What we want legislators and the governor to understand and focus on is that about 200,000 people in South Dakota hunt and fish. We need to put more attention on those people.
Josh Haiar: An interview with a South Dakota outdoors leader about upcoming priorities Read More »
South Dakota wildlife officials are raising the state’s elk population goal in the Black Hills, while taking the opposite approach east of the Missouri River.
The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission moved on Thursday, May 7 to revise its initial draft elk management plan, increasing the Black Hills elk population objective from 6,000 to 8,000 elk to 6,000 to 9,000 elk.
In North Dakota, the Game and Fish Department announced last week that the state’s 2026 paddlefish snagging season would close last Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. to any additional harvest to provide long-term protection of the paddlefish population.
South Dakota wildlife officials denied a public petition to reduce early-season walleye limits on a stretch of the Missouri River, citing fisheries data indicating a healthy population.
Wes Chmela of Oacoma asked officials to shut down or lower the daily walleye limit from four fish to two fish during January, February, and March on upper Lake Francis Case. In his written petition, he also proposed either catch-and-release-only fishing or tighter size restrictions for that period on the stretch from the Platte-Winner bridge to Fort Thompson.
Josh Haiar: South Dakota officials say ‘no’ to lowering walleye limits Read More »
South Dakota’s wildlife management commission has voted to end the state’s nest predator trapping program and replace it with a youth-only program and a separate coyote bounty, after lawmakers again raised concerns with the original program.
South Dakota lawmakers replace the state’s nest predator program Read More »
A slate of outdoor bills is making its way through the South Dakota Legislature.
Some of them failed quickly, while others are still waiting for their first committee hearing. As of February 5, here are the proposals drawing the most attention from hunters and anglers, and why they matter.
South Dakota’s outdoor issues heating up in Pierre Read More »
South Dakota lawmakers will again weigh whether the state should require hunting and fishing guides to be licensed as the state’s annual winter bill-making session is under way.
It’s a debate that’s resurfaced as more and more guides advertise online. Some are leasing exclusive access to prime private acres, increasing hunting pressure elsewhere. Yet, some outfitters and landowners warn that a broad licensing approach could sweep in private arrangements that have little to do with issues of access and crowding.
The number of duck hunters in South Dakota has been declining. So, state wildlife officials have drafted another three-year waterfowl hunting-access plan to help retain seasoned hunters and call in new ones.
The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department’s 2026-2028 Waterfowl Hunting Access Plan builds on earlier efforts to respond to two decades of declining resident hunter numbers and growing concern about access and crowding.
South Dakota has bold plans to expand waterfowling access Read More »
Some lessons stick with you. For me, one of those came from former South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Secretary John Cooper.
Cooper, age 80, has been many things, from a Vietnam veteran and loving husband to a former federal game warden and head of the state’s Department of Game, Fish and Parks. But to those who have hunted waterfowl with him, he’s something else too: a living reminder that “hard is good.”
Josh Haiar: When it comes to hunting, hard is good Read More »
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