Don`t call it `canned` hunting - South Dakota Wildlife Federation

1-888-OVERBAG
JUNE
2008
Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation
Volume 48, Number 6
Judge orders USDA to halt
expanded haying and grazing on
Conservation Reserve Program lands
Barcoded Flats
Inside
this issue:
Rising Water Levels
Good For Missouri
River Fishing
Page 3
45th Annual SDWF
Conservation Camp
Thrives Despite the
Rain
Page 4
Sportsman’s
Paradise exhibit
featured at
Cultural Heritage
Center
Page 7
GF&P gets airborne
for antelope survey
Page 8
Pheasants and
Other Upland Birds
in Peak of Nesting
Season
Page 8
USDA action puts 24 million acres of wildlife habitat at risk
WASHINGTON, DC (July 9) – A U.S. District Judge yesterday
issued a temporary restraining order against the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA), forcing the agency to halt efforts to open
24 million acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands
to expanded haying and grazing beyond what current management plans allow. The restraining order was issued after the
National Wildlife Federation and six of its state affiliates filed
a lawsuit against the USDA, arguing that the agency failed to
look at the environmental impacts of the action as required under
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
“Conservationists have been working with private landowners and Congress for more than 20 years to build and maintain
a strong Conservation Reserve Program,” said Julie Sibbing,
Senior Program Manager for Agriculture Policy at the National
Wildlife Federation. “In one fell swoop, the USDA attempted
to undermine decades of progress by circumventing the carefully balanced managed haying and grazing already allowed
on these lands.”
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is America’s
largest private lands conservation program, covering nearly 35
million acres of land. On May 27, the USDA announced plans
to allow landowners holding CRP contracts to modify their
contracts, without reimbursing taxpayers, allowing haying or
grazing on 24 million acres of habitat this year. The USDA
failed to study the environmental impacts of its action before
it began issuing permits to landowners. Federal law, including
the National Environmental Policy Act, requires such a study
each time a federal agency undertakes an important action like
this one that could harm the environment.
Currently, haying and grazing are allowed on CRP lands according to a management plan that takes into account the needs
of wildlife. According to the National Wildlife Federation, allowing additional haying or grazing beyond these management
provisions on nearly two-thirds of CRP lands would harm birds
like sage-grouse, which in states like Washington depend heavily on these habitats. Winter cover would also be destroyed for
birds like pheasants and prairie chickens that live year-around
in one place. If the haying or grazing were done late enough,
the grassland would not have enough time to recover before the
nesting season next spring.
“The proposed program could have serious impacts on wildlife such as the greater sage-grouse and Columbian sharp-tailed
grouse, both of which have been proposed for protection under
the Endangered Species Act,” said Ben Deeble, Sage Grouse
Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation. “All we ask
is that the USDA adheres to the principle of looking before you
leap when making decisions that could harm wildlife.”
The case was filed on June 30 in the in the Western U.S. District Court in Seattle. Joining the National Wildlife Federation
on the suit are the Indiana Wildlife Federation, South Dakota
Wildlife Federation, Washington Wildlife Federation, Arkansas
Wildlife Federation, Louisiana Wildlife Federation and Kansas
Wildlife Federation. A hearing on the full merits of the case will
be held next Thursday, July 17. Until then, the USDA cannot
issue any additional permits and has been ordered to contact
landowners who have already received permits and notify them
of the restraining order.
“Unfortunately for landowners, the USDA made a promise
it was not legally allowed to make,” said Sibbing. “As in the
past, we will continue to work with landowners to maximize the
benefits of the CRP program for both people and wildlife.”
Yesterday’s order does not impact the emergency release of
CRP acres in response to drought and flood.
“As this case is being decided, we have heard that the USDA
is also considering plans to offer penalty free releases of Conservation Reserve Program acres to landowners to plant more
grain crops,” said Sibbing. “The National Wildlife Federation
opposes early releases of CRP land without reimbursement of
the taxpayer funds invested in them. This restraining order sends
a strong message to USDA that moving forward with such an
effort without conducting a proper environmental impact statement is ill-advised.”
Don’t call it ‘canned’ hunting
By Roger Kaseman, Grand Forks Herald Published Sunday,
June 29, 2008
LINTON, N.D. — In a series of letters to North Dakota
newspapers and in a deceptive radio ad, Citizens to Preserve
North Dakota Property Rights is attacking a petition drive
for an initiated measure sponsored by North Dakota Hunters
for Fair Chase. The measure would end “canned hunting”
in North Dakota.
A canned hunt guarantees a “hunter” will kill a trophy deer
or elk. Canned hunt operators can guarantee a kill because
they hand-raise the target deer and elk in an escape-proof
pasture, making the “hunt” foolproof.
The people behind the radio ad and letters are canned hunt
operators. The right these citizens want to protect is to pen
deer and elk in an escape-proof pasture, then sell the captive animals to sham hunters for fraudulent hunts that the
animals can’t escape.
Two hundred years ago, buckskins sold for $1 each. “Buck”
become a synonym for “dollar.” Commercialization of
wildlife encouraged market hunters to slaughter deer for a
buck a hide.
One hundred years ago, with deer and most other game
teetering on the verge of extinction, Theodore Roosevelt in… Continued on page 3
Out Of Doors
2
May 2008
Executive Director’s Update by Chris Hesla
Our 62nd Annual Convention will be held August 22-24
in Murdo. All members are welcome and urged to attend.
There will be a complete Agenda in next month’s Out-ofDoors.
TSDWF will be sending out
the 2008 Pheasant Hunt and
Buffalo Shoot raffle tickets
very soon.
The dog days of summer are here in Pierre. It has been near
100 degrees for several days with very little moisture. The
good thing is that South Dakota experienced some much
needed moisture, which in turn has created good cover and
a plentiful bug crop. I have been noticing a phenomenal
amount of young pheasants in the ditches and roadways. It
looks like SD may again have a tremendous pheasant hatch
for this year. GF&P should be releasing their brood samples
survey in August, it will be interesting to see their numbers.
It will also be interesting to see what happens to our bird
numbers when we start losing CRP across the state.
Speaking of CRP, SDWF decided to join NWF in a lawsuit
to stop the USDA from opening up CRP lands for haying
and grazing.
The Department of Agriculture announced on May 27 that
24 million acres of the Conservation Reserve Program
would be opened to haying and grazing this summer following the conclusion of the primary nesting season. Haying
and grazing can take
place with no reduction in the CRP rental rate being paid by
the government. The Federal Register notice announcing
the decision offered little rationale but infers that livestock
producers are being negatively impacted by high feed
prices. No data is provided to support this assertion.
While USDA has made some effort to avoid impacts to
wildlife by waiting until the end of the primary nesting
season, the impacts to wildlife will be significant as winter
thermal and spring nesting cover is destroyed or degraded.
We also anticipate there will be an increase in sod busting
because producers know they will have additional CRP
forage later in the summer. The Secretary made no attempt to comply with the National Environmental Policy
Act. Basically, the USDA did not follow the needed and
required steps to legally open CRP to haying and grazing.
The bottom line is that we, as taxpayers, have already paid
the producers for this grass to be left for wildlife and idled
acres.
I want to thank the members of SDWF who have so
graciously given money, bought tickets and generously
supported SDWF. It seems that these days we are always
struggling financially but we always seem to find a way
to stay afloat. As a member, you will receive a lot of mail
that includes different ways to support SDWF. I thank you
for taking the time to consider each and every fundraising
opportunity. These fundraising opportunities make it possible for SDWF to survive.
President’s Column by Rieck Eske
It’s that time of year again for our Annual State Convention
and Elections. This year we are holding our Convention
in Murdo, South Dakota. Sponsored by the Jones County
Sportsmen’s Club.
The primary goal is to
establish a CRP program
initiative thru which all
parties can address high
priority conservation and
environmental objections of
the state
I believe that I am repeating myself here but we really need
to show support for the SDWF. The Federation does a lot
for all Sportsmen, weather it is habitat, conservation issues
or legislative issues. We are a major force in South Dakota
and we need to come together and unite as one.
The Federation can use your help, run for an office or director. This year we elect a President, 3 Vice Presidents, and
2 West River Directors at large and 2 East River Directors
at large and District 6,4,1 are also up. The Officers terms
are for 1 year. The Directors at Large are for 2 years and
the Directors are for 4 years.
We also have committees that need to be filled. This is a
volunteer positions and appointment is for 1 year. Some
committees only meet when needed and a lot of the work
can be done by email and phone. The committees are
USPS 503-320
ISSN 0883-6809
OUT OF DOORS EDITOR
Chris Hesla
Box 7075 • Pierre, SD 57501
Phone 605-224-7524
South Dakota Wildlife Federation OUT OF DOORS is the
official monthly publication of the South Dakota Wildlife
Federation (SDWF), a private, non-profit statewide organization
of affiliated organizations and individuals incorporated under
South Dakota laws. Subscription to this publication is through
membership in the SDWF or direct contact with the SDWF, PO
Box 7075, Pierre, SD 57501. All communications regarding
advertising, editorial, circulation and SDWF matters may be
sent to SDWF OUT OF DOORS, PO Box 7075, Pierre, South
Dakota 57501. Permission to reprint articles normally given
providing proper credit is given the publication and author.
Views expressed by free lance writers are their own and do not
necessarily express those of the publication or the SDWF.
Printed by Curt Merriman Printing, Inc.
P.O. Box 1046, 306 S. Coteau, Pierre, SD 57501
Subscription Rate - $10.00 per year
or with membership in SDWF
Individual members devote approximately 40 cents
of their annual dues for each copy of the newspaper.
Entered as Periodicals Postage Paid at Pierre, SD 57501
POSTMASTER: Send address changes
SDWF, Box 7075, Pierre, SD 57501
2007-2008 SDWF
OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Chris Hesla
Phone
Box 7075, Pierre, SD 57501
605-224-7524
E-Mail: sdwf@mncomm.com
PRESIDENT
Rieck Eske
P.O. Box 46, Warner, SD 57479
229-1743
E-Mail: sdhunter8@abe.midco.net
VICE PRESIDENTS
Region 1 - Randy Johnson
882-2459
302 28th St. NW, Watertown, SD 57201
E-Mail: ranj530@yahoo.com
Region 2 - Bill Antonides
514 N. Arch St., Aberdeen, SD 57401-2951229-4712
E-Mail: billantonides@abe.midco.net
Resolution (consider resolutions presented, redraft resolutions presented not in proper form, vote “do pass”, “do
not pass”’ or “table”). Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws
(Continually examine the articles and by laws in the light
of violations and to suggest deletions or additions), Endowment Fund (Responsible for the direction of investments
and expenditures of any and all SDWF endowment funds),
Nominating (Seek potential leaders for key positions in
SDWF and prepare nominating list of at least one candidate
for each office in advance of annual meeting), National
Affairs Committee (Constitute the official liaison between
SDWF and NWF), Budget & Finance Committee (Responsible for preparing SDWF annual budget), Credentials
(Responsible for certifying delegates to annual meeting)
and Awards (Help with selection of award recipients for
annual banquet).
If you or if you know anyone that would like to run for
office or volunteer on a committee, please let me know.
Lets Carry on the Tradition.
Region 3 - Dennis Skoog
15377 479th Ave., Millbank, SD 57252
432-4385
E-Mail: dmxskoog@tnics.com
DIRECTORS
DISTRICT 1 - Paul Vinatieri
516 South St., Rapid City, SD 57701
348-3846
E-Mail: pvinny4@hotmail.com
DISTRICT 2 - Norman Buxcel
25602 236th St., Okaton, SD 57562
843-2100
DISTRICT 3 - Marc McClellan
PO Box 189, Mobridge, SD 57601
845-3034
E-Mail: mcclellan4@westriv.com
DISTRICT 4 - Tom Putzier
6324 Country Lane, Aberdeen, SD 57401 225-6600
E-Mail: putziert@nvc.net
DISTRICT 5 - Michael Gudmunson
2517 4th St. NE, Watertown, SD 57201
882-4220
DISTRICT 6 - VACANT
DISTRICT 7 - Ross Jensen
605 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Huron, SD 57350 352-1325
E-Mail: rjensensd@hur.midco.net
DISTRICT 8 - Jerry Lulewicz
915 West 7th, Mitchell, SD 57301
996-4750
E-Mail: jmlule@mit.midco.net
DISTRICT 9 - Janice Nicolay
4041 Brant Lake Hill, Chester, SD 57016 201-0955
E-Mail: jann@itctel.com
DISTRICT 10 - Lori Goldade
12892 Fairfield Drive, Aberdeen, SD 57401225-7884
E-Mail: arnielori@nrctv.com
DIRECTORS AT LARGE (Appointed)
• Allan Johnson
Box 97, Hecla, SD 57446
994-2283
E-Mail: grammaj@nvc.net
• Lanny Thomas
1060 Colorado Ave. SW, Huron, SD 57350 352-0595
E-Mail: lthomas@huronsd.com
• Harvey Malon
6535 Westwind Dr. Rapid City, SD 57701 343-2349
• Kenneth A. Schroeder, Jr.
23697 Mulligan Mile, Rapid City, SD 57702 348-9364
E-Mail: kennyaschroeder@aol.com
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT - Jeff Albrecht
131 58th Ave. Brookings, SD 57006
693-3672
E-Mail: jalbrech@itctel.com
DELEGATE TO NWF - Lanny Thomas (May 2007 - April 2008)
ALT. DELEGATE TO NWF - Bill Antonides (May 2007 - April 2008)
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
REGION NINE DIRECTOR - Gene Oglesby
650 J Street #400, Lincoln, NE 68508 402-476-3434
E-Mail: bkwgto@aol.com
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
REGIONAL ORGANIZER - Vacant
SOUTH DAKOTA WILDLIFE FEDERATION
YOUTH CAMP DIRECTOR (Non-Board Member)
Mike McKernan
612 S. Garfield, Murdo, SD 57559
669-2829
E-Mail: bkwgto@aol.com
For All Your Advertising Needs Call: 605-224-7524 or Send To: Out of Doors • P.O. Box 7075 • Pierre, South Dakota 57501
Out Of Doors
3
May 2008
Don’t call it “canned” hunting . . .
troduced ethics into hunting, a move that saved our wildlife.
Roosevelt outlawed market hunting and the commercial trade
in wildlife, then followed that with the concept of fair chase,
an innovation as important to the restoration of wildlife as
was ending the commercial trade in wildlife.
In fair chase, the animal can escape the hunter unhampered
by a fence.
Under current state law, Roosevelt’s ethics do not apply
inside the fence. Neither do game laws. An individual with
a suspended hunting privilege can “hunt” captive deer or
elk at one of these shooting galleries; no hunting license is
required.
According to a Top 10 list posted on a canned hunt operator’s Web site, Reason No. 10 for “hunting” his pasture is,
“No overzealous game wardens — You will not be stopped,
searched or questioned at our reserve.”
The deceptive radio ad paid for by the canned hunt operators
mentions the fair chase initiative, then launches an attack on
radical East Coast animal-rights groups.
Why the deception and diversion?
The canned hunt operators don’t want voters to know what
they do behind their fences. They hypocritically assert a right
in an ad clearly aimed at denying North Dakotans their right
… Continued on page 1
to vote on the fair chase measure.
The deceptive radio ad and equally deceptive letters assert
that the fair chase initiative is an incremental step toward
banning all hunting. That’s baloney. Canned hunt operations
sell Buck$ for Dollars, a commercialization of game that is
a far greater threat to hunting TR outlawed as a first step
toward saving our wildlife.
Members of the North Dakota Hunters for Fair Chase Committee, hunters, landowners and many others are dedicated
to preserving our hunting heritage — a heritage based on
the fair chase of wild game. We oppose sham hunts behind
the fence and the corrupt image of hunting that this practice
presents to the general population.
Canned hunt operators don’t believe in or practice fair chase.
Their high fences prove that. Their ad and letters make clear
that they don’t trust the people of North Dakota to make an
informed decision on whether we want these operations in
this state.
A canned hunt guarantees
a “hunter” will kill a
trophy deer or elk.
To be accurate, Citizens to Preserve North Dakota Property
Rights ought to call themselves Citizens to Preserve Canned
Hunting.
Kaseman is chairman of North Dakota Hunters
Rising Water Levels Good
for Missouri River Fishing
PIERRE, S.D.-- Though the Missouri River basin has suffered from drought for the past eight years, recent rains
have increased reservoir levels throughout the Missouri
River system.
While the higher water is good news, it’s also cause for caution. The rising water levels are floating logs that were left
on shore when the water level dropped. Anglers and boaters
should be aware of the safety hazards of rising reservoirs.
The swift currents of swollen tributary streams and rivers
are not safe and should be avoided. These tributaries also
contribute large amounts of floating debris that can inhibit
safe boating practices. Turbid waters can keep boaters
from seeing large logs and other debris floating under the
surface.
“Large cottonwood trees floating throughout much of Lake
Oahe have been reported recently,” said Jim Riis, Missouri
River program administrator for the Game, Fish and Parks
Department. “Decreasing your speed while boating on all
reservoirs will help anglers remain safe during high water
conditions.”
FOR SALE
These prints are all numbered 603. A great set of limited
addition Wildlife prints, commissioned by the SDWF. If
interested contact Greg Miller, Murdo,SD at:
gregrm@gwtc.net or call 605-669-2236
Access issues stemming from drought conditions have occurred on Lake Oahe in recent years. Previous efforts with
boat ramp extensions and the building of low-water ramps
have been a priority for the department. With water levels
at their highest since 2002, many primary boat ramps are
back in service and low-water boat ramps on Lake Oahe
have become submerged. More than 20 boat ramps will be
available for use and boating access should be good for all
areas of the reservoir.
Even with drought conditions leading into the large rain
events and water level increases this spring, initial reports indicate anglers have been successful on Missouri
River reservoirs so far this year. Many anglers targeted
mid sections of Lake Sharpe in May and early June while
Lake Oahe has experienced increases in fishing pressure
recently.
“There was a great bite on Lake Sharpe in May with many
anglers launching from West Bend. That bite has since
slowed, but the Oahe bite has definitely picked up,” said
Geno Adams, senior fisheries biologist for GFP. “Many
anglers targeting walleye from Bush’s Landing northward
have been met with success recently.”
Fish populations from all Missouri River reservoirs will
likely be affected positively by recent rains. “Increasing
water levels greatly benefit fish populations in reservoirs,”
said Jason Sorensen, fisheries biologist for GFP. “Steady
to rising water levels are known to help reproduction of
many fish species that spawn in the spring.”
Flooded vegetation provides nutrients the reservoir needs
to aid in food chain development. Young fish also utilize
flooded vegetation to avoid predation by larger fish. The
rising water’s effect on early life stages of many sport fish
species will benefit anglers throughout the Missouri River
reservoirs for future years.
Fish populations from
all Missouri River
reservoirs will likely
be affected positively
by recent rains.
Out Of Doors
4
May 2008
45th Annual SDWF Conservation
Camp Thrives Despite the Rain
By Mike McKernan - Camp Director
The 45th annual SDWF
Conservation Camp
provided these
young people,
along with
9 counselors and
two staff members,
the opportunity to
make new friends,
hear the message of
conservation,
and have a
fun-filled, exciting time.
Each year, awards are
presented to individuals
who have made a
significant
contribution
to camp.
Just before press time, I received the following email from
Chad Tussing, our coordinator from Game, Fish & Parks. It
came from the mother of one of our campers. “He loved it!!
He had a great time and said that after he got back home,
quite a few of the new kids he met had already contacted
him thru “Face Book.” So, he keeps in touch with them.
Says for sure he wants to do it again next year and maybe
become a counselor in training after that. You guys made
quite an impression on him.” I think it is safe to say that
we were successful with one camp attendee. I hope we had
a similar impact on the other 71 young people from across
South Dakota, along with two from Minnesota, who gathered in the beautiful Black Hills to spend the week of June
1 – 7 learning about wildlife and conservation. The 45th
annual SDWF Conservation Camp provided these young
people, along with 9 counselors and two staff members,
the opportunity to make new friends, hear the message of
conservation, and have a fun-filled, exciting time.
Even though rain was threatening throughout the week,
the weather did not interfere with our programs and activities, nor did it dampen the enthusiasm of the young people.
Monday campers were divided into two groups. In the
morning half the campers spent time with George Vandel,
Assistant Director of the Wildlife Division of Game Fish &
Parks, who guided the delegates through a program on the
North American Model of Wildlife Management. The other
delegates spent the morning fishing in Bismarck Lake. In
the afternoon the two groups switched places. On Tuesday
morning the staff of Custer State Park provided programs
for the delegates. The young people had the opportunity
to select from the following hikes: discovering geology
along the Cathedral Spires Trail, the Lover’s Leap Trail,
or wading through the Prairie Trail. The afternoon sessions
included Fire Ecology, Forestry in the Park, and Bison Herd
Management. On Wednesday and Thursday, delegates selected sessions ranging from .22, Shotgun, Handgun, and
Muzzle Loading shooting, Turkeys & Turkey Hunting,
Lake Survey, Fly-Tying & Fishing, GPS and Orienteering,
Lake Fishing, Black Hills Stream Ecology, Boating Safety,
Black Hills Elk, and Alien Invaders. The preceding were
just some of the many programs. The response from the
delegates for the programs was overwhelmingly positive.
Friday’s programs included the following: a presentation
from SDSU Department of Wildlife, a program on wildlife
diseases presented by our own Dr. Dave Ellefson, a program on South Dakota wilderness by Jim Margadant, and
a demonstration of trained retrievers by Stan Lieberman
and Leroy Gross. The final program on Friday was what
we call the final test. Campers were divided into teams and
competed in a series of activities modeled after those of a
mountain man rendezvous. Students competed in hatchet
throwing, canoe racing, horseshoe throwing and many
more. The delegates really enjoyed the competition. The
evenings were also filled with interesting presentations. Guy
Tillit, an avid wildlife photographer, showed an awesome
PowerPoint on wild turkeys. Dan Opp, assistant camp director, presented an historical reenactment of early trappers
and mountain men. Bill Schultze, the manager of the Sand
Lake National Wildlife Refuge, presented a program about
the refuge and its wildlife. Wednesday evening, all campers traveled to Mt. Rushmore for the lighting ceremony,
always a highlight of camp. On Friday night, the awards
program was followed by a dance.
We want to thank all the presenters and volunteers who
worked so hard to make camp a success. A special thanks
to the professionals of the South Dakota Department of
Game, Fish & Parks and Custer State Park who devoted
their time and expertise to make the SDWF Conservation
Camp a unique learning experience.
Every year the camp is proud to present awards to outstanding individuals and delegates. The Rohr Conservation
Award, presented to the outstanding girl camper, went to
Stephanie Farwell from Tea. Stephanie will be invited back
to camp next year as a Counselor-in-Training (CIT). The
Erdman Conservation award, presented to the outstanding
boy camper, went to Ross Kieffer from White Lake. Ross
will also be invited back to camp next year as a CIT. Congratulations to these outstanding young people.
Each year, awards are presented to individuals who have
made a significant contribution to camp. The Larson Conservation Award, presented to an individual who is not part
of the camp staff, went to Bill Schultze. Bill, who attended
camp in 1972 and went on to a career in wildlife, comes
all the way from Sand Lake to educate campers about the
refuge. Congratulations Bill. The McClellan Conservation
Award, presented to an individual who is part of the camp
staff, has a very special meaning to those of us who have
been a part of camp for a number of years. This year’s
McClellan Conservation Award winner is Becky Schauer
from Sioux Falls. Becky came to camp as a delegate and
returned for several years as a CIT. For the past several
years, she has been a counselor and has helped recruit kids
from the Sioux Falls area. She has proven to be a great asset
as a counselor. Our congratulations and thanks to Becky.
I would like to give a special thanks to Dan Opp. Dan
and I have been working as a team for many years to make
sure Conservation Camp runs smoothly. Dan handles all the
counselors and CIT’s, puts on programs, and is a big part
of the success of the camp. I also want to thank some of
the individuals who make contributions to the camp. Dr.
Dave Ellefson presents a great program, is the main camp
photographer, and has agreed to become more involved in
the running of the camp. Cory Aker came to camp first as
a camper, then a CIT, and is now a counselor. Cory has
volunteered to line up the CIT’s for camps in the future.
Bob Erdman comes all the way from Grand Rapids, MN.
He brings kids with him and he also came as camper, CIT,
and counselor. Bob is our computer wiz and puts together
a PowerPoint presentation we show Friday night. Dennis
and Margaret Skoog have been great camp supporters. Dennis is our head camp inspector and Margaret is our camp
nurse. I would like to give a special thank you to all the
preceding individuals. Thanks to Chad Tussing, Education Services Coordinator for G, F&P. Chad coordinates
and lines up all the programs from Custer State Park and
Game, Fish & Parks.
I also want to thank all the counselors, CIT’s, and the
clubs and individuals who helped make the 2008 edition of
Conservation Camp a success. Thanks to Chuck Rokusek,
an avid supporter of our camp, who recruits kids in the
Sioux Falls area and raises the money to send them to
camp. Also thank you to SDWF Executive Director Chris
Hesla for all his help and support. And last but not least, I
want to thank Brenda Manning. Brenda jumped in to help
organize the bus rides. We had to make new arrangements
for the busses this year and Brenda did all the scheduling
and got us through it. Thanks Brenda.
The entire staff is privileged to have spent a week with a
group of great young people from all across South Dakota,
and we are looking forward to next June 7 – 13, 2009.
Out Of Doors
5
May 2008
Outstanding girl (Stephanie Farwell from Tea) & outstanding boy
(Ross Kieffer from White Lake) receiving their awards.
Lady shooting black powder
A camper measuring after netting fish
Campers learning to cast flyrods
Learning to shoot a shotgun
Young camper found a geocach using a GPS unit placed by Bismarck lake
Out Of Doors
6
May 2008
South Dakota Wildlife
Federation Donors
At the recent Winter Board Meeting the SDWF Board created the SDWF Wildlife Legacy Council.
The Council was created to allow recognition of the people who support SDWF above and beyond
their membership and raffle donations.
Thank you to the following donors for their contributions to the SDWF. Please consider becoming a
member of the Wildlife Legacy Council. SDWF is a 501(c3) non-profit, all donations are tax deductible.
Contributors
Level I Pheasant- $50-$99
Brian Aamlid, SD
Edwin Anderson, SD
Vern Anthony, SD
Ron Arneson, SD
Terry Bagus, MN
Loren Becker, MN
David Bender, SD
Andy Bertnolli, FL
Kim Bevers, SD
Bennie Boetel, SD
Earl Bohlen, SD
Michael Bonnet, IA
Pat Bowar, SD
Scott Breck, NE
Day Breitag, SD
Alan Brevik, SD
Allen B. Brown, SD
Jeff Brown, MN
Kirk Brown, CA
Mark Brown, VA
William Buckner II, AR
Kendall Burns, CA
Howard Burns, SD
Donald Burton, CO
BN Butler, VA
John Butterbrodt, MN
Manny Buzzell, TN
Kenneth Carroll, SD
John Chickering, MI
ME Christopherson, SC
John & Lorraine
Clemens, MN
Robert Cloyd, SD
Richard Connors, SD
Scott Conrad, MN
Earle Crissman, SD
Dennis Cummings, SD
Jim Dahlberg, SD
John Davidson, SD
Gail Dieleman, MN
Duane Divich, TX
Mike Dombroski, SD
Bob Drake, SD
Tim Duncan, MN
Frederick Eichmiller, WI
Robert Elbe, WI
Elk Pass Ranch, CO
Farmers State Bank, SD
Kent Fewell, MO
Jim Fink, MN
Jim Fischer, IA
Forrest Flint, MN
Mark Freese, SD
Jim Frybarger, NM
Kevin Fuesrt, SD
Charles Gageby, SD
Chester Garness, MN
Dave Gilbert, SD
Dan Goede, SD
Robert Goggins, MN
Terry Goldade, SD
Richard Goodman, SD
Larry Gremminger, TX
John Griffin, OK
David Grove, CO
Myron Hagelstrom, MN
Shawn Hall, WY
Duane Hatch, SD
George Heffron, CO
Merrill Heim, SD
Lee Hennen, MN
Gregg Hepper, SD
Mr.& Mrs. HA Hetland, MN
Alan Hewitt, SD
Ray Hoheisel, MN
Dale Holm, SD
Mike Huss, IN
Dr. Tom & Kris Ivey, SD
David Jacobson, SD
Lee Jensen, SD
Roman Jungers II, WI
Carl Kasischke, MI
Level II Deer $100-$249
Mel Adams, TN
Andrew Anderson, GA
Lelan Anderson, SD
Rich Andresen, SD
Animal Medical, AL
Robert Bealka, WI
Harry Bell, MS
Curt Bisgard, SD
Steve Block, WA
W. Harrold Boring, GA
Carl Brakebush, WI
Richard Brick, CA
Brown Co. Whitetails
Unlimited
Dick Brown, SD
Everett Buckner, AR
John Burrows, NV
Stuart Cambell, SD
Chuck Clayton, SD
Craig Connell, SD
Gary Cowles, AL
Dennis Darrington, SD
Larry Denison, VA
John Dennis, NV
John Dillon, UT
Brian Dressing, SD
Mark Duda, CO
Thomas Eaney, KS
Dennis Eckert, SD
Dave Eisenbeisz, CO
Kenton Eisenbeisz, SD
Larry Eisenbeisz, MN
Robert Elbe, WI
Raymon Epp, SD
Kurt Forman, SD
Robert Foxworthy, KY
Miles Gannon, IL
Fred Garland, SD
Ken Greenwood, OK
Dean Fitzler, SD
Forrest Flint, MN
Cy Haatvedt, SD
Carl Hall, KY
Howard Hanson, MN
Jerry & Mary Hay, WI
Roger Heedum, NE
Jim Hellebusch, MO
Alene Hix, MO
Ron Island, SD
F. Lee Jackson, AL
Darell Johnson, SD
Jarrod Johnson, SD
Roger Johnson, MN
Virgil Johnson, SD
Level III Elk $250-$499
29-90 Sportsmen’s
Club, SD
G. John Gilbertson, MN
Kenneth Halstrom, SD
Eric Johnson, MN
James Juckette, MO
Karl O. Lee, SD
Jim Lemond, SD
Herb McClellan, SD
Mike Myers, FL
Level IV Buffalo $500-$999
Black Hills Sportsmens
Club
Richard Dillon, MN
Dennis Hullinger, UT
Harry Mansheim, SD
Beadle Co. Sportsmans
Club
John Chapman, PA
Dakota Sportsmen
Inc., SD
Richard Dillon, MN
Level V Eagle - $1000 and above
Lewellyn Keller, MN
Jeffery Ketter, WI
Robert Kiesecoms, IL
Arlie Klipstein, WI
Rev. Jack Koch, MN
John Koutsky, IL
Kurt Kraft, MI
Landon B. Lane, NC
Richard Larsen, SD
Greg Larson, SD
Scott Larson, SD
George Leser, FL
Jim Levich, IA
Rodney Linton, IL
Robert Lippincott, TX
Steven Lowe, MI
Duayne Madl
Royce Madsen, SD
Ken Maloney, MI
David Manning, MN
Jim Martin, SD
William Matousek, SD
Fay Matsukage, CO
Paul McCarlson, SD
David Melby, MN
Mark Miller, SD
O Larry Miller, SD
Brian Moberly, SD
Louis Moody, VA
Glen Moravek, SD
Mel Morris, SD
William Mudd, KY
Stan Murphy, SD
Wayne Muth, SD
Karlton Nagel, NE
Gale Nitteberg, SD
Andrew O’Connell, MN
Dan O’Keefe, MN
Robert Ochocki, CA
Stuart Oines, SD
Kerry Parcel, SD
Stacy Paquin, MN
K Lynn Paul, SD
John Paulson, MN
Jerald Pedersen, SD
Philip Pickart, SD
Glenn Plumb, SD
Alan Polenz, OR
Robert Porisch, IA
Tony Quail, SD
Thomas Raney, KS
Ron Rekstad, SD
Charlie Rokusek, SD
James Ronfeldt, SD
John Ross Sr., WI
Bill Rund, IN
Ron Sather, SD
John Schmid, CO
James Schmidt, SD
Robert Simmet, MN
Darrel Simon, SD
Orv Smidt, SD
Jim Snyder, SD
Howard Stanley, TX
Billy Strickland, SD
Gregg Styles, FL
Joe Swenson, SD
Michael Thomas, SD
Henry Travers, SD
Bob Turner, IN
Spencer Vaa, SD
Cecil Van Tuyl, KS
Stan Wahl, SD
Jim Walker, ID
Stephen J Wheeler, SD
Mark Widman, SD
Dan Winger, SD
Mark Wismer, SD
Walter Wolf, IL
Jerry Worsham, WA
James Juckette, MO
Larry Kieft, MI
Robert Knode, MD
Frank Kocvara, NV
John Kunze, MN
James LaMaack, CA
Dan Lewis, MN
Ron Lindner, SD
Jerome Loucks, AZ
Jerome Lulewicz, SD
Bob Lutz, ID
Patrick Lyons, SD
Jon Madland, SD
Harvey Malon, SD
Marshall Co Sportsmens Club
Pat McGarry, SD
Leigh McMasters, SD
Loyal Messerschmidt, SD
Larry Mette, SD
Bill Meyers, SD
Gerald Mohs, ND
William Mudd, KY
Norm Neilan, SD
David Nordby, CA
Larry O’Reilly, MO
Gary Palmer, SD
Joe Pauletto, Jr., WA
Ron Pesek, SD
Peter Prokop, MI
Tim Rainey, MN
Dan Roach, SD
Tom Roberts, SD
Troy Ryan, MN
Arnold Sattler, SD
Donald Sattler, SD
Carey Schave, SD
Jeff Scherschlight, SD
Bob Schluter, MN
David Schubauer, SD
Terry Schupp, AZ
Ken Schroeder, SD
Steven Shoemaker, NE
John Simpson, SD
Carl Stonecipher, SD
Curt Tesch, SD
Paul Vinatieri, SD
Gary Wald, SD
Harvey Welch, IL
Dale Wilms, CA
Winter Brothers, SD
Brian Wiswall, SD
Jan Nicolay, SD
Mark Parr, SD
Pheasants Forever
Northern Oahe Chapter
Chuck & Ginger
Scalet, SD
Craig Stadtfeld, SD
Marlin Stammer, CA
Vic Toscano, SD
Ilo Vanderboom, SD
Rich Widman, SD
Yankton Area Pheasants
Forever, SD
SD Walleyes
Unlimited, SD
Roger Steinberg, MN
Max & Stephanie
Sandlin, SD
Sportsman’s Club of
Brown Co.
High Plains Wildlife, SD
Kenneth Michalek, WA
Republic National
Distributing Company, SD
Steve Roberts, MN
Gary Seeley, KS
SD Chapter of NWTF, SD
These tax-deductible contributions will speak volumes for the future of the SDWF’s Wildlife Legacy Council! Please consider your donation today.
Names in ARIAL indicate that the Legacy Member has made their 2007 contribution to the SDWF Wildlife Legacy Council
Names in ITALICS indicate that the Legacy Member has made their 2008 contribution to the SDWF Wildlife Legacy Council.
Old Stories, Photos & Newspaper Accounts
of Waterfowl Hunting (ducks, geese, swans)
& Hunting Clubs. This information is needed for a Waterfowl History Book Project to
be published at SDSU. If you think you may
have something of interest, please contact
Dr. Ken Higgins at (605) 692-1516 (email
TerriSymens@SDState.edu) or Bob Brown
at (605) 734-4233.
Old Black Hills
Deer Camp
Stories & Photos
Still Wanted
The stories have started to come in from all over
the state, and they are great. I have heard from
hunters in Milbank, Sioux Falls, Mansfield, and
around the Black Hills. I am looking for more,
so if you hunted the Black Hills back before
preference points and have stories and photos
from years past, I would be interested in talking
to you.
Thank you to those who have
participated thus far~Joe Hill
2131 6th Ave, Rapid City, SD 57702
email: jdhill@rap.midco.net
or phone (605)381-3139.
Out Of Doors
7
May 2008
Sportsman’s Paradise
exhibit featured at
Cultural Heritage Center
By JEFF MAMMENGA
Program Assistant/Media Relations
South Dakota State Historical Society
South Dakota has a long tradition of outstanding hunting
and fishing.
Sportsman’s Paradise: Hunting and Fishing in South Dakota, an exhibit at the museum of the South Dakota State
Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre,
examines the history of hunting and fishing and the vital
role hunters and anglers play in game conservation and
management.
Visitors will learn how pheasant hunting in South Dakota
grew from a one-day season in 1919 to the current 79-day
season. The birds drew over 170,000 resident and nonresident hunters into the field in 2006.
Artifacts in the exhibit include a large mammoth bone, buffalo hide and items made from buffalo, early U.S. Fish and
Wildlife materials, cannons used to net birds for banding at
Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, an ice-fishing shack,
and pheasant hunters dressed for a day in the field.
“Hunting and fishing have a long history,” said Jay D.
Vogt, director of the South Dakota State Historical Society, headquartered at the Cultural Heritage Center. “This
exhibit showcases these important outdoor activities and
gives visitors a chance to learn what hunting and fishing
is all about in South Dakota. It’s a great way for people to
learn more about ice fishing or pheasant hunting, even if
they do not hunt or fish themselves.”
Sportsman’s Paradise also looks at early conservation efforts in South Dakota, including Peter Norbeck’s work to
establish Custer State Park as a wildlife preserve starting
in 1911. Today, the park’s 71,000 acres are home to a wide
variety of game and non-game species, including mountain
goats, bighorn sheep, elk, wild turkeys and prairie dogs.
No hunting or fishing trip is complete without a good story.
The exhibit features a share-your-story section where visitors can write down their personal tales of the “one that
got away.” Kids and adults alike can practice identifying
rubber models of South Dakota fish at a catch-and-release
station.
Sportsman’s Paradise will be on exhibit in the Hogen Gallery of the Cultural Heritage Center through December
2008.
The museum in the Cultural Heritage Center is open 9
a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday through Labor Day, then
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The museum is also open 1-4:30 p.m. on
Sundays and most holidays year-round.
Those wanting to do their own research on hunting and
fishing in the state can visit the State Archives in the center.
Archives hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and
the first Saturday of each month.
Call (605) 773-3458 for more information or visit www.
sdhistory.org.
No hunting or
fishing trip is
complete without
a good story.
Out Of Doors
8
May 2008
GF&P gets airborne for
antelope survey
By Mark Watson Black Hills Pioneer
STURGIS - Skimming the ground at 100 miles per hour
in a small, single prop plane Luke Meduna looked out the
passenger’s side window and counted the number of antelope he saw below.
Antelope are pretty easy
to see; a white animal out
on the green backdrop,
especially this spring
with as much rain as we
have received. They
really stick out.
Meduna, a resource biologist with the South Dakota Game,
Fish and Parks, with his pilot buzzed the green grass recently in an annual antelope survey. “This is our low-level
aerial pronghorn survey for the spring pronghorn census,”
Meduna said. The survey helps biologists get an accurate
count on the number of antelope in each of the management areas.
“We’re flying along at about 100 miles per hour, generally
about 50 to 150 feet above the ground. The pilot and I are
looking out both sides of the airplane out a quarter mile,
counting all the antelope,” he said. “Right now we are only
counting bucks and does. Later on we’ll do some ground
counts to get a doe to fawn ratio to include in our final
census.” With his surveys nearly completed, Meduna said
the antelope population in South Dakota is ever-increasing.
“With the easier winters and real good production the last
few years the pronghorn numbers keep going up and up,”
he said. “I don’t know if we are at record numbers yet,
but we are right there.” His recent flight over the western
fifth of Meade County also showed the trend of increasing
numbers. “There are decent numbers, about what we expected. …#045; It’s not really highly populated, but there
were some pretty decent numbers, he said. “It is year is a
little higher than last year. The rest of Meade County was
higher than previous years too.” The South Dakota Game,
Fish and Parks Commission wants to make 14,135 more
antelope tags for South Dakota residents and 1,139 more for
nonresidents, through a big shift to more three-tag licenses
and fewer one-tag and two-tag licenses. The proposed
changes would make available a total of 15,361 licenses
and 40,484 tags for antelope hunters. Last year there were
11,244 antelope licenses of all types sold and 13,669 antelope taken by hunters. The harvest has steadily increased
in recent years and has nearly doubled since 2004. While
flying the low-level surveys the plane flew over sheep and
cattle without spooking them. When flying near the antelope some groups ran while others ran toward the plane.
The antelope stuck out on the green grass giving the two
an easy opportunity to count the animals.
“We feel that it is fairly accurate. We do know we are
missing some. At best it is a minimum count,” he said.
“There are single antelope that are bedded down that can
be difficult to detect. We feel that it is fairly close. We are
potentially missing 10 to 20 percent. …#045; It depends on
the topography and the habitat. If they are running they are
pretty easy to spot, but if it is a day when they are bedded
they are more difficult to count. “Antelope are pretty easy
to see; a white animal out on the green backdrop, especially
this spring with as much rain as we have received. They
really stick out,” he added. Meduna said the GF&P tries
to survey the pronghorn management units each year in
the state. Meduna and others surveyed 11 of the 15 areas
in Region 1. The four that were missed will be flown next
year, he said. This spring has grounded the plane several
times due to high winds and heavy rain. “We look for a
sunny day with no wind. That ideal. A lot of times that’s
hard to do in South Dakota. A little breeze isn’t too bad,
but we don’t like to fly in is when the wind is faster than
20 or 25 miles per hour,” he said. “It gets pretty bumpy and
potentially dangerous with as low as we are.” Counties like
Butte County take between 15 to 18 hours to fly. Whereas
Meade County takes 20 to 25 hours.
Pheasants and Other Upland
Birds in Peak of Nesting Season
Roadside ditches may
offer an essential
component of
nesting habitat for
pheasants and
other grassland
nesting birds in
certain portions
of South Dakota.
HURON, S.D.—With the prairie winds waving around
waist-high grass that has benefited from above-normal
precipitation this spring, many nesting birds including
pheasant, grouse and waterfowl are at the peak of their
critical nesting and brood rearing time.
“Although it has been cooler and wetter than average along
with localized hail and flooding, much of the state’s grassland areas are looking very favorable from a nesting and
brood-rearing habitat perspective,” said S.D. Game, Fish
and Parks Department Senior Upland Game Biologist Chad
Switzer of Huron. “However, when it comes to our pheasant
reproduction, we won’t know the impact of these weather
conditions until our staff completes the annual pheasant
brood surveys this August.”
With the removal of approximately 300,000 acres from the
Conservation Reserve Program last fall and the evidence
of the increasing conversion of South Dakota’s native
grasslands to cropland, quality habitat for nesting cover is
increasingly becoming a concern for wildlife managers.
“Even though Mother Nature does not fully cooperate with
us at times, land management decisions at the local and
landscape levels can have significant impacts on wildlife
populations,” said Switzer.
The decision whether or not to mow a highway roadside
and at what time to mow it can prove to be very beneficial
to the success of nesting pheasants across the state. S.D.
Department of Transportation rule § 70:04:06:06 says that
state highway roadsides may not be mowed for hay before
June 15 in Lyman, Gregory and Tripp counties found west
of the Missouri River and not before July 10 in all counties
east of the Missouri River.
According to Switzer, “Roadside ditches may offer an essential component of nesting habitat for pheasants and other
grassland nesting birds in certain portions of South Dakota.
With approximately 8,000 miles of roads under the state’s
authority and another estimated 80,000 miles of roads under
county and township jurisdiction, delaying mowing activity
could reduce hen loss to mowing equipment, increase nest
success and increase chick survival by providing more time
for pheasant broods to become more mobile.”
Although on average the peak nesting period for pheasants
in South Dakota is mid-June, delaying mowing activities
until later in the summer would provide the greatest benefit
to pheasant production. A game report titled “Avian Nest
Densities and Success in State Highway Roadsides in South
Dakota” can be found at the GFP Web site at http://www.
sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Pheasant/ROWReport04.pdf.