Hunting Guide 2018

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OCtober 2018

A Special Supplement to The Daily Republic and ADvisor Your

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October 2018

HUNTING GUIDE 3

CONTENTS South Dakota’s pheasant count jumps 47 percent from 2017........................................ 4-5 ‘Potential for a great year’ for waterfowl hunters.................................................. 6-7 Deer hunting remains steady in the area.................. 8-9 Some good advice on filling that pheasant bag..... 10-12 Sportsmen Against Hunger sees continued success................................................... 13 What to know about South Dakota hunting license and season information................ 14-15 Hunting and saving your hearing..................................16

The Mitchell Department of Public Safety

Guide editor: Marcus Traxler

Staff photographer: Matt Gade

Staff contributors: Ryan Deal, Luke Hagen, Jeremy Karll and Nick Sabato.

Guide designer: Andy Goble

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HUNTING GUIDE

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October 2018

South Dakota’s pheasant count jumps 47 percent from 2017

By Luke Hagen The Daily Republic Here’s a bit of a rooster rush.

The South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department is reporting a 47 percent increase from last year in its annual pheasant brood survey, which was released Monday, Aug. 27.

Officials are reporting a statewide count of 2.47 pheasants per mile, which is similar to 2014’s survey at 2.68. That year, an estimated 1.2 million pheasants were harvested.

“I don’t think anyone is going to argue there are more birds this year,” said GF&P Upland Game Biologist Travis Runia. “All the reports from the public were really encouraging really before we started our survey.

There was a lot of optimism, and that was really cool to see.”

The Mitchell and Huron regions each saw significant increases from last year’s survey. Mitchell’s 16 routes calculated a total of 4.28 pheasants per mile, second-best in the state

behind Chamberlain’s 5.29 pheasants per mile. The report shows Huron at 3.61 pheasants per mile and Pierre at 3.72.

GF&P each year in late-July through mid-August surveys 110 routes that each span 30 miles. They are spread across South Dakota with about 70 GF&P observers collecting data.

There are 13 regions in South Dakota for the survey. Twelve of the 13 regions saw increased counts this year compared to 2017. Western South Dakota, which includes Bennett, Haakon, Perkins, Butte and Fall River counties, saw a 5 percent decline.

Runia explained it’s difficult to get good survey conditions in the western part of the state. That’s because of dry conditions and a lack of morning dew — when pheasants are more active.

This year’s 47 percent increase was a sigh of relief for South Dakota hunters and businesses that depend on the

Forum News Service file photo The South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department is reporting a 47 percent increase from last year in its annual pheasant brood survey, which was released on Monday.

PHEASANT COUNT: Page 5

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October 2018

HUNTING GUIDE 5

PHEASANT COUNT

name for pheasant families. While the number of roosters declined 11 From Page 4 percent from last year, the number of hens increased 24 percent and tourism of nonresident hunters. Due total broods counted increased 38 to significant summer drought, the percent. The statewide average brood 2017 preseason forecast showed a size jumped 22 percent, from 4.99 count of 1.68 pheasants per mile. That to 6.08 chicks. Runia explained the was a 45 percent decrease from 2016. “driving force behind the population” With the difficult outlook prior to is the number of broods.

In a statement, GF&P secretary the season, fewer hunters came to South Dakota. GF&P estimated a 17 Kelly Hepler called the overall report a percent drop in nonresident hunt- “substantial increase” and “an exciting prospect for South Dakota’s 100th ers from 2016 to 2017. That pheasant hunting season. led to a total of 828,707 “Weather conditions continroosters harvested last ue to play a significant role year, the lowwhen it comes to bird numest total since bers and better weather 1990. helped this year with the “I know average pheasant brood we were down size increasing 22 perwith hunters last year cent over last year,” with the dismal forecast,” Hepler said.

Runia said. “I’ll be curious South Dakota’s tradito see how many of those folks tional statewide pheasmaybe come back this year, but ant season opens Oct. we usually see a pop in hunt20 and runs through ers when we see better brood Jan. 6, 2019. The counts, for sure.” limit is three rooster Another highlight from this pheasants with a year’s survey, Runia said, possession limit was the increased size of the of 15. broods, which is another

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HUNTING GUIDE

October 2018

‘Potential for a great year’ for waterfowl hunters 3.3M ducks in SD this year, federal count says

By Luke Hagen The Daily Republic South Dakota’s prairie potholes produced an increased number of resident ducks and geese this year.

Approximately 3.3 million ducks settled in South Dakota this year, according to the annual U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s spring survey. That’s a slight increase from 2017, when the count was about 3 million.

“Habitat conditions and pond numbers were up 5 percent in South Dakota,” said Rocco Murano, senior waterfowl biologist for the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department. “Late snowfall we got in April, even areas that were dry still attracted birds because there was temporary wetlands.”

Murano said an increased duck Submitted photo population and surplus in ponds in South Dakota were contradictory to This year’s duck season in South Dakota has the makings of a great year, state officials say.

the entire continental survey, which showed a 13 percent decrease in duck numbers and a 13 percent drop in ponds.

In South Dakota, though, late fall rains and large spring precipitation events have made for some good waterfowl hunting conditions, Murano said. Three duck species that often look for temporary ponds during spring breeding are pintails, northern shovelers and blue-wing teal.

Those ducks each jumped in population this year in South Dakota, including a 68 percent increase in pintails and 22 percent increase in blue-wing teal. Mallards decreased in South Dakota by 7 percent.

“That’s really on par to what we saw continentally,” Murano said. “We had just under 670,000 mallards as compared to 720,000 last year.”

POTENTIAL: Page 7

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October 2018

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POTENTIAL From Page 6

South Dakota also hit its objective number of Canada geese for the third consecutive year. The range is between 115,000 and 165,000, and this year there were 144,269, a 14 percent decrease from last year.

Much of eastern South Dakota’s duck season opened on Sept. 29. The daily limit is six ducks, with species-specific limits in place. Hunters can harvest five mallards daily — two of which can be hens — and two pintails, which is a change from one pintail last year. Though, Murano noted the limit is likely to change back to one pintail next season.

“As far as the Central Flyway goes, we’re trying really hard to stop that back and forth,” Murano said. “It doesn’t take a big fluctuation population for the current harvest strategy to prescribe different regulations. But

we’re trying really hard to get that to stop.”

The High Plains Zone, which includes most of West River, opens Oct. 13. The Low Plains South Zone — which runs along the South Dakota-Nebraska border — opens Oct. 27.

Shooting hours for waterfowl are one half-hour before sunrise to sunset, and non-toxic shot must be used for hunting.

“We’re set up for a good year,” Murano said. “You never know, like last year, we had a really early freeze, around Halloween, and that messed things up, at least for water hunters. And the long-range forecast says we’re looking at a below-normal (temperature) October. But we have the water conditions and plenty of ducks, so we have potential for a great year.”

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Tickets can be purchased at the Corn Palace Box Office from now until the banquet starts, anytime at Sodak or Cabela’s on October 18th & 19th, or from any committee member. Tickets are sold on a first come basis. We have had a huge response and apologize in advance for anyone who does not receive a ticket. Only 700 tickets sold and $50.00 per ticket includes membership and dinner.

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HUNTING GUIDE

October 2018

Deer hunting remains steady in the area Moderate winters have helped population numbers

By Ryan Deal The Daily Republic Deer hunting in the area is on the rebound.

The Mitchell area was impacted by a small outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in 2016, but local conservation officer Andy Petersen notices a rebound from the disease.

“I think from I have been seeing out and around, the deer are coming back pretty strongly from that,” Petersen said. “It doesn’t usually take the deer population very long to rebound.

Of course, it eliminates a lot of the Shutterstock Photo older and mature deer, but I have still

been seeing quite a few deer out and around.”

The disease, which is caused by a virus that is spread by a biting midge, has affected deer herds in Davison and Hanson County, along with some surrounding areas.

“I think in this area it is rebounding,” Petersen added. “I would say it’s getting better. The population is growing. I wouldn’t call it the highest it’s ever been, certainly not because they are still coming back from a large die off a couple years ago.”

DEER HUNTING: Page 9

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October 2018

DEER HUNTING From Page 8

Petersen said the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks conducts its fall classification survey in October and it determines the deer numbers for the upcoming season. It calculates the bucks, does and fawns in each county.

In Davison County last year, 130 deer were harvested. In Hanson County last year, 134 deer were harvested.

“We had quite a large die-off and that’s when they were rebounding from another die off about two years ago before that,” Petersen said. “The population was down quite a bit there two years ago and it’s coming back steadily now.”

The deer population generally depends the crop harvest and the winter weather. The state was at its peak for deer hunting between 2007-09, but a couple harsh winters impacted the number of deer. However, the winters have been moderate since and the populations have risen.

“Deer are pretty resilient,” Petersen said. “It takes quite a severe winter before we start seeing mortality from the winter. So the last two winters have been pretty mild. We haven’t had a lot of snow. So they’ve been able to forage and I would say very little die off from winter mortality in the last four to five years here.”

Deer hunting season for East River begins on Nov. 17 and ends on Dec. 2.

The West River season begins on Nov. 10 and ends on Nov. 25.

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October 2018

Some good advice on filling that pheasant bag My father had an adventuresome spirit. Japan had recently surrendered, and his years of double shifts, seven days a week in the Chicago Chrysler plant building B-29 engines were behind him. I have often wondered if he fine-tuned an Enola Gay engine during that time. Perhaps he had accumulated some vacation time.

He and a friend drove to Oldham, South Dakota to hunt pheasants in our vintage 1938 Studebaker. My earliest childhood recollection has me peering into the trunk at a pile of dead pheasants. I later recall Dad talking about how difficult it was to get shotgun shells back then. Our ammo manufacturers were no doubt working on the war effort.

Did that early recollection have anything to do with my boarding the Chicago and Northwestern “Dakota Courtesy photo 400” 15 years later and heading to Brookings? I really don’t know, but A student at South Dakota State College at the time, Roger Wiltz is pictured here in 1960 with his I do know that my Winchester Model shotgun and a handful of pheasants.

97 12-gauge was my most important bit of luggage.

I was as green as green gets. The rest of the guys in Gym Dorm had gone home for the weekend, and on Saturday morning, my Model 97 and I went walking east on the road that led to the SDSC agronomy farm. It wasn’t opening day, I didn’t have a hunting license, but I didn’t know about those things. I do remember actually knocking some of those birds out of the air, and I do remember the looks on the faces of those who passed me, as I headed back to the dorm with pheasants and shotgun in hand. Why I didn’t get arrested I’ll never know.

What have I learned about pheasants 2,000 birds and 58 years later?

I’ll think hard on this, and I’ll list these things in what I consider order of importance.

GOOD ADVICE: Page 11

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HUNTING GUIDE 11

October 2018

GOOD ADVICE

pattern at 25-30 yards. This leaves some room for shooter error. It also From Page 10 spells more lethal hits and fewer lost birds. I’ve personally used the more Proper choke ranks at the top. In open skeet choke with great success.

1960, at least around my hunting cir- Later in the season, especially if you cle, full choke was the only choke. My are limited to a single barrel, you Model 97 was choked full, and I never might choose modified as an all-purgave improvepose choke. ment a secA modified ond thought. choke genGenerally, erally throws a full choke that 30-inch in 12 gauge pattern at will throw a 30-35 yards.

30-inch patI’ve used tern at 40 the word yards. Forty “generally.” yards is a long Know your shot. I would own gun. Get estimate that some white most of the wrapping shots we take paper and are at 20 yards or less. A direct full pattern your gun on the side of an choke hit at 20 yards or less makes a old building. Pace off 25, 30, 35, and mess of a pheasant carcass. That tight 40 yards. Test your different screwpattern more often spells a clipped in choke tubes. I hope not, but you wing tip and lost pheasant. Back then, might learn that your shotgun tends we learned quickly to let a bird get out to shoot high right or low left. there before firing.

For my second priority, let’s look An improved cylinder choke is pref- at ammo. Know what you’re getting! erable. Generally, an improved cylinder choke will throw that 30-inch GOOD ADVICE: Page 12 001780766r1

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Scope out powerlines.

This hunting season we urge you to follow our important safety tips. Look up and look out for overhead power lines. Aim away from power poles, overhead power lines and transformers.

And if you see a downed line or damaged electrical equipment, call 911 immediately.

Shawn H. Electric Operations Supervisor, 12 years of service

HUNTING GUIDE

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GOOD ADVICE From Page 11

Not all 12-gauge ammo was created equal! Mature rooster pheasants are tough birds. Look at the fine print on the box. If your ammo has a muzzle velocity of 1220 feet per second, you are under-gunned. Think 1400-1500 f.p.s. for maximum penetration. Some ammo gives you the old black powder equivalent in what they call “dram equivalents.” If the dram equivalent is 3-1/4, you are under-gunned. Look for a 3-3/4 dram equivalent in 2-3/4-inch shells carrying 1-1/4 quarter ounces of shot. Magnum shells are unnecessary for pheasants (unless you anticipate jumping a fair amount of coyotes).

Shot size is important. I always looked at #6 shot as being ideal for pheasants and #5 shot as being acceptable. These are still good choices, but my late and great pheasant hunting partner Bob Wiechmann taught me that size 7-1/2 shot is even more effective. I doubted its effectiveness on long shots, but learned that the 7-1/2’s with a denser pattern were even more effective at longer ranges. You will have a difficult time finding 7-1/2 shot in full hunting loads. It calls for loading your own ammo.

My third recommendation has to do with the old adage, “The harder I work, the luckier I seem to get.” This applies to pheasant hunting. When you are walking down rows of corn or milo, or when you are tramping through CRP, zig and zag. Don’t walk in a straight line. Wily ringnecks can draw a bead on your direction, and if they know you are going to walk on by, they will hold.

Above all, don’t go too fast.

As you walk through a field with a column of hunters, you are pushing or driving birds. If the end of the field is open, they might hold rather than flush. Take the time and effort to thoroughly kick around in that last 10-15 yards. It will pay dividends. It also pays off to stop and pause once in a while.

This drives some birds to lose their cool and flush.

In conclusion, make maximum use of that final field of the day and that last half hour of legal shooting time. Choose some slough or CRP next to dense standing corn … in other words, those places where the birds will roost. Limits are often filled in that final 15 minutes.

I am interested in knowing what other veteran hunters think of my advice, and what they would have recommended if this were their column. Presuming I get some feedback, I will pass it along in my regular weekly column. Reach me at rwiltz@charles-mix.com.

October 2018

Courtesy photo Roger Wiltz’s father, John, shown here in 1945 following a pheasant hunt.

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HUNTING GUIDE 13

October 2018

Sportsmen Against Hunger sees continued success More than 34,000 pounds of game meat donated to food pantries last year 16 elk, 1,739 pheasants, 1,918 Canada geese, and 152 walleyes. This, plus game meat donated through SAH food drives, resulted in 34,015 pounds of game meat deliv-

ered to food pantries either directly or through Feeding South Dakota food banks for distribution to families in need.

Over 200 hunters took advantage of the SAH Processing Certificate Pro-

gram to pay for processing of donated antlerless deer. Also, over 100 hunters used the SAH processing certificates available from participating SAH processors to pay processing costs of donated Canada geese. Funds used in backing processing certificates came from nearly 14,000 hunters who made cash donations through the Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) hunting license application check-off system. Hunters are encouraged to continue using the GFP application check-off cash donation system and the SAH Processing Certificate Program.

For more information on Sportsmen Against Hunger, go to website www.feedtheneedsd.com.

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By Ron Fowler S.D. Sportsmen Against Hunger Thanks to the interest and effort of many sportswomen and sportsmen, a variety of game meat was again donated in fall of 2017 through Sportsmen Against Hunters (SAH) to families in need across the State. In addition to these hunters the success of this game donation program was made possible by participating game processors and by public food pantries associated with Feeding South Dakota.

Expansion of the SAH game donation program over the years to provide this variety of game meat is greatly appreciated by the food pantries since they are better able to meet the requests of needy families.

The variety of game donated this past year included 614 deer, 21 antelope,

HUNTING GUIDE

14

October 2018

What to know about South Dakota hunting license and season information

By The Daily Republic Here’s a list of what hunters need to know ahead of the hunting seasons in the Mitchell area.

Hunting season dates

► Pheasant n Resident only: Oct. 13-15 n Youth only (ages 12-17): Oct. 6-10 n Statewide: Oct. 20 to Jan. 6, 2019. n *Future opening dates: The pheasant season traditionally opens on the third Saturday in October, which is Oct. 19 in 2019 and Oct. 17 in 2020. n *Shooting hours: Noon Central time to sunset from Oct. 20-26; 10 a.m. Central until sunset for the rest of the season. ► Prairie chicken/grouse n Sept. 15 to Jan. 6, 2019. ► Ducks n Low Plains — north zone: Sept. 29 to Dec. 11 n Low Plains — middle zone: Sept. 29 to Dec. 11 n Low Plains — south zone: Oct. 27 to Jan. 8, 2019. n High Plains: Oct. 13 to Jan. 17, 2019.

n Youth: Sept. 22-23. ► Deer n Apprentice: Sept. 8 to Jan. 1, 2019 n Archery: Sept. 1 to Jan. 1, 2019. n East River: Nov. 17 to Dec. 2. n West River: Nov. 10-25 n Black Hills: Nov. 1-30 n Muzzleloader: Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, 2019. *Starting in 2018, there is no longer a minimum age to participate in a mentor hunting program. The youth deer season is now called the apprentice deer season and covers individuals ages 12 and older. (Mentored hunting is available for South Dakota residents only, and hunter safety practices are required for individuales ages 12-16 who are not participating in a mentored hunt.) ► Antelope n Archery: Aug. 18 to Oct. 31. n Firearms: Sept. 29-Oct. 14. ► Fall turkey n Nov. 1 to Jan. 31, 2019. ► Sandhill crane n Sept. 22 to Nov. 18 *For those seasons not listed here, see the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department website at gfp.sd.gov.

Places to buy hunting licenses in Mitchell n

Cabela’s, 601 Cabela Drive.

Coborn’s, 1800 N. Main St. n County Fair Foods, 1305 W. Havens Ave. n Cubby’s, 1000 S. Burr St. or 1700 W. Havens Ave. n Freedom, 512 S. Sanborn Boulevard n Northside Sinclair, 1905 N. Main St. n SoDak Sports, 515 E. Spruce Ave. n Walmart, 1101 E. Spruce Ave. n Westside Sinclair, 1527 W. Havens Ave. n

HUNTING LICENSE: Page 15

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HUNTING GUIDE 15

October 2018

HUNTING LICENSE From Page 14

Cost for licenses ► Resident fees n Combination (small game and fishing): $55 n Senior combination (age 65 and up): $40 n Junior combination (ages 16-18): $27 n Small game: $33 n One day small game: $12 n Youth small game (ages 12-15): $5 n State migratory bird certification: $5 n Predator/varmint: $5 n Furbearer: $30 ► Non-resident fees n Small game (two 5-day periods): $121 n Youth small game, ages 12-15: $10 n Waterfowl (valid 10 days, lottery only): $121 n Waterfowl (valid 3 days, lottery only): $86 n Predator/varmint: $40 n Furbearer: $275 n State migratory bird certification: $5 n Shooting preserve (annual): $121 n Shooting preserve (5-day): $76 n Shooting preserve (1-day): $46 n 2018 licenses are valid Dec. 15, 2017 through Jan. 31, 2019. n 2019 licenses will be valid Dec. 15, 2018 through Jan. 31, 2020.

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Pool • Darts • Video Lottery 3 Dining Rooms

996-9417  WWW.MITCHELLDEPOT.COM

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HUNTING GUIDE

16

October 2018

Hunting and saving your hearing

By Patricia Larson Shields Doctor of Audiology, Hearing Plus, Mitchell It’s October in South Dakota and we love our outdoor activities such as hunting and shooting. The thrill of the hunt makes a heart pound, the adrenalin rush and the feeling of satisfaction when the game is bagged.

The downside is the effect the sport has on our ears and hearing. Hunters and shooters run a high risk for a noise induced hearing loss (NIHL).

A single exposure of gunfire or over a lifetime can cause NIHL. NIHL is con-

sidered to be an exposure of 85 dBA or louder of sound. The inner hair cells, which transmit the sound waves to the nerve impulses become damaged.

Currently the ability to regenerate or artificially recreate these hair cells does not exist.

A study by the university of Wisconsin noted how hearing loss, over time, can be detrimental to hunters.

This study found men aged 48 to 92 who hunted regularly experienced a high frequency hearing loss. They also noted these men had a risk factor of 7 percent more loss for every five years of hunting experience. The men noted, they did not wear hearing protection whether target shooting or hunting. Some hunters who don’t use hearing protection say it’s because the muffs or plugs interfere with the sound associated with the hunt. Additionally, hearing loss may not affect both ears equally. I often see greater hearing loss in the opposite ear of the shoulder they hold their gun to. This is because the acoustic shadowing of the head acts as a slight protector of

t h e s n a ke d e n l o d g e . c o m The Snake Den Lodge has been owned and operated by Cordie and Marlys Schlomer since the mid 1990s, with the help of family and friends.

Casey and Jamie Griffith, son-in-law and daughter, are now carrying on the family tradition and look forward to guiding pheasant and deer hunts.

We have catered to thousands of hunters from every state in the union and focus on getting them (and their friends) to come back year after year.

Safety Rules

We focus on high quality habitat for a high quality hunt. Each hunt will be guided by one or more of our experienced guides. Our guides are family and friends that have hunted since birth and enjoy every minute of it.

1. Obtain specific permission before hunting on private property. Use current maps and pay careful attention to boundaries so as not to intrude on populated areas.

The Lodge contains 10 rooms, each with its own bathroom, and can sleep anywhere from two to four adults per room. There are an additional four rooms on site for lodging, along with another lodge north of Presho which contains seven bedrooms and five bathrooms.

2.To be extra safe, unload guns while traveling to and from the hunting site.

Pheasant Hunting at the Snake Den Lodge

We offer both regular season and preserve hunts at the Snake Den. Most hunts will occur in some type of food plot, native grass, wetland/slough grass, or Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grass.

3. Always wear distinctive hunter’s orange clothing.

4. When storing a gun, always unload it first.

Regular season hunts are from the third Saturday in October until the first Sunday in January. The 2018-19 season dates are October 20, 2018 thru January 6, 2019. The daily limit is three rooster pheasants. Each group will be guided by one or more guides with dogs, most likely Labrador retrievers. Hunters may bring and use their own dogs as long as they work well within the hunt.

5. Please be responsible, report any shooting of power equipment or lines to the local authorities.

25487 403rd Ave. Mitchell I-90, Exit 325 Betts Road 605-996-7516 • www.centralec.coop

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As another season begins, we ask hunters to pay extra attention to the rules of hunting.

with filters in them. Look for the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). It is a guideline for how many decibels are being reduced. The higher the number the better, the better protection you have.

Even with the best hearing protection, long term exposure to firearms can cause a temporary or permanent damage to hearing. Even when I hunt with a bow, I wear my hearing protectors. I realize I am not hunting alone and someone else may choose to use a firearm. Protect your hearing now to continue to enjoy the sounds of the hunt.

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Hunting Safety For Everyone

the sound reverberating back from the gun. Hunters shooting rifles or shotguns, typically suffer greater hearing loss in the ear that is furthest from the muzzle. The barrel length, cartridge intensity, bullet speed and the presence of a muzzle brake can also affect the amount of sound. Shooting barrels are generally louder when they are shorter. The muzzle brake can go up to 11 dBA. Gunshot decibel ranges from 140 dBA to 190 dBA. This can be deafening, causing hearing damage and permanent hearing loss.

Hearing protection designed for hunting or shooting sports is either electronic or nonlinear. The electronic devices allow sound in but shut off when there is a loud noise. Device styles come in earmuffs, custom made in-the-ear devices, one sizefits-all ear devices, one-size-fits all plugs and behind-the-ear devices.

The nonlinear are not electronic, allowing sound to be dampened but still getting through. Nonlinear styles are either earplugs that are inserted into the ear canal or custom-made

PO Box 220 • Presho, SD 57568-022 • L : 605-895-2400 • B : 605-895-2452 • C : 605-280-5568

HUNTING GUIDE 17

October 2018

Game, Fish & Park’s goal is to provide recreational opportunities

By Kevin Robling South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Non-meandered waters started to become an issue during the early 1990s, when eastern South Dakota received consecutive years of above-average precipitation. As a result, the long-standing question was, “What are the rights of landowners who own flooded land under public waters versus the interest

of the public to recreate on these waters?”

In 2004, the South Dakota Supreme Court concluded in Parks v. Cooper that the Legislature had the obligation to decide how non-meandered bodies of water were to be beneficially used in the public interest. The starting point for this determination was that water is a public trust resource that belongs to the citizens of South Dakota. In 2014, a decade after the Parks decision, a strong push to address the issue and provide statutory clarity was pursued by the Legislature but failed. The non-meandered waters issue remained largely silent until the Duerre v. Hepler decision in March 2017.

Following the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) closure of boat ramps on many popular non-meandered lakes in May 2017, the Legislature took action during the special session held in June 2017, holding

four public meetings and engaging hundreds of stakeholders. During the subsequent bill hearings, the legislative committee heard testimony from more than 70 individuals, considered 10 bill drafts, and adopted numerous amendments.

The key policy that brought about the resulting “Open Waters Compromise: SDCL 41-23” was the principle that non-meandered waters were open by default, unless a landowner specifically posted them closed following the marking requirement rules promulgated by the GFP Commission.

Since the 2018 legislative session, GFP staff have been working with landowners to open non-meandered waters that have been marked closed and keep open waters open for public use. Currently, 3,795 acres have been marked closed to public recreational use; which is less than 2 percent of the publicly accessible non-meandered water acres across the state.

This is down from the peak of over 5,000 non-meandered water acres closed in March 2018.

SDCL 41-23 gives the department an opportunity to negotiate with landowners on specific terms and conditions set by the landowner to ensure recreational opportunities are not lost and continue for the 430,000-plus resident and nonresident hunters and anglers who enjoy recreating in South Dakota. To date, one access agreement has been signed with the landowners who own flooded property under Reetz Lake in Day County. This agreement reopened one of the most popular walleye fisheries in northeastern South Dakota for public open water fishing from May 1 to Sept.

30. Between Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, 2018, 371 boats were launched at the Reetz Lake public access, resulting in approximately 850 angler-use days.

OPPORTUNITIES: Page 18

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HUNTING GUIDE

18

OPPORTUNITIES

petitioning landowners on Goose Lake, which was approved by the From Page 17 Commission, allowing the landowners to close off 26 acres of flooded property that surrounded their domiThe GFP Commission has heard two cile. contested case hearings regarding The department’s goal is to continSection 8 lakes since SDCL 41-23 was ue providing recreational opportunipassed. The first case involved peti- ties to families and outdoor enthusitioning landowners on Cattail-Kettle asts who enjoy South Dakota’s great Lake, which was denied by the GFP outdoor resources while meeting the Commission. The other case involved

October 2018

on the ice did contribute to additional closures.

In summary, the implementation of SDCL 41-23 is working and providing recreational opportunities to the sportsmen and women of South Dakota and its visitors and the department is committed to conserving our state’s heritage to enhance the outdoor opportunities for current and future generations.

needs and addressing the concerns of the landowners who own the land under the water.

The “recreation and respect” campaign and the “adopt-a-lake” program have been front and center. With ice fishing season around the corner, the department strongly encourages recreational users to “leave no trace” and pick up all garbage left on the ice. Last year, excessive garbage left

HUNTING FindHEADQUARTERS everything you need for the hunt from these area businesses!

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Noon Specials MondayFriday!

Country Phone: 495-4242 Pumper East of Forestburg on Hwy. 34

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Owners Wayne & Peg Winckler

We are a Small Town Grocer with Big Town Selections!

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Platte Food Center

•Beer, Wine & Soft Drinks •Appetizers •Meat & Cheese Trays •Fresh Meat & Produce •Catering

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605-337-3325

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GEAR UP FOR HUNTING AT DAKOTA FOOD & FUEL

HUNTING GUIDE 19

October 2018

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There’s No Place Like

Book Your Next Hunt At Our Premier Lodge!

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Pheasant Hunting • • • • • • •

Package Includes:

3 Pheasants per Day Professional Guides Bird Dogs Field Lunch Lodging for 3 Nights Fishing (Private Lake) Breakfast & Supper Included • Bird Cleaning & Packaging • Access to Heated Dog Kennel 001479215r1

Goose Hunting

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Granite Springs Lodge, LLC

25840 422nd Ave. • Alexandria, SD 57311 605-239-4404 • granitesprings@triotel.net

HUNTING GUIDE

20

October 2018

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Full Service Meat Department

Lunch Orders or Catering!

Call ahead...we deliver!

Coborn’s Signature Sandwiches, Hot Rotisserie Chicken, & Fresh Salads

ONLY full service fresh seafood and meat counter in town and we are staffed until 8 p.m.

We feature Certified Hereford Beef.

We cut to your order!

Largest Cold Beer Selection in 50 Mile Area

We have everything you need to fill your coolers and offers over 200 varieties of bulk nuts, candies, dried fruits & more!

Nobody offers you a better variety and quality!

24 Hour Pay at the Pump

Easy in and out with access to the entire store.

1800 N. Main Mitchell, SD • (605) 996-5593 www.coborns.com