FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, February 9, 2015
CONTACT:  Emily Kiel at Emily.Kiel@state.sd.us

Effective March 2: Use of Hounds when Hunting Mountain Lions Outside the Black Hills

PIERRE, S.D. – On Jan. 15, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission adopted a rule change to allow the use of hounds for hunting mountain lions outside of the Black Hills Fire Protection District. As the final step to complete the rule establishment process, the newly adopted rules have been filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office.

Effective March 2, 2015, this new rule allows resident hunters to use hounds to pursue mountain lions year-round on private land outside of the Black Hills with permission of the landowner or lessee. However, hunters may continue onto School and Public Lands or Bureau of Land Management lands if the pursuit originates on private property.

All mountain lions harvested must be presented to a GFP representative within 24 hours of harvest for inspection. To learn more about the current mountain lion hunting season rules, regulations and harvest data, please visit: http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/mountain-lion-season-harvest-status.aspx.

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