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Groton Daily Independent
Saturday, June 09, 2018 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 330 ~ 3 of 59
determining a random prevalence rate of CWD for deer within the park. To learn more about CWD and its known presence in South Dakota, visit https://gfp.sd.gov/wildlife-disease/.
Archery Deer Season to Begin Sept. 1;
Muzzleloader Handguns Allowed for Big Game Hunting
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Park (GFP) Commission set the archery deer season to start Sept. 1 and conclude Jan. 1 at their June meeting in Aberdeen this week.
The Commission will also allow for the use of muzzleloading handguns for big game hunting. The rule sets the standards for muzzleloading handguns.
Hunters will be allowed to the minimum standard of .50 caliber bullets when big game hunting as the vast majority of loads using smaller calibers do not meet the standard currently in place for foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.
The Commission also changed the term “factory rated” to “rated.” As currently written, the use of the term “factory rated” suggests that hand loaded ammunition is prohibited for big game hunting.
Fall Turkey Season Proposed
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission proposed to offer 355 fewer prairie unit and 200 fewer Black Hills turkey licenses for the 2018 fall turkey hunting season.
The Commission also proposed to close prairie units in Bon Homme County (12A), Brule County (13A), Davison/Hanson (8A), Hutchinson County (37A), Perkins County (53A), Union County (62A), establish and open a unit in Jackson County (Unit 39A), include all of Roberts County in Unit 48A and remove those portions of Lawrence, Meade and Pennington counties from the Black Hills unit.
The GFP Commission will consider the adoption of this proposal on July 11 in Pierre. To comment in person, the public hearing will be held July 11 Pierre at 2 p.m. CDT at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center. Individuals can also provide written comments on proposals by sending them to 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501, or online at https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/. To be included in the public record and to be considered by the Commission, comments must include a full name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of 72 hours before the public hearing (not including the day of the public hearing).
GFP Proposes to Ease Archery Equipment Restrictions
PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission proposed to remove several archery equipment restrictions at their June meeting in Aberdeen.
The proposal would expand the list of legal equipment and would remove confusion and often unen- forceable regulations. Modification of the rule would allow archers to make equipment decisions based on personal preference, performance and tailor their equipment setup to their individual requirements.
The proposal would allow archery hunters to:
Use arrow rests that have more than three inches of continuous contact with the arrow;
Use electronic devices mounted to the bow, provided they do not project a light beam or image.
Use compound bows with a let off of more than 80 percent;
Use compound bows shorter than 28 inches as measured from the top of the upper wheel or cam to
the bottom of the lower wheel or cam;
Use telescopic sights;
Use an arrow, including the attached broadhead, weighing less than 275 grains when hunting a big
game animal;
Use an arrow that is less than 26 inches long when measured from the notch of the nock to the end of
the shaft, not including the blunt or broadhead;
Use a bow that measures 40 pounds or greater to hunt elk with any broadhead;