Elk NetworkSouth Dakota Proposes Elk Hunting Seasons

General | March 5, 2018

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission is considering a number of proposals related to elk and elk hunting:

GFP is proposing to allocate 222 licenses for the 2018 and 2019 archery elk hunting seasons. The proposed season would run the month of September for both years and would have 142 any elk and 80 antlerless elk licenses available.

GFP is proposing a reduction of elk licenses for the 2018 and 2019 Black Hills elk hunting seasons. The proposal calls for 425 any elk and 700 antlerless elk licenses to be issued for each of the next two seasons. Last year there were 443 any elk and 1,150 antlerless elk licenses available.

GFP is proposing to change the Custer State Park elk hunting season to run the entire month of October. Previous seasons have run for 16 consecutive days, beginning on the third Saturday in September. It also calls for the 2018 and 2019 seasons to have nine any elk licenses and 60 antlerless only elk licenses available for Custer State Park. Ten licenses would be available for each of the six proposed antlerless hunting seasons. The antlerless only licenses would be valid for an area in the extreme south end of Custer State Park.

The GFP is proposing to increase the any elk licenses and add a new hunting unit to the 2018 and 2019 prairie elk hunting seasons. The allocation includes 68 any elk and 73 antlerless elk licenses, an increase of nine any elk licenses and a reduction of 22 antlerless elk licenses compared to 2017. The proposal also includes establishing Harding County as Unit 35A for the prairie elk hunting season.  This unit would have eight any elk licenses available for 2018 and 2019.

The GFP Commission will consider adopting these proposals on April 5-6, 2018, at the Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City. To comment in person, the public hearing will be held April 5 at 2 p.m. MST. Individuals can also provide written comments on commission rule proposals by sending them to 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501, or via email to [email protected]. 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).

Find more information here.

(Photo source: Sean Howard)