Statewide pheasant season proposed; youth and resident season finalized

PIERRE — The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commission has proposed a statewide traditional pheasant season this year that is similar to 2009 and a slightly longer season for pheasant hunters at Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Brown County.

The Sand Lake proposal would adjust the season-ending date from Dec. 31 last year to the first Sunday of January.

The traditional pheasant hunting season would run from Oct. 16 to Jan. 2, 2011. Sand Lake Refuge has closed at an earlier date in the past, but under the proposed change would close at the same time as the main pheasant season.

The commission has finalized the 2010 youth and the resident-only pheasant hunting seasons. The youth season will be held Oct. 2-6, and the resident-only season will be Oct. 9-11.

The commission will take final action on the pheasant season proposal at its April meeting, which will take place at the Crossroads Hotel in Huron April 8-9.

Information on the proposed traditional pheasant season and Sand Lake season is available on the GF&P Web site at www.sdgfp.info under the headings “About Game, Fish and Parks” and “GFP Commission.”

Residents who would like to provide written comments on the proposals may do so up until 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 7. 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 sender’s full name and address 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. on Thursday, April 8.

Tags: sports, outdoors, hunting, pheasants