Pro-Active Fire Plan For Opening Of Firearms Antelope Season

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks, along with the South Dakota Dept of Agriculture, Division of Wildland Fire Suppression and local volunteer fire departments in Harding, Meade and Perkins counties, are coordinating wildfire response efforts to help reduce fire risks during the opening of this Saturday’s firearms antelope season.

Engine patrols will start at 10 a.m. and conclude at 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2. Each fire engine will visit county Walk-In Hunting Area’s as identified in the Game, Fish and Parks SD Hunting Atlas. Engines will also focus on ensuring that hunters they encounter are aware of the fire risks and that they practice fire-safe practices.

"If a fire starts, SEAT Aircraft (single engine air tankers) strategically stationed in Buffalo, Faith and Custer State Park will be immediately dispatched to the incident scene," said GFP Regional Habitat Manager Dennis Mann of Rapid City. 

State Wildland Fire Coordinator Joe Lowe said, "All air actions dispatched to a fire will be backed up by an aggressive ground assault. We really appreciate this cooperative effort to help ensure a safe antelope season."

Mann noted that Game, Fish, and Parks has agreed to pay for all SEAT aircraft standby time as well as for the first hour of actual flight time when a plane is dispatched and working to suppress a fire. 

"Game, Fish and Parks will also be paying the expenses of the various fire departments as their engines are on active standby, plus engine-patrol time per the state wildlife fire suppression agreement," he said. "While hunter-caused fires have been an extremely rare occurrence in the past, we think it is important to provide for the equipment and manpower to provide for a quick response, given the concerns expressed by landowners." 

South Dakota’s firearms antelope season begins one-half hour before sunrise on Saturday, Oct. 1.

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