7 minute read
Hunting
route for more than 400,000 migrating Canada geese. Eastern South Dakota attracts 350,000 snow- and blue-geese migrants.
Duck
Traditional Season: Late September to December.
Range and Habitat: More than 15 million ducks migrate annually through South Dakota. They include mallards, gadwall, pintails and teal. Numbers of birds vary, depending on the fall migration. Along the Missouri River, the migration peaks in midNovember.
Waterfowl Hunting Tips:
Plan early since nonresident waterfowl licenses are limited and are purchased through a limited lottery system.
Pass shooting and field shooting are available for Missouri River goose hunting, mostly on private land or through hunting clubs. Hunting is also available on the river and limited public lands.
Decoy placement can spell success or failure for your hunt. Group species accordingly and leave landing pockets for optimum shooting opportunities. Incorporate both ducks and geese into your decoy spread as confidence builders and in case either species pass by.
HUNTING PACKAGE
MIKE KUCHERA’S SOUTH DAKOTA GUIDE SERVICE - Mitchell
Three-day pheasant hunting packages which include all meals, lodging at The Hampton Inn, guiding by Mike & Debra Kuchera, well-bred and trained dogs and more... Come see why they call him "The original Pheasant Dynasty" since 1972!
See www.sdpheasants.com or call (605) 996-1120
East River Deer
Season Dates: November 21 - December 6, 2020 / Anterless Only tags valid December 12 - December 20, 2020. Archery season: September 1, 2020 - January 1, 2021.
Range and Habitat: East of the Missouri River, deer hunters will find crops such as corn, oats, wheat, sunflowers, and soybeans attracting the whitetail deer population. Mule deer hunting is limited to counties bordering the Missouri River. Continues on page 6
HUNTING LICENSE FEES
Habitat Stamp
(required prior to purchase of any license, one per year) Resident: $10 Non-resident: $25
Combination License
(includes small game & fishing) Resident: $55*
Junior Combination
(ages 16-18) Resident: $27*
Senior Combination
(age 65 and older) Resident: $40*
Small Game
Resident: $33* Non-resident: $121*
1-Day Small Game
Resident: $12*
Youth Small Game
(ages 12-15) Resident: $5* Non-resident: $10*
Shooting Preserve
Non-resident: 1-day $46* 5-day $76* Season $121*
Migratory Bird Certificate
Resident: $5
Furbearer
Resident: $30* Non-resident: $275*
Spring Light Goose
Non-Resident: Adult $50* Youth $26*
Limited Licenses for Turkey and Deer
Applications available from SD Game, Fish & Parks Apply online - For more info visit gfp.sd.gov or call (605) 223-7660
*Does not include $4 agent fee ($8 non-resident small game) • Fees subject to change Refer to the S.D. Hunting Handbook for complete fees & regulations
Pheasant Seasons and Limits Regular Season Dates: October 17, 2020 - January 3, 2021 (2021 Opening Day - October 16) Daily Limit: 3 Rooster Pheasants • Possession Limit: 15 Cock Pheasants, taken according to the daily limit 3-Day Resident Season: October 10-12, 2020 • Youth Season: October 3-7, 2020
Continued from page 5 Rolling pastures, tree strips, river bottoms and cattail sloughs provide escape cover for the deer.
Deer Hunting Tips:
Use of a binocular or spotting scope aids hunters locating deer on South Dakota’s vast prairies and farmland.
Most land is private and permission is needed to hunt. Consider hunting late in the season after opening weekend. Many landowners have guests for opening weekend, but welcome other hunters later in the season.
Hunting Guides, Services & Lodging
Broken Willow Lodge
Dakota Archery & Outdoor Sports
2305 E. Hwy. 50 Yankton, SD • 605-665-8340 dakotarchery.com
Dakota Custom Hunt The Cogan House
31133 Bon Homme Road Tabor, SD • 605-464-0238 TheCoganHouse.com
Mike Kuchera’s S.D. Guide Service Inc.
135 E. 2nd Ave., PO Box 10 Mitchell, SD • 605-996-1120 sdpheasants.com
NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center
800 Archery Lane Yankton, SD • 605-260-9282 neyac.org
Ringneck Country Lodge
40769 272nd Street, Dimock, SD • 605-661-4277 ringneckcountryhunting.com
Prairie Turkey
Traditional Season: Spring firearm and archery, April to mid May. Fall prairie turkey, November through January.
Range and Habitat: In eastern South Dakota, turkeys prefer the woods and brushy hillsides of rivers, as well as tree belts.
Turkey Hunting Tips:
Acquire permission to hunt since most land is private.
Hunting spring turkeys late in the season is often better. Hens begin nesting later and gobblers begin wandering, making them more susceptible to calls.
Combining fall turkey hunting with other fall seasons creates an exciting hunt.
Prairie turkeys frequently use the same roost repeatedly.
Spring turkey hunters rely on camouflage and calling to lure birds into range. Always identify target before shooting. For Disabled Hunters:
A reduced fee Hunting and Fishing Card is available for persons with total disability, certain veterans and for those with developmental disabilities.
For more information about hunting seasons and areas, licenses and fees, and regulations, visit www.gfp.sd.gov/hunt.
For online maps and atlases, visit gfp.sd.gov/maps.
For South Dakota Hunting Handbook and other online publications, visit gfp.sd.gov/pages/regulations.
To have publications and applications mailed directly to you, visit gfp.sd.gov/forms and click Request Information.
Archery Hunting
Gavins Point Dam, Yankton
REEL IN THE FUN ON SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA LAKES & RIVERS
Southeastern South Dakota has more than 175 fishing lakes ranging in size up to 29,000 acres. Glacial lakes exist in the region in addition to numerous manmade lakes. Three major rivers course through the region: the Big Sioux River, James River, and Missouri River; which includes Lewis and Clark Lake, a 30-mile-long Missouri River reservoir.
Southeast South Dakota is prepared to host fishermen yearround with open seasons on most species of fish. Private and city campgrounds, state parks and recreation areas provide more than 2,000 campsites welcoming our fishing visitors. A host of resorts and hotels are available for those who prefer the comfort of soft beds, hot showers and cable TV. (Page 13, 20-21)
Free Fishing Weekend
South Dakota fishing waters, excluding tribal trust land, are open to anyone May 21-23, 2021 to fish without a license. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce someone to the sport of fishing or to try your luck for the first time.
Popular Fish Species
The most fished species includes walleye, sauger, channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bullhead, bluegill, perch and crappie.
Walleye and bass compete for top honors in this region. Lewis and Clark Lake reservoir, above Gavins Point Dam, draws anglers from across the nation with its alluring combination of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Backwater bays, sandbar drop-offs, creeks, and stands of rushes provide the habitat for both species. Casting toward structure with various crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are popular methods, along with jigging during the heat of the summer. Walleye, sauger and catfish also make up the catches for Lewis and Clark anglers. Walleye anglers in this region troll crankbaits to locate schools of feeding fish in the flat-bottom lakes.
Panfishermen will want to look for shallow weed beds during the spring and drop-offs during the summer. Still-fishing with a small jig or fly fishing with wet flies or small poppers is effective for bluegills.
For young and old alike, nothing keeps fishing attention longer than bullheads. Good bullhead waters include most lakes and the Big Sioux and James Rivers.
Other popular fishing waters: James River, Big Sioux River, Missouri River, Splitrock Creek, Lake Carthage, Tripp Lake, Marindahl Lake, Brant Lake, Lake Madison, Lake Herman, Lake Mitchell, Lake Yankton, Vermillion Lake, Wall Lake, Burbank Lake, Lake Alvin, McCook Lake, Lake Lakota and Lake Henry.
Accessible Fishing Docks
Handicap accessible fishing docks have been installed in a number of state parks. These docks feature low railings, accessible ramps, sidewalks, and nearby parking. These fishing docks are found at Lake Vermillion, Lake Alvin, Chief White Crane, Lewis & Clark and Springfield Recreation Areas, Newton Hills and Lake Herman State Parks.
