Hunting

A South Dakota hunter walks the tall grass with his dog.

Federal government awards $23 million for Prairie Pothole Region

BY: - March 21, 2023

The federal government plans to spend $23 million to restore and conserve grasslands and wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, which is known as the “duck factory” of North America and is home to migratory birds, fish and other wildlife. The money is part of the Department of the Interior’s $120 million in funding from […]

Cold Springs Creek in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where parcels of private land are being added to the Black Hills National Forest. (Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)

Black Hills National Forest adds 239 acres through deal with elk group and landowners

BY: - March 16, 2023

The Black Hills National Forest is growing by about one-third of a square mile. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation acquired 239 acres of land from two landowners for a total of $1.1 million and conveyed it to the national forest. The land is high in the remote western area of the forest in South Dakota, […]

An antelope walks through dry grass. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

State caps non-resident archery licenses on public land

BY: - March 9, 2023

South Dakota will join most other states in capping deer and antelope archery licenses for out-of-state hunters on public land. The state Game Fish and Parks Commission unanimously approved the change Thursday at a meeting in Pierre. South Dakota had been one of the few states that allowed an unlimited number of non-resident bowhunters on […]

(Photo by Travel South Dakota)

SD’s pheasant predator bounties are wrong for Nebraska, experts say

BY: - February 9, 2023

LINCOLN, Neb. — Pheasant hunting in South Dakota generates an estimated $220 million a year in retail spending and causes an annual flood of 120,000 orange-clad hunters into the state. But a Nebraska state senator’s effort to try to replicate that kind of economic impact by increasing Nebraska’s shrinking pheasant population prompted opposition from biologists […]

Inside the state Capitol in Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Bill would require trespassing hunters and anglers to pay landowners

BY: - February 7, 2023

A bill that would require hunters and anglers to pay a landowner for trespassing on their property, in addition to fines already enforced by the state, passed the South Dakota House Ag and Natural Resources Committee on an 8-5 vote Tuesday at the Capitol in Pierre.  The bill, sponsored by Rep. Neal Pinnow, R-Lemmon, aims […]

Dana Rogers, a spokesperson with South Dakota Bowhunters, testifies in a legislative committee on Jan. 2, 2023, at the Capitol in Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/SD Searchlight)

Bill to let landowners bag an elk every year gets grilled, dies in committee

BY: - February 2, 2023

PIERRE – The elk population is a “two-sided coin,” according to Jeremiah Murphy, a lobbyist for the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association. “It’s a trophy and it’s trouble,” he told legislators Thursday at the Capitol. A bill that tried to reconcile those two sides of the coin died in a legislative committee on an 11-1 vote. […]

Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Kevin Robling addresses the Legislature's House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Jan. 17, 2023, at the Capitol in Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/SD Searchlight)

Public access programs enroll a record amount of private land

BY: - January 17, 2023

PIERRE — A record 1.48 million acres of private land are enrolled in public access programs around the state, according to the state’s Game, Fish and Parks secretary.  “We’ve never had that number that high before and it’s a compliment to the efforts from our teams up there working with producers, building relationships,” said Kevin […]

northern Wisconsin for walleye with a sunset as a backdrop. (Joanna Gilkeson/USFWS)

Fewer South Dakotans fishing, prompting worries of state revenue loss

BY: - November 21, 2022

Fewer South Dakotans are fishing, and that could spell trouble for the state Game, Fish and Parks department. A majority of the department’s Division of Wildlife revenue funding comes from the sales of hunting and fishing licenses. GF&P relies on that money to conserve the state’s wildlife and outdoor recreation. Over 10,800 fewer resident fishing […]

GFP Commission Chair Olson steps down, 8-person body now 6

BY: - November 11, 2022

Russell Olson, chair of the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Commission, will step down from the body that helps oversee the department. “As an avid outdoorsman, it has been a privilege to serve on the commission,” Olson said. “I value my time served and am excited for the direction the agency is heading.” Olson […]

Public access fight draws state into court with townships

BY: - November 5, 2022

Deer hunters Bill Berry and Kyle Battell recently attempted to access public land in the rolling hills and rugged backcountry north of Wall.  But the parcels of public land were surrounded by privately owned land – creating something hunters call a “landlocked parcel.” That’s the case with many public acres west of the Missouri River.  […]

Ray Carter (standing) and Milt Carter (kneeling), both of Watertown, hunt on the Big Sioux River basin similar to that which will be expanded by the new Big Sioux CREP program

GF&P looks to lease 25,000 acres along the Big Sioux watershed

BY: - November 4, 2022

South Dakota is home to just under 1.5 million acres of private land leased for public hunting across the state. That number may soon rise by 25,000 acres.  State Game, Fish and Parks hunting access and Farm Bill coordinator Mark Norton gave the status update on private land leased for public hunting in South Dakota […]

Game, Fish and Parks Commission members (top row, from left) Russell Olson, Stephanie Rissler, Robert Whitmyre, Julie Barling, (bottom row, from left) Jon Locken, Travis Bies and Charles Spring. The commission's eighth seat is currently vacant. (Photos courtesy of GF&P)

Public-land hunters and anglers push for one of their own to fill vacant commission seat

BY: - October 31, 2022

Some public-land hunters and anglers feel underrepresented by the current Game, Fish and Parks Commission, and they hope to see a board member from a grassroots group – like the South Dakota Wildlife Federation or Black Hills Sportsmen Club – appointed to a vacant seat.  The GF&P Commission consists of eight members appointed by the […]