NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING DEPARTMENT OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS A Public Hearing will be held via teleconference at phone number 1-866-410-8397, with conference code 5451787643# on May 7, 2020 at 2:00pm (Central) to consider adoption, amendment and repeal of rules pertaining to: 1.

Published April 16, 2020 at 3:01 AM

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
DEPARTMENT OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS

A Public Hearing will be held via teleconference at phone number 1-866-410-8397, with conference code 5451787643# on May 7, 2020 at 2:00pm (Central) to consider adoption, amendment and repeal of rules pertaining to:
1.ARSD 41:06:22:01 Archery deer hunting season established - Number and type of licenses - Access permits.
Effect: The proposed change would make an allowance for an additional single-tag "antlerless any deer" licenses that would be distributed amongst all municipal archery deer hunting units.
Reason: Some municipalities have worked with the Department to develop urban deer management plans. Archery deer hunting within city limits can help address issues caused by urban deer populations and provide additional hunting opportunities. The proposed allocation of single-tag "antlerless any deer" licenses would be allocated within established municipal archery deer hunting units.
2. ARSD 41:06:22:01.01 Open Units. (Archery Deer)
Effect: The proposed rule would create new units for municipal archery deer hunting units within city limits of certain cities.
Reason: Some municipalities have worked with the Department to develop urban deer management plans. Archery deer hunting within city limits can help address issues caused by urban deer populations and provide additional hunting opportunities. The proposed city limit deer units would allow for an allocation of single-tag "antlerless any deer" licenses.
3.ARSD 41:06:22:02 Restricted areas - Exceptions (Archery Deer)
Effect: The proposed rule change would modify the start date for Lacreek National Refuge and the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Reason: To align the respective refuge archery deer seasons with the statewide archery deer season.
4.ARSD 41:06:49:04 Eligibility requirements and restrictions. (Youth Waterfowl)
Effect: The proposed change would modify the age requirement for who would qualify for the youth waterfowl hunting season.
Reason: By modifying the age for those to participate in youth waterfowl hunting season more opportunities will be created for youth to get engaged with the activity.
5.ARSD 41:06:55:01 Special youth pheasant hunting season established
Effect: The proposed change would modify the season dates from "five consecutive days beginning on the first Saturday of October to "9 consecutive days beginning 21 days prior to the third Saturday of October.
Reason: The proposed change expands the opportunity for youth to get into the field earlier and more often. Recruitment of youth is major component of the Department's strategic plan.
6.ARSD 41:07:03:02.01 South Dakota-Nebraska boundary waters.
Effect: The proposed rule change would limit the harvest of flathead catfish 30 inches or longer to one fish as part of the daily limit.
Reason: Discussions were held with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and adding this restriction would put South Dakota's length limit in line with Nebraska's.
7.ARSD 41:10:02:04 List of threatened mammals.
Effect: The proposed rule change would remove the River Otter (Lontra canadensis) from the list of threatened mammals.
Reason: In 2012, a 5-year plan was written to provide general, strategic guidance for the recovery and sustained management of river otter. As directed in the plan, recovery criteria were developed to justify removing the species from the state threatened species list when appropriate. Delisting of the otter would be recommended if certain criteria were met. After the department conducted a review of the success of the river otter in comparison to the criteria set, it has been determined that listing is no longer justified.
Interested persons will be given reasonable opportunity to submit data, opinions, arguments, and their views, either orally or in writing (or both) at the hearing. Persons unable to call into the hearing may mail data, opinions, arguments, and their views to the office of the Secretary of the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Foss Building, 523 East Capitol, Pierre, South Dakota 57501, or by going to the GFP website at http://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions. All persons who desire to submit written data, opinions, arguments, and their views by mail or email are encouraged to mail or transmit the same in sufficient time so that it is received by and in the office of the Secretary of the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks 72 hours prior to the date of the hearing. Interested persons will be given reasonable opportunity to submit data, opinions, arguments and their views, either orally or in writing (or both) to the Commission for their consideration. All written and email comments must include the name, home town/city, and state of the person submitting the comments.
The above rule proposals are available for review on the internet by going to https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/ and copies of the proposed rules may be requested from the office of the Secretary of the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Foss Building, 523 East Capitol, Pierre, South Dakota 57501. Notice is further given to individuals with disabilities that this hearing is being held in a physically accessible place. Any individuals with disabilities who will require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the hearing should submit a request to the undersigned at 605.773.3718 or 605.223.7684 (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf).
Dated this ______day of_______, 2020.

(SEAL)

_____________
Kelly R. Hepler,
Secretary
This Notice of Public Hearing is published once at the total approximate cost of $149.73.