Early Fall Canada Goose, Youth Waterfowl Proposed, Sage Grouse Season Finalized

PIERRE, S.D. –Waterfowl hunters hoping to get an early jump on the season would be able to harvest more geese during the Early Fall Goose Season under a South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission proposal.

An Early Fall Goose Season would allow hunters to harvest 10 Canada geese per day and possess 20.  The season would run Sept. 1-30.  The recommendation will need approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Another Commission proposal would give youth waterfowl hunters a better chance at early migrating ducks.

The proposed South Dakota Youth Waterfowl Season would open 12 days after Labor Day each year; the Youth Season would be Sept. 15-16 this year.

The 2012 South Dakota Sage Grouse season was finalized by the Commission, with no changes from 2011.  The season will be held Sept 26-27, with a season limit of one sage grouse per hunter.

To comment on any of those proposals, send an email with your full name and city of residence to wildinfo@state.sd.us or send a letter to the Game Fish and Parks Department, 523 E Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501.  Please include your full name and address for the public record.  All letters and emails must be received by 5 p.m. CDT, July 6.

Testimony may be given in person at the Commission’s monthly meeting on July 9 at the Pierre Ramkota.  The meeting will begin at 9 a.m., with the public hearing at 10 a.m. CDT.

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