To the Editor:
There has been plenty of negative feedback concerning the “Bounty for Tails” program. I for one, can see some positive outcomes of this program.
Young people are getting involved in the outdoors and at a comfortable time of the year. They are the future trappers and hunters. I am 70-plus years and have finally been successful at trapping coons with the live traps. The GFP employees provided top notch instruction and tips to get us successfully involved. The cost of the program is being well spent in my estimation.
Pretzer and Antonides have their opinions on habitat as the only solution to more pheasants and they may be correct. However, there are no buyers of pelts or hides this winter as no market for furs. So no reduction of predators this winter from normal trapping.
With our habitat in poor condition, it seems likely that reducing predators this coming spring just might be beneficial to help protect a few nests.
With less habitat, the predators are more likely to find and destroy nests as they don’t have to look as far or hard to find them.
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We are now paying for habitat when we purchase any hunting or fishing licenses, so habitat is being addressed. The money spent on tails is an investment in future outdoor enthusiasts.
Gov. Kristi Noem had an idea to get young and old out into the outdoors and it appears to be working. Maybe not to everyone's approval, but I see a lot of people bringing in tails and they seem to be having a good time.
Dan Kaup, Mitchell
