PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission proposed a slight decrease in licenses available for the 2020 and 2021 fall turkey hunting seasons.

The proposal would include 200 resident and 16 nonresident, single-tag “any turkey” licenses for the Black Hills season. The prairie units would have 400 single-tag and 35 double-tag “any turkey” licenses for residents and 28 single and 3 double tag “any turkey” licenses available.

The proposal would also close Gregory (Unit 12A), Mellette (50A), and Tripp (60A) counties to the fall turkey hunting season, as well as establish and open Bon Homme County (Unit 12A) for the season.

The proposed seasons would run Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021 and Nov. 1, 2021 – Jan 31, 2022.

To comment in person, the public hearing will be held May 7 at 2 p.m. MDT at Custer State Park event barn. Oral testimony can also be provided remotely at this time, via conference call at the following GFP offices:

• Rapid City Regional Office (Outdoor Campus West) 4130 Adventure Trail, Rapid City, S.D.
• Watertown Regional Office 400 West Kemp, Watertown, S.D.
• Main Office, Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, S.D.

Individuals can also comment online at gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions or mail comments to 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501.

To be included in the public record and to be considered by the commission, comments must include a full name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of 72 hours before the public hearing (not including the day of the public hearing).