FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 21, 2014
CONTACT:  Emily Kiel at 605.773.5913 or Emily.Kiel@state.sd.us

2014 Hunting Season Dates Set

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has finalized most big game hunting season dates for 2014 with no changes from 2013.

The Commission sets season dates in the early spring to give hunters a chance to plan their fall schedules. The season structure, including license numbers, will be set in the coming months.

Dates of interest for 2014 include:

• Pheasant: Oct. 18-Jan. 4
• Youth Pheasant: Oct. 4-8
• Resident Only Pheasant: Oct. 11-13
• Grouse/Partridge: Sept. 20-Jan. 4
• Mourning Dove: Sept. 1-Nov. 9
• Fall Turkey: Oct. 1-Jan. 31
• Archery Antelope: Aug. 16-Oct. 3 and Oct. 20-31
• Firearms Antelope: Oct. 4 - 19
• Black Hills Archery Elk: Sept. 1-30
• Black Hills Firearms Elk: Oct. 1-31 and Dec. 1-15
• Youth Deer: Sept. 13-Jan. 15
• Black Hills Deer: Nov. 1-30
• West River Deer: Nov. 15-Nov. 30
• East River Deer: Nov. 22-Dec. 7
• Muzzleloader Deer: Dec. 1-Jan. 15

The GFP Commission received a petition to adjust the Archery Deer Season dates to begin on the second Saturday of September and end on Dec. 31. This would be a change from beginning on the fourth Saturday and ending on Jan. 15. Final action on the Archery Deer season dates will take place at the April Commission meeting and additional information will follow at that time.

The following areas of interest will be discussed at upcoming Commission meetings:

• May Meeting
  • Deer tag allocations
• June Meeting
  • Antelope tag allocations
  • Sage grouse season
• July Meeting
  • Waterfowl season
  • New state laws (July or when appropriate)
• August Meeting
  • Mountain lion season

To view the complete list of seasons and monthly meetings where the Commission will discuss and consider adjustments to administrative rules, please visit:  http://www.gfp.sd.gov/agency/commission/default.aspx.

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