South Dakota Game,
Fish and Parks News
Still Time
for Deer Donations in January
PIERRE,
S.D.—Hunters still have plenty of opportunities for making
donations of antlerless deer to the Sportsmen Against Hunger
program.
“There are a
variety of deer seasons still open for the taking of antlerless
deer,” said Sportsmen Against Hunger President Jeff Olson. “These
antlerless only seasons offer hunters the opportunity to get back
out in the field with friends, help out landowners by thinning the
herd and donate a gift of deer meat to those less fortunate.”
West River,
East River and National Wildlife Refuge deer seasons are open Jan.
1 through Jan. 9 for the taking of antlerless deer only. Hunters
may also take antlerless deer only in the youth, archery and
muzzleloader seasons that run through Jan. 31. Hunters taking part
in depredation hunts may also donate antlerless deer to the
program.
Unsold licenses
are still available for all of the seasons with hunters allowed up
to five licenses in each season. Licenses may be purchased through
the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department Web site at
www.sdgfp.info. Licenses are still specific to the season and
unit for which they are issued.
New to the
Sportsmen Against Hunger program this year is a $50 processing
certificate available directly from participating game processors.
“In many cases processors will accept the certificate as payment
in full for processing the deer,” Olson said, “and they take care
of getting in touch with a food bank to get the meat. The donation
process has really been streamlined this year.”
For a list of
all SAH processors and their processing fees for both antlerless
deer and bucks, call toll-free 1-800-456-2758, or go to these Web
sites:
http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Info/SAH/index.htm or
www.feedtheneedsd.com. An earlier restriction that limited
hunters to four processing certificates has been removed.
Hunters can
make financial donations to Sportsmen Against Hunger by using the
check-off box on South Dakota’s big game hunting license
applications. Financial donations are not limited to hunters.
Anyone who cares about helping the hungry can make financial
donations by mailing them to Sportsmen Against Hunger, P.O. Box
1172, Pierre, SD 57501.
Hill City’s
Blair Waite 2007 Wildlife Officer of the Year
PIERRE,
S.D.—Building on his experience as a state trapper has led Blair
Waite to the top of his field as a conservation officer for the
S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department.
Waite was
recently honored with the Wildlife Officer of the Year Award,
sponsored by the Shikar-Safari Club International, at a ceremony
in Chamberlain. A conservation officer since 2001, Waite serves in
western Pennington and southern Lawrence counties.
Waite served as
a GFP extension trapper for 18 years before being promoted to
conservation officer, a move that, according to GFP Regional
Supervisor Mike Kintigh of Rapid City, has paid great dividends
for the department. “Blair has continued to provide exemplary
service to the public in his more expanded role as a conservation
officer,” Kintigh said. “The mix of the two wildlife professions
has combined to mold Officer Waite into a first-rate conservation
officer.”
One of Waite’s
first accomplishments as a conservation officer was to provide
training to other regional officers regarding trapping regulations
and techniques. The comprehensive training introduced officers to
the secret techniques used by some trappers and included field
exercises in which Waite placed trap sets—some legal, some
illegal—for officers to find.
“The training
was so well-received, the other GFP regions requested that Officer
Waite provide their staff with similar instruction,” according to
GFP Conservation Officer Supervisor Jim McCormick of Rapid City.
“Officer Waite has also been asked to provide the training to
members of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department during their
regional meeting in January.”
Innovation has
also been a hallmark of Waite’s approach to law enforcement as he
has embraced the use of new technology including night vision,
surveillance cameras, metal detectors and decoys. “Officer Waite
turns over more rocks than anyone during an investigation,”
McCormick said. “Time after time he has beaten the odds to solve
cases involving significant violations.”
In recent years
the department has placed a greater emphasis on landowner
relations, something Waite knew was important from his years as a
trapper helping landowners deal with wildlife damage complaints.
“Officer Waite has worked diligently to make regular contacts with
the landowners in his district,” McCormick said.
Earning the
recognition from the Shikar-Safari Club International is not the
first time that Waite has been honored for his work in the
outdoors. He recently competed in the National Wild Turkey
Federation’s Wildlife Officer of the Year competition, earning an
honorable mention at the organization’s national convention in
Nashville, Tenn. In 2002 Waite was selected for the South Dakota
Boating Officer of the Year Award.
GFP
conservation officers who have received the award in recent years
include Jeff Grendler (2006), Mike Apland (2005), Dave Bartling
(2004), Bruce Nachtigall (2003), D.J. Schroeder (2002), Jeff
McEntee (2001) and Scott Mikkelson (2000).
Founded in 1952
as a way to advance the knowledge about wildlife worldwide, Shikar
Safari Club International works to enhance and preserve wildlife,
placing particular emphasis on endangered and threatened species
through the promotion of enforcement of conservation laws and
regulations.
Stay Safe on
the Ice
PIERRE,
S.D.—South Dakota’s lakes and rivers continue to provide a venue
for outdoor activities even after they have frozen over in the
winter. South Dakotans get out on the ice for fishing, hunting,
trapping, skating, snowmobiling, snow-shoeing and cross-country
skiing.
“For many
outdoor enthusiasts, getting out on the ice is a winter
tradition,” according to Curt Robertson, hunting and boating
safety coordinator for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department.
“Unfortunately another winter tradition is accidents on the ice
when folks don’t pay heed to safety precautions.”
Looks can be
deceiving in the winter. A lake or stream may appear to be safety
frozen over but it must still be approached with caution to avoid
a deadly set of circumstances.
For those who
go out on the ice, here are some safety tips:
·
Four inches of clear, solid ice is usually safe for ice fishing.
·
Five inches of the same kind of ice is usually safe for
snowmobiling.
·
Eight to 12 inches is usually safe for vehicles to be on ice, but
driving should be avoided whenever possible. Traveling in a
vehicle on ice, especially early or late in the season, can be
dangerous.
·
New ice is usually stronger than old ice. As ice ages, the bond
between the crystals makes it more dangerous and weaker even if
melting has not occurred.
·
Wind speeds influence ice formation. Light winds speed up the
formation. Strong winds force water from beneath the ice and can
decay the edges of the ice.
·
Snow can insulate ice and keep it strong. It can also insulate it
to keep it from freezing. When ice is covered by snow, greater
precautions need to be taken to determine ice thickness before
starting any activity. Snow can also hide cracked or weak ice and
open water areas.
·
Slush is a danger sign. Slush indicates that ice is no longer
freezing from the bottom. Slush also indicates weak or
deteriorated ice.
·
Ice can change with the surrounding climate conditions.
Temperature, precipitation, wind speed, ice age and water depth
and water quality are all factors that affect ice strength and
thickness.
·
If possible, one person should never check ice or attempt to
rescue an ice victim because of the possibility of quickly going
from rescuer to victim.
·
Individuals should wear a flotation device and carry ice picks
when on questionable ice. They should carry ice picks whenever on
ice, as they may never know when they may need them to pull
themselves out. Everyone should have a set. Two short lengths of
broom handle or dowel with sharpened nails in one end and joined
with a piece of string can be easily carried in a pocket.
·
Before going onto ice, check with a local bait shop, resort owner
or local angler to check on areas of thin ice or open water.
·
If you must drive a vehicle, be prepared to leave it in a hurry.
Unbuckle your seat belt and have a simple plan of action in case
your vehicle breaks through. Some safety experts recommend the
doors be left ajar and windows down for ease of exit.
“The key to
staying safe on the ice is paying attention to your footing,”
Robertson said. “Check the ice before going out on it and remain
aware of the fact that its thickness and reliability may change
from location to location.”
In addition to
safety, folks who drive out on the ice have an additional factor
to consider: auto insurance. “Before you take your car or truck
out on the ice, ask yourself if your insurance policy covers a
loss through the ice,” Robertson said. “Will the policy pay for
the salvage through the ice? Do you have $2,000 or $3,000 handy to
pay for the cost of removing your vehicle from the icy lake? Is
your banker going to forgive your auto loan if your vehicle is at
the bottom of the river? These are all good questions that should
be asked and answered before anyone drives out on the ice.”
Snowshoe
Hike on the Mickelson Trail
PIERRE, S.D. -
After sitting too much and eating lots of food over the holidays,
think how fun it would be to get outdoors and enjoy nature. To
provide an exciting opportunity, a snowshoe hike has been
scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 5, beginning at 1 p.m. on the
Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills for both novice and experienced
snowshoe users. Interested participants need to call the Black
Hills Trails Office at 605-584-3896 to reserve a pair of snowshoes
and to find out where to meet. The location of the hike will be
determined by snow conditions.
Participants
are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. Snow pants
with elastic around the cuffs work well as the snowshoes tend to
flip snow onto the back of hikers' legs. Regular snow boots will
fit in the snowshoe bindings.
The program is
free but a daily or an annual Mickelson Trail pass is required and
will be available for purchase at the event.
This Walk in
the Park is one of a series of walks sponsored in collaboration
with the South Dakota Department of Health.
