GFP Commission Holds June Meeting

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission held their June meeting at Good Earth State Park on June 8-9.

WILDLIFE PROPOSALS

River Otter Season

The Commission proposed the 2023 and 2024 river otter trapping and hunting seasons with no changes. With no change, the season will continue under its current structure.

This season will run from Nov. 1 – Dec. 31 or until 20 river otters have been harvested.

Antelope and Turkey Drawings

The Commission proposed to restrict the number of applications a person may submit during the third draw from up to five applications to one application for Prairie Spring Turkey, Fall Turkey, and Prairie Antelope. This creates consistency among turkey and antelope draws, creates more opportunity for more unique hunters, and reduces the amount of returned licenses.

Sage Grouse Season

The Commission concurred with the department’s recommendation to keep the Sage Grouse Hunting Season closed for 2023 and 2024.

The South Dakota Sage Grouse Management Plan provides guidance for a short hunting season if more than 300 male sage grouse are counted on leks in Butte and Harding Counties. Spring lek surveys indicated 110 males on those leks.

Public Comments Being Accepted

To hear the discussion on these proposals, audio from the meeting is available through South Dakota Public Broadcasting and will soon be available on the GFP website as part of the meeting archive.

To see these proposals in their entirety, visit gfp.sd.gov/commission/information.

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 be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CDT on July 16

The next GFP Commission meeting will be held in Chamberlain on July 20-21.