have not found evidence that West Nile virus can be transmitted to humans by ingestion of properly cooked game bird meat, but hunters are advised not to eat the meat of game animals that appear sickly. 

PROTECTING BAT ROOSTS IN THE BLACK HILLS

PIERRE -- The state Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) is leading an effort to identify natural caves and abandoned mines that provide habitat for Black Hills bats.

Although some bat species are very adaptable, others depend strongly on underground sites, such as caves and mines, for places to hibernate and rest between feeding bouts. Such areas are increasingly vulnerable to loss from natural erosion around cave or mine entrances, or they are impacted by intentional or accidental disturbance. Many abandoned mines have been permanently sealed for liability reasons without first determining whether bats use the site.

Game, Fish and Parks has contracted with Joel Tigner of Rapid City to identify and categorize natural caves or abandoned mines for their importance to bats, along with other considerations, such as land ownership, site stability, and archaeological issues.

"Once agreement is reached with the private or government landowner, a bat gate is installed to allow bats continued access to the site, but to prohibit human entry during times when disturbance could harm the bats," said Endangered Species Biologist Eileen Dowd Stukel. "Given the dangers associated with entry into abandoned mines, gate closures are effective year-round. Natural caves that are gated are only closed during the hibernation season, and those located on public land are open to the public during the balance of the year."

To date, nine sites, including one funded by the U. S. Forest Service, have been gated in the South Dakota portion of the Black Hills. Sites include two caves and seven mines. Of the 11 species of bats known to reside in the Black Hills of South Dakota, eight depend on underground roosting sites for their survival.

"Not every mine or cave provides the conditions bats need," Tigner noted. "In addition, each species has specific roost requirements that may differ from other bat species in the area. For example, some species require sites with high humidity, while others need just the opposite. All eight of these species have shown acceptance of these specially designed bat gates at their roosts."

Bats are the main predators of night-flying insects and therefore an important contributor to a healthy ecosystem. Many insects eaten by bats are agricultural and forestry pests. Many bat diets also include mosquitoes (known to be responsible for the spread of West Nile Virus). Bats have voracious appetites and can easily eat their weight in insects in a single evening.

This project is being funded with state (GFP Wildlife Division) and federal funds (Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program). Additional cooperators include Black Hills National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management and several private landowners in the Black Hills.

WALK IN THE PARK PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FALL COLORS

PIERRE - September brings the fall season of Walk in the Park programs to South Dakota state parks, beginning with the following programs:

• Fabulous Fall Walk in the Park: Sica Hollow State Park near Sisseton. Saturday, September 27 at 2 p.m. Take a walking tour along the Trail of the Spirits, a designated National Recreation Trail, and the Sica Hollow woodland. Identify fall foliage, discover why leaves change color and learn American Indian legends. Info: (605) 448-5701

• Take Your Pix Walk in the Park: Palisades State Park near Brandon, 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27. Get pointers on how to take beautiful autumn photographs, learn camera terminology, what to look for when taking pictures and how to capture those brilliant fall colors on film. Hikers should bring cameras, film and a tripod. Info: (605) 594-3824

Walk in the Park programs are open to all ages. There is no cost to participate, but a park entrance license is required.