TURKEY HUNTING
TURKEY HUNTING
South Dakota
Resident vs . nonresident dispute yields plan limiting out-of-state hunting licenses
Proposal affects Black Hills spring turkey season
“ We don ’ t want our residents thinking we ’ ve forgotten about them . We know who they are , what they do for our state , and they are first and foremost who we represent . But we also welcome our nonresidents .”
-- SD Game , Fish , Parks Commissioner Stephanie Rissler by Joshua Haiar South Dakota Searchlight
Sioux Falls -- A state commission is refereeing a dispute over who should have access to a prime hunting opportunity in South Dakota ’ s picturesque Black Hills .
In-state residents say they ’ re tired of competing with nonresidents for turkey hunting spots in the spring . A group representing them recently proposed limiting nonresident licenses to 661 through a draw system , which would be a drastic reduction from the unlimited system that awarded licenses to 3,170 nonresidents this year .
Some state officials say the proposal goes too far . So , during a recent July meeting at Good Earth
State Park , the South Dakota Game , Fish and Parks Commission endorsed what some members described as a more reasonable limit of 2,225 nonresident licenses . That proposal is open for public comment and could be finalized during the Commission ’ s September meeting .
In-state residents obtained 346 fewer licenses than nonresidents for Black Hills spring turkey hunting this year . Black Hills Sportsmen Club President Cody Hodson spoke in support of limitations on nonresidents to create better opportunities for residents .
“ We have quite a few members who have brought forth concerns about losing hunting opportunities , having random , out-of-state license plates at every roosting tree here in the Black Hills throughout the hunting season ,”
Page 38 , Dakota Country , September 2024 www . dakotacountrymagazine . com