Outdoor News Daily

The Game Fish and Parks Commission has finalized two popular game-bird seasons.

The 2010 Pheasant Season will run a total of 79 days, from Oct. 16, 2010, Jan. 2, 2011. The only change from the 2009 season is the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge Pheasant Season, which will be Dec. 13, 2010, to Jan. 2, 2011.

The Commission also set the 2010 Mourning Dove season as Sept. 1 – Nov. 9.

Archery Antelope and Deer Seasons Finalized

PIERRE, S.D. – The Game Fish and Parks Commission has finalized the 2010 Archery Deer and Archery Antelope Seasons without change from 2009.

The 2010 Archery Antelope Season will run Aug. 14 to Oct. 31, except when the Prairie Firearm Antelope season is open. Unlimited resident and nonresident “any antelope” and “any antelope plus two doe/fawn” licenses are available.

The 2010 Archery Deer Hunting Season will be Sept. 25, 2010, to Jan. 31, 2011.

Archery Equipment Change Proposed

PIERRE, S.D. – If a proposal by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission is approved, archery hunters will be allowed to shoot larger mechanical broadhead arrows this year at big game, except elk.

The proposal would allow archery hunters to use mechanical broadheads with a maximum cutting diameter of 2 inches. The current rule allows hunters to use mechanical broadheads with a maximum of 1 7/8 inches.

Information on the proposal is available on the GFP Web site at http://www.sdgfp.info under the headings “About Game, Fish and Parks” and “GFP Commission.”

The Commission will take final action on the measure at its May 6-7 meeting in Custer State Park at the Sylvan Lake Lodge.

Residents who would like to provide written comments on the archery proposal may do so up until 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 5. Comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, S.D., 57501, or e-mailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us . All comments must have the senders’ full names and addresses in order to be included in the public record.

Comments may also be presented in person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. MDT on Thursday, May 6.

General Muzzleloader Deer and Youth Deer Hunting Seasons Finalized

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has set the 2010 South Dakota Muzzleloader Deer season as Dec. 11, 2010, to Jan. 31, 2011.

There will be 1,000 “any deer” licenses available to resident hunters and unlimited single and double “any antlerless” deer licenses available to residents and nonresidents. A hunter may possess no more than five general muzzleloading deer licenses of any type.

After Dec. 31, all unfilled licenses will be valid for antlerless deer only.

The 2010 Youth Deer Hunting season will run Sept. 11, 2010, to Jan. 31, 2011. The statewide, antlerless-only season is open to residents and nonresident youth who have not reached the age of 18 by June 30.

Youth hunters may purchase up to two youth deer licenses and must be accompanied by adults while hunting.

Special Canada Goose, Tundra Swan and Nonresident Waterfowl Hunting License Numbers Finalized

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has finalized the Special Canada Geese and Tundra Swan seasons and the Nonresident Waterfowl hunting license numbers.

The Bennett County Special Canada Geese hunting season will run Oct. 16 to December 19. The Special Geese season has 800 available three-tag Canada goose licenses.

The 2010 Tundra Swan hunting season will run Oct. 2 through the end of the light goose hunting season. All counties east of the Missouri River except Charles Mix, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay, Union, Lincoln, Turner, Hutchinson and Douglas Counties will be open to hunting.

Single-tag tundra swan licenses will be available to 1,100 residents and 200 nonresidents.

Nonresident waterfowl hunters will have the same number of licenses available this year as the 2009 season. The maximum number of nonresident waterfowl licenses issued by lottery will be 4,000 special nonresident licenses, 2,000 early fall Canada geese temporary nonresident licenses, 2,000 fall three-day temporary nonresident waterfowl licenses, and 10,000 spring snow geese temporary nonresident licenses.

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