March 1, 2006
Press Releases

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks News

Custer State Park Offers Winter Snowshoe Hike 

CUSTER, S.D. – Recent snow in the Black Hills has turned Custer State Park into a winter wonderland. To help visitors take advantage of the snow, the park will hold a snowshoe hike on March 11.

“Snowshoeing is an excellent recreational activity during the winter,” said Bradley Block, chief of interpretation for the park. “It offers physical fitness, while exposing participants to the beauty of the winter scenery. With the recent snowfall and cooler weather forecasts, we should have great conditions for the hike.”

The hike will take participants on the three-mile Lovers’ Leap trail, located near the Game Lodge Resort, along Highway 16A. Participants need to meet at 1 p.m. at the Peter Nobeck Visitor Center. The hike is geared toward beginners, and staff will demonstrate the proper use of snowshoes before heading out. However, all skill levels will enjoy the outing, as the group explores some of the park’s most beautiful winter scenery.

In the event that snow is not available, a dry hike will be conducted along the route at the same time period.

Due to limited equipment, reservations are required for the hike and can be made by calling the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center at (605) 255-4464. There is no cost for the hike, although all vehicles are required to obtain a park entrance license, which is $2.50 per person or $6 per vehicle. Participants should be sure to dress according to the weather.

For more information on Custer State Park, please visit the park's website at www.CusterStatePark.info.

Visit GFP Sports Show Booth March 9-12 in Sioux Falls

PIERRE, S.D. - Outdoor enthusiasts can visit with Game, Fish and Parks officials and get the department’s latest publications at the March 9-12 sports show in Sioux Falls.

Division of Wildlife Communications Manager Chuck Schlueter said staff members from both the Wildlife Division and the Parks and Recreation Division will be represented at the Sioux Empire Sportsmen’s Boat, Camping and Vacation Show in the Sioux Falls Arena and Civic Center.

"Department staff will be available to discuss fishing, hunting, camping and other outdoor-related topics as well as ask general questions of our professional staff," Schlueter said. "It is a great opportunity to find out what has been happening and what is new in South Dakota's outdoors."

The Wildlife Division will have copies of its 2006 SD Fishing Handbook, public Fishing and Hunting Areas booklets, application deadlines, 2006 Conservation Digest calendars and other back issues of the department’s popular bimonthly magazine.

The Parks and Recreation Division will sell its annual park entrance license, Mickelson Trail passes, the South Dakota State Park Trail Atlas and copies of the new Campground Map Book. Many free publications, such as the 2006 Park Times, the Tatanka, and many other outdoor recreation publications will also be available.

In addition, staff will be available to answer questions and guide visitors through the steps of reserving campsites online. A computer will be set up at the booth, and with the help of staff, visitors can set up an account and make camping reservations during the show.

Hunting, fishing, camping and other information for enjoying South Dakota’s outdoors can be found on the Game, Fish and Parks website at www.sdgfp.info.

Remaining Fish Houses To Be Off Ice By March 5

PIERRE, S.D. – State law dictates that anglers who have ice-fishing houses on Deerfield Lake in Pennington County or on lakes in Grant, Roberts, Day and Marshall counties must remove their houses no later than midnight, March 5.

Game, Fish and Parks Regional Law Specialist Bruce Nachtigall of Rapid City said South Dakota law requires anglers with icehouses on these bodies of water to remove their shacks no later than the date specified. He also reminds anglers not to leave their ice-fishing houses on shore or at state parks, recreation areas or lakeside use areas.

"A person may not leave a fish house or any other personal property for more than five days on lands owned or leased by the department (excluding S.D. State Parks lands) without written permission from an authorized representative of the department," Nachtigall said. “This means that even though an ice house has been removed from a lake, the owner must get written permission from a GFP official if the ice house needs to set on GFP property that is not part of a state park for longer than five days.”

Ice conditions most often become unpredictable this time of year, so anglers are reminded to take extra safety precautions when removing fishing shacks.

For those areas of the state that still have sufficient ice to support ice houses after these dates, anglers may still use portable ice shelters if they are occupied and removed daily from the ice when not being used.

Migratory Bird Certification Needed with Resident Light Goose License

PIERRE, S.D. – Resident spring light-goose hunters are reminded to include the state Migratory Bird Certification (MBC) with their small game license when hunting light geese this spring. Nonresident hunters only need the South Dakota nonresident spring light goose license, as the nonresident license includes the certification.

"The spring light goose migration is picking up, and hunters should make sure they are properly licensed when heading to the field," said Game, Fish and Parks Communications Manager Chuck Schlueter. "The $5 MBC certificate can be purchased at most license agents." A list of license agents, spring goose migration reports and other spring goose information are available via the Game, Fish and Parks website.

The Spring Light Goose Conservation Order is currently open. Spring goose hunters can harvest snow geese, blue geese and Ross’ geese through May 8 with the same requirements and restrictions as during regular state waterfowl seasons, except that electronic calls and shotguns capable of holding more than three shells are allowed for spring light geese. Hunters also have an extra one-half hour for hunting in the evening, as shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

The daily bag limit is 20 light geese with no possession limit.

Fishing on Northeastern Waterways Closed March 1 Through April 28

PIERRE, S.D. -- Anglers who target waters in northeast South Dakota are reminded that several areas are closed March 1 through April 28.

Dave Wicks, Game, Fish and Parks regional law supervisor in Watertown, said when waters begin to warm after the spring run-off, northern pike, walleyes and other fish species swim upstream to spawn, which attracts large numbers of people.

“We have found that as far as fish management goes there is little need for closed fishing seasons,” Wicks said. “Closing the waters in this area can mainly be attributed to law enforcement concerns. The waters in this area are very shallow, and the fish are vulnerable when they congregate in culverts and under bridges. Some people simply cannot resist the temptation to try and obtain one or more of the fish."

He added that many of these fish are easily taken in a very short time, either by snagging, spearing, netting, clubbing, throwing rocks, shooting with pellet guns or firearms, pitch forks or simply by bare hands.

Near Watertown, a portion of the extreme eastern area of Pelican Lake is closed to the taking of fish from March 1, through April 28.

Additionally, in the counties of Marshall, Day, Roberts, Grant and Codington, the fishing season is closed on all rivers, creeks, streams and other flowing waters through April 28. The season closure does not affect the lakes in these counties.

Another closed waterway in Hamlin County is the stream running from the outlet of Lake Poinsett to the outlet control structure on Hamlin County Road C, also known as Castlewood Road.

"That water in the creek between Lake Norden and Lake Mary, which is below the spillway at the Lake Norden City Park, is also closed to fishing," Wicks explained.

Lake County is closed in an area known as Silver Creek, which runs between Lake Madison and Round Lake. This year, the season will be closed from March 1 through May 31. Wicks said anglers should note that these dates are different than the dates listed for the Watertown area.

The Minnesota/South Dakota border waters, which include Big Stone Lake, Lake Hendricks, Mud Lake, Lake Traverse, and the Boise de Sioux River, are closed to fishing for walleye, sauger, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass from March 1 through April 28.

Included border-water closure areas are the White Rock Dam downstream for 500 feet and from the Reservation Dam downstream for 500 feet. Both of these areas will be closed to all fishing through April 28.

The Minnesota - South Dakota border waters regulations are different from the rules of our inland lakes due to negotiations between the two state wildlife agencies.

The spearing of rough fish in the counties of Marshall, Day, Roberts, Grant, Codington and Deuel is also closed through April 28.

Anglers should consult the 2006 Fishing Handbook or their local Game, Fish, and Parks office. They are also reminded that a 2006 fishing licenses must be in their possession while fishing.

Updated 2006 Archery Education Course Listing

PIERRE, S.D. – The Game, Fish and Parks archery education course listing has been updated, and archers needing certification to apply for the state’s big game archery licenses should visit the GFP website at www.sdgfp.info. Once there, look under the subheading "Outdoor Education" for the link titled "Bowhunter Education Courses."

Among the requirements for archery hunters in South Dakota is that all first-time bowhunters and all bowhunters under the age of 16 must complete a National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) sanctioned bowhunter education course before applying for an archery license.

"We strive to organize a listing as early as possible so hunters have as good a chance as possible to attend a course,” said GFP HuntSAFE Coordinator Curt Robertson. “Courses may not be offered in every community, so hunters need to plan ahead to find a convenient course."

Following is the current course listing. Call the listed number for further details:

March 11, Mitchell, K & B Archery, 996-9810.
March 11, Pierre, Dan McCormick, 224-6528.
March 18, Sioux Falls - The Outdoor Campus, Jim Twamley, 940-9678, 297-3906.
March 18, Watertown, Skip Meisenheimer, 886-5891.
March 18, Rapid City, Al Krause, 394-9663 or bowguy@hotmail.com.
March 18, Phillip, Doug Hauk at 859-2742 or Tom Parquet at 843-2515.
March 22, Sioux Falls (Instructor course), Jim Twamley, 940-9678, 297-3906.
April 1, Mitchell – Cabela’s, Tom Norwick, 996-0337 xt.8539.
April 1, Dell Rapids, Jeff Russo, 428-4182.
April 2, Yankton, Dakota Archery, 665-8340.
April 29, Sioux Falls - The Outdoor Campus, Jim Twamley, 940-9678, 297-3906.
May 6, Mitchell – Cabela’s, Tom Norwick, 996-0337 xt.8539.
June 17, Sioux Falls - The Outdoor Campus, Jim Twamley, 940-9678, 297-3906.
June 25, Yankton, Dakota Archery, 665-8340.
July 8, Sturgis Armory, Harry Globstad, 347-0027.
July 29, Watertown, Skip Meisenheimer, 886-5891.
July 29, Sioux Falls - The Outdoor Campus, Jim Twamley, 940-9678, 297-3906.
July 29, Mitchell – Cabelas, Tom Norwick, 996-0337 xt.8539.
Aug 5. Pierre, Dan McCormick, 224-6528.
Aug. 13, Yankton, Dakota Archery, 665-8340.
Aug. 26, Sioux Falls - The Outdoor Campus, Jim Twamley, 940-9678, 297-3906.
Sept. 24, Yankton, Dakota Archery, 665-8340.

Courses will be added as received, and Information is subject to change, so people are encouraged to check online regularly.

Fall Perch Survey Reveals Lakes Heaviest Angling Pressure is in the Fall

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota State University and Game, Fish and Parks have coordinated a study to help determine why perch in South Dakota lakes seem to grow fast and die at a young age.

 Game, Fish and Parks has creel surveyed Lake Madison in the summer since 1998 and in the winter since 2002, but the lake had never been creel surveyed during the fall, even though fishing for perch was often good in September and October.

The first fall creel survey on Lake Madison was conducted in 2005 as part of a study by Casey Schoenebeck, a Ph. D. student in the Wildlife and Fisheries Department at South Dakota State University. Schoenebeck is attempting to measure the effects of natural mortality (death due to natural causes, i.e. disease, starvation) and fishing mortality (percentage of fish taken by anglers) on yellow perch populations in lakes Madison and Cochrane.

In 2005, anglers harvested an estimated 11,500 yellow perch during the fall and just under 4,000 perch during the summer. Fishing pressure in September and October (22,000 hours on the water) was nearly 75 percent of the total summer pressure (28,000 hours). Anglers also caught an estimated 4,000 black crappies in the fall, nearly as many as were caught during the entire summer. About 82 percent of the fishing parties interviewed by the creel clerk this fall were South Dakota residents.

“I knew that fall fishing for perch was often good on Lake Madison, but the number of fish harvested last fall even surprised me." said GFP Fisheries Biologist Dave Lucchesi of Sioux Falls.

Last spring, Schoenebeck also marked 1,200 perch with a fin clip and 600 perch with a numbered orange plastic tag. The number of tagged and fin clipped fish caught by anglers and observed by the creel clerk or returned by anglers will provide information on the percentage of the population harvested in year.

 “Schoenebeck's study should provide valuable information on perch mortality that will help the GFP with the management of South Dakota’s perch populations,” Lucchesi said.

South Dakota Antelope Harvest Up Significantly In 2005

PIERRE, S.D. – The 2005 pronghorn antelope harvest in South Dakota is the highest since 1993.

According to harvest surveys compiled by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, last year was the highest recorded antelope harvest in the state since the 1993 season and the seventh straight year that antelope harvest has increased.

Game, Fish and Parks Game Harvest Survey Coordinator Corey Huxoll said estimates indicate approximately 9,000 antelope were harvested during the 2005 hunting seasons. That is an increase in more than 2,000 antelope harvested in 2005 and an increase of nearly 7,000 in the number of antelope harvested in the season following the winter of 1997.

“We have harvest records back to 1941, when only about 500 antelope were harvested,” Huxoll said. “The highest harvest on record was 17,000 in 1984.”

Overall harvest success remained high at 66 percent despite a 40 percent increase in the number of tags issued, which was just under 10,000 in 2004 to nearly 14,000 in 2005.  Survey results indicate that there was a 23 percent increase in buck harvest and a 38 percent increase in doe harvest from 2004. Records indicate that just more than 40 percent of all antelope were harvested on the first Saturday of the opening weekend, and approximately 64 percent were harvested on private land.

“It is only through the cooperation of hunters completing harvest report cards that we are able to assess the success of the harvest for each of the hunting seasons,” Huxoll noted. “Some states have mandatory check stations, and hunters may have to travel 20-30 miles or more only to wait in line to have someone visually document their harvest”.

The 2005 Firearm Antelope Harvest Report is complete and can be accessed through the GFP web site at www.sdgfp.info in the “What’s New” section. The report can also be requested in hardcopy by mail or in person from the Pierre office at 523 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre, S.D., 57501.