• S.D. State Parks Host Family Activities on Father’s Day Weekend
• Hunting Accompaniment Rule Modified
• Thank Dad with Camping and SD State Park Gifts this Father’s Day
• Road Ditch Mowing Restrictions In Place
• State Parks See Busy Memorial Day Weekend, Continue Summer Activities
• Deer Seasons Set For National Wildlife Refuges
• Minnesota Modifies Lifejacket Law
• Boaters Resisting Lifejacket Use In Spite Of Evidence
• State Record Splake Landed
• Trolley Rides Allow Those with Physical Limitation to Experience the Mickelson Trail

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks will offer visitors a number of family activities on Father’s Day weekend.

Thank Dad and help him enjoy his weekend by joining in on the following events on Sat, June 18:

• Bird Bliss Walk in the Park, 8 a.m., Newton Hills State Park near Canton. Take a morning walk to experience the beauty and variety of bird calls in Newton Hills State Park. On the one-hour walk, participants will learn about the different types of birds found in the area. Info: (605) 987-2263
• Celebrate Lewis and Clark, 9 a.m., Lewis and Clark Recreation Area near Yankton. Come and learn about Lewis and Clark and have some fun at the same time. Through a number of family games and activities, participants will learn about the two explorers and their expedition. Info: (605) 668-2985
• Family Fun Day, 1 p.m., West Bend Recreation Area near Pierre. Bring the whole family to the park for a day of fun activities and games. Info: (605) 773-2885
• Red Rocks Escape Walk in the Park, 4 p.m., Palisades State Park near Garretson. Hear the stories of the rocks and trees as you learn the history of the area. The walk will focus on the geology of the Sioux Quartzite formations and the forces of nature that created the colorful scenery. Info: (605) 594-3824.

These programs are in addition to the regular programming hosted by individual parks throughout the summer. The two hikes are part of the Walk in the Park program, a series of educational, guided hikes held throughout the year in South Dakota state parks, recreation areas and nature preserves. Park staff and volunteers lead the programs, which are co-sponsored by the S.D. Department of Health.

The programs are open to all ages. There is no cost to participate in any of these programs, although a park entrance license is required. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

For more information on activities in the S.D. state parks, visit www.sdgfp.info/Parks, contact the individual park office, or call (605) 773-3391.

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota’s long-standing big game "accompaniment" rule has been modified by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission.

"Formerly, the accompaniment rule required those hunting together for big game animals to have licenses that were valid for the same season and unit," said GFP Law Program Administrator Dave McCrea. "Now, under the modified rule, those who are legally licensed for any firearm big game season may hunt together in the field if their licenses are valid for the same geographical area and time of year." A firearm big game hunter is defined as anyone having a license that authorizes the licensee to use a firearm, including a muzzleloader firearm, for taking big game.

A similar provision allows archery-only licensees to hunt together in the field if their archery licenses are valid for the same geographical area and time of year.

McCrea explained that the accompaniment rule was drafted in the 1970s when big game and pheasant seasons first overlapped. "There were safety and enforcement concerns with the mix of small game and big game hunters," he said. "The rule has been effective, but the number of overlapping big game season occurring now placed the accompaniment rule in need of updating. We want to preserve the primary safety and enforcement precautions that the original rule brought us, but relax the rule somewhat to allow hunters to hunt together in the field if their firearm big game licenses and archery-only big game licenses are valid for the same geographical area and time of year."

An additional rule change allows those who carry a pistol and possess a valid concealed pistol permit to accompany big game hunters. A similar provision for licensed archery hunters also allows accompaniment by individuals carrying a pistol as long as they possess a concealed pistol permit. "However, a person who is licensed for archery hunting may not be accompanied by another person who is carrying a firearm other than the exception for a concealed pistol with permit," McCrea noted. "Additionally, an archery-only hunter may not be accompanied by another person carrying archery equipment unless that person has a current archery big game hunting license valid for the same geographical area and time of year as the first person."

In summary, unless carrying a concealed pistol permit and a pistol, firearm big game hunters must have firearm big game licenses valid for the same time and area in order to legally accompany one another while hunting. Archery-only hunters must have an archery big game license valid for the same time and area in order to legally accompany one another while archery hunting.

PIERRE, S.D. – If your father is the type who likes to sit back, cookout or occasionally drop a fishing line in the water, spending a day or the weekend at the South Dakota state parks is a perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day.

According to Game, Fish and Parks officials, numerous camping opportunities exist for June 17 and 18, Father’s Day weekend. As of June 3, campsites were available at more than 30 state parks and recreation areas across the state.

Many gifts for the outdoors-dad are also available to purchase, such as State Parks and Mickelson Trail T-shirts, park entrance licenses, the Campground Map Book, and mammal and butterfly field guides. Or, consider giving Dad a subscription to the South Dakota Conservation Digest, the state’s bi-monthly outdoor publication. For an all-inclusive gift, give him a State Parks gift set. The gift set includes a 2005 park entrance license, a copy of the SD State Park Trail Atlas, a state parks T-shirt and several other state parks and outdoor items.

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Departments of Transportation and Game, Fish and Parks are reminding landowners that there are restrictions on how soon road right-of-way ditches may be mowed. The mowing restrictions only cover the state trunk and interstate highway systems.

Landowners may mow after July 10 in eastern South Dakota and after June 15 in Lyman, Gregory and Tripp counties. There are no mowing restrictions for other counties west of the Missouri River.

"These are important dates to note, not only because these mowing restrictions are guided by state law, but also because of the benefits they bring our state," said DOT Secretary Judy Payne. "One of the primary benefits of these public right-of-ways is as habitat for wildlife production, especially for pheasants."

Tom Kirschenmann, a wildlife biologist for GFP, notes that roadsides play a significant role in pheasant production and the overall pheasant population. Studies estimate that roadsides produce 14 percent of South Dakota’s overall population. Roadside ditches also provide important nesting habitat for other game bird species such as grouse, partridge, and ducks.

Game, Fish and Parks conducted a study in 2004 which shows that proper management of road ditch mowing can contribute to local game bird populations. The study concluded that, while roadside ditches are no substitute for quality Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres, they can have a positive impact on local pheasant reproduction. In fact, the value of roadsides to South Dakota’s pheasant production is even more important where large blocks of undisturbed nesting cover is lacking. In these locations, nesting habitat provided by roadsides is critical in maintaining a local pheasant population. The study also found that a mowing release date later than July 10 would reduce nesting pheasant mortality and enhance avian production.

Kirschenmann pointed out that when it comes to ground nesting birds; Aug. 1 marks the end of the critical nesting period. Because of that, GFP delays mowing on its properties until at least July 15, and in some cases, even later," he said. "The longer we can delay mowing, the better the chances for pheasant production and survival."

"To this point we have had good nesting conditions, and we can expect to see roadside ditches used extensively by nesting birds," Kirschenmann said. "The mowing dates were put in place to protect nesting birds, their nests and young chicks. We would encourage folks to delay mowing ditches even later than the July 10 release date to provide nesting birds the best opportunity to be successful in their nesting and brood-rearing efforts."

PIERRE, S.D. – Summer’s first three-day weekend kept South Dakota’s state parks and recreation areas busy throughout the state.

Across much of the state, managers reported that campgrounds on Memorial Day weekend were nearly full. The sun brought out boaters and picnickers in many parks, and park events were well attended. In addition, many visitors took advantage of the game and equipment checkouts available at several parks, which are made possible by the S.D. Department of Health.

"A large number of people enjoyed the state parks this holiday weekend," said Emilie Miller, Game, Fish and Parks information specialist with the Division of Parks and Recreation. "Parks saw the traditional large amount of campers, and a great number of park visitors came out to spend just a day or two in the park. Families spent the weekend visiting with each other, using the recreational equipment and facilities, and attending the many activities held in the parks.

South Dakota state parks offer a wide variety of outdoor activities, including camping, park programs, picnicking and boating. Many parks also offer trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Equipment and game checkouts are available in several parks, and may include games, such as croquet and bocce ball, and equipment for disc golf or horseshoes.

For more information on reservations and activities in SD state parks, visit www.sdgfp.info/Parks or call (605) 773-3391.

PIERRE, S.D. – The Game, Fish and Parks Commission has set the 2005 deer seasons for Sand Lake, Lacreek and Waubay National Wildlife refuges.

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which is divided into six different units, has the first unit to open. This first refuge season, open Sept. 10 – 18, is only for youth hunters in a designated area of the refuge located north of Highway 10.

Other Sand Lake units will open from Nov. 12-16 (muzzleloader only), Nov. 17-21, Nov. 22-27, Nov. 28 – Dec. 4 and Dec. 5-11.

"Something new in rule for Sand Lake Refuge will reopen the refuge to all unfilled Sand Lake Refuge tags for the January extension of the East River deer season," said Regional Wildlife Manager Will Morlock of Watertown. "All unfilled tags will be valid for antlerless deer only."

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge will have two separate units, both muzzleloader only, running Oct. 19-25 and Nov. 23-29. The start date for the second unit has moved from the third Wednesday of November (last year) to the fourth Wednesday in 2005.

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge will have three different units. The first two, running Nov. 11-15 and Nov. 16-22, are for muzzleloader only. The other unit will be open Nov. 21 – Dec. 4.

Hunter success on the three refuges has been approximately 40 percent during the past three years. Last year, 106 bucks were harvested, along with 41 does.

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota boaters who might be headed to Minnesota this summer for any boating activity should be aware of a new law in that state involving lifejackets (also called personal flotation devices or PFDs).

The new Minnesota law mandates that a lifejacket be worn by any child less than 10 years of age when aboard a watercraft that is underway (not tied to a dock or permanent mooring).

Exemptions to the Minnesota law include when a child is in an enclosed cabin or below the top deck on a watercraft, when on an anchored boat that is a platform for swimming or diving and when aboard a charter craft with a licensed captain.

The law is similar to one enacted a few years ago by South Dakota that requires any child under the age of seven to be wearing a lifejacket.

Similar laws from South Dakota’s other bordering states include:

• Iowa: While underway on a recreational vessel on the Mississippi or Missouri Rivers or on federal reservoirs, a child under 13 years of age must wear a USCG-approved lifejacket unless the child is below deck or in an enclosed cabin. Additionally, every person being towed behind a vessel on any Iowa water must wear a USCG-approved Type I, II, III or V lifejacket (PFD).

• Nebraska: No child under 13 is allowed aboard any vessel when not wearing a Coast Guard-approved life preserver except when hunting waterfowl in an anchored boat. Operators shall be held responsible.

• North Dakota: It is unlawful for any person to operate or to be a passenger on any vessel less than 27 feet in length unless all persons, 10 years of age or younger present on the vessel, wear an appropriately sized and properly fastened United States Coast Guard approved Type I, II, or III wearable lifejacket while the vessel is in operation.

PIERRE, S.D. – From 1986 to 2004, South Dakota reported 35 deaths by drowning. Ten of these victims fell overboard, and the other 25 were victims from capsized boats. Of all 35, only two were wearing lifejackets when they unexpectedly wound up in the water.

"A boating party that recognized inclement weather approaching headed for the nearest boat landing, but was caught in severe weather," Brown said. "The boat was flipped by strong winds, trapping two youths, who were wearing lifejackets, underneath the boat. Rescuers were unable to right the boat and the children drowned."

Information on South Dakota’s 35 drownings includes:

1986

• male - age 27 - capsized boat while hunting waterfowl
• male - age 80 - fell overboard
• male - age 37 - fell overboard

1987

• male - age 29 - swamped canoe
• male - age 11 - swamped canoe
• female - age 10 - swamped canoe
• male - age 63 - capsized boat

1988

• male - age 32 - capsized boat
• male - age 31 - capsized boat

1989

• male - age 46 - fell overboard
• male - age 64 - capsized boat
• male - age 65 - capsized boat
• male - age 51 - fell overboard
• male - age 27 – capsized canoe

1990

• male - age 29 - capsized canoe

1991

• male - age 67 - fell overboard as a result of a collision with another vessel

1992

• male - age 23 - capsized boat
• male - age 18 - capsized boat
• female - age 45 - fell overboard

1993

• male - age 19 - overloaded boat, capsized
• female - age 20 - overloaded boat, capsized
• female - age 19 - overloaded boat, capsized

1994

• male - age 16 - capsized canoe

1995 - no boating-related drownings

1996

• male - age 62 - fell overboard

1997

• male - age 54 - fell overboard (may have suffered heard attack)

1998

• male - age 78 - fell overboard

1999

• male - age 17 - fell off PWC, struck by PWC
• male - age 68 - boat capsized

2000 - no boating-related drownings

2001 - no boating-related drownings

2002

• male - age 30 - fell overboard
• male - age 47 - fell overboard
• male - age 46 - fell overboard

2003

• male - age 3 - boat flipped in high winds - victim was wearing pfd but was trapped under the capsized boat
• female - age 3 - same as above

2004

• male - age 84 - capsized boat
• male - age 79 - capsized boat

PIERRE, S.D. - Ever caught a splake? For that matter, have you ever heard of a splake? Though the name sounds like something slurred by Sylvester the cat, it is in fact a fish, a hybrid cross between a brook trout and lake trout. Dennis Larive of Lead knows about splake, and recently hooked into and landed a new South Dakota state record while fishing at Deerfield Lake in the Black Hills.

"Deerfield Lake is ‘the splake lake,’ as it is the only South Dakota water where splake are stocked by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks," said Game, Fish and Parks Fisheries Biologist Greg Simpson of Rapid City. "Deerfield Lake is managed as the ‘splake lake’ for several reasons. First, we don't want to contaminate Pactola with splake, as we already have lake trout there. Second, we can use the faster growth potential of the splake to help control the sucker population in Deerfield Lake. Lastly, they provide anglers with a trophy fish opportunity in the lake."

The origin of splake comes from speckled trout (an old name for brook trout) crossed with a lake trout. "It is the lake trout eggs from a large female lake trout that are fertilized by brook trout sperm that makes the hybrid cross," he said. "We align the cross this way because it is easier to get many eggs from a large female lake trout than it is to try and collect the needed numbers from many small brook trout." He added that splake typically range in size from 10 to 18 inches and grow faster than either of its parent species. They have been known to only take a couple years to attain lengths of 18 inches after stocking.

If an angler should catch a possible South Dakota state record fish, the first thing to do is get it weighed on a certified scale.

Under South Dakota rules, the weight must be rounded down to the nearest ounce. To replace the existing record, a fish must weigh at least one ounce more. If it breaks the record by less than an ounce, the two fish will be listed as co-holders of the record.

Once a possible state record has been caught, anglers should also contact a Game, Fish and Parks official who will positively identify the fish and sign a record fish form. In cases where positive identification of the species is difficult, a qualified ichthyologist may have to look at the fish.

Anglers who think they may have caught a new state record fish should remember that it is also important to:

• Keep the fish cool, preferably on ice.
• Have the fish weighed on a state-certified scale (with a witness present)
• Take the fish to a GFP office for positive identification.

PIERRE, S.D. - Visitors to the Deadwood area have a chance to view the Mickelson Trail without needing a bicycle or even a pair of walking shoes. The Mickelson Trail staff, the City of Deadwood, the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and the Neighborhood Housing Services of the Black Hills are partnering to offer trolley rides to those with physical limitations who want to view the scenic trail.

From June through September, rides are offered on the second Tuesday of each month, beginning at 1 p.m. from the Deadwood Trailhead. The dates are June 14, July 12, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13. Rides are approximately two hours long. The trolley has space available for up to two people who use wheelchairs.

Reservations are required. Each person reserving a space on the trolley will be required to have a handicapped parking permit. One assistant is allowed to accompany this person, if needed. Call (605) 578-1401 for reservations and to make arrangements. The Deadwood Chamber of Commerce will provide refreshments, and the City of Deadwood provides use of the trolley.

For more information, contact the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce at (800) 999-1876 or the Mickelson Trail office at (605) 584-3896.