game fish and parks

SIOUX FALLS (AP) — State and federal wildlife officials are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever shot and killed a young bald eagle in far northeastern South Dakota. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Dakota Department...

SYLVAN LAKE -- In many South Dakota counties this fall, there won't be any firearms licenses available specifically for hunting only antlerless deer such as does and fawns, under proposals made Thursday by the state Game, Fish and Parks Commission. The commissioners are following...

PIERRE -- Trying to rebuild South Dakota's deer populations, state wildlife biologists want fewer does taken by hunters during the 2014 rifle seasons this fall. Their plan calls for greatly reducing two-tag and three-tag licenses, especially those that can be used only for taking...

Intensive agriculture and the conversion of wetland sloughs to crop land have contributed to a decrease in habitat

BROOKINGS (AP) — The number of deer hunting licenses available in South Dakota for the upcoming season could be significantly reduced. Tony Leif is the wildlife director of the state’s Game, Fish and Parks. Leif says times are changing when it comes to deer management. ...

SPEARFISH (AP) — A wildlife official says a mountain lion that was found in a tree at a Spearfish home was tranquilized and later released a few miles away in a rural area. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Game Warden Mike Apland tells the Rapid City Journal that a Spearfish...

A method of tracking the population of young walleye in Lake Mitchell showed its highest numbers ever in 2013, a new report by the state Game, Fish and Parks Department says. In September, the GF&P for the sixth consecutive year held its two-hour nighttime electrofishing survey,...

OACOMA -- South Dakota's main archery season for hunting deer isn't changing, at least for now. The state Game, Fish and Parks Commission rejected a request Thursday to open the season two weeks earlier by shifting to the second Saturday in September. The commission's 6-0 decision...

OACOMA -- Her time chairing the state Game, Fish and Parks Commission ended three months ago, but Susie Knippling showed Thursday she hasn't lost her sway. Knippling, from Gann Valley, testified at the public hearing on Black Hills elk seasons.

PIERRE (AP) — A helicopter with trained wildlife wranglers flew over McCook and Lake counties earlier this month to assist with capturing 50 deer for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks' new doe and fawn survival study. Regional wildlife manager Julie DeJong says GF&P...

Hunt Safe classes for 2014 have been scheduled for the Mitchell area. Each class will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Davison County Fairgrounds Complex, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mitchell Trap Club. All materials and equipment are provided free of charge. The dates...

RAPID CITY (AP) — A former state senator is facing a misdemeanor charge after illegally killing a mountain lion that was caught in a bobcat trap in western South Dakota. The charge against Gordon Howie, who served in the Legislature between 2005 and 2010, stems from a Jan....