Non Resident South Dakota Turkey Season Changes....Why?

The 8-member citizen’s Commission for the S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks voted recently to continue pitting hunters against hunters.  It’s nothing new.

          In this case, members of the S.D. Wildlife Federation packed a commission meeting and demanded a reduction in how many non-residents are allowed to hunt in the spring turkey season in the Black Hills.   Why?   Resident hunters, they said, were being shut out of their favorite hunting spots; nonresidents killed more turkeys than residents; since they live in South Dakota they are entitled to less competition from out-of-state hunters.

          Federation leaders pleaded with their commission to issue only 318 non-resident turkey licenses.  Last spring 3,170 non-residents purchased spring turkey permits.

          S.D. Game, Fish and Parks officials testified that reduction was too extreme and recommended a license cap at 2,225, a number the Commission voted unanimously to accept.  

          Very interesting.   Those opposed to the license restrictions raised several arguments.  First, the spring harvest of only male turkeys has absolutely zero impact on future turkey populations since, akin to shooting male pheasants, there are always gobblers remaining to service hens at mating time.

          Apparently, this biological fact carried zero weight.   In addition, the point was made that limiting sales of nonresident license would eliminate more than $100,000 in license revenue for the wildlife department.    

          To my knowledge, the loss of business dollars for motels, restaurants, convenience stores, etc. because of fewer non-residents roaming the Black Hills wasn’t considered.   I don’t know if anybody mentioned that most of the Black Hills does not belong to South Dakotans.   The federal land belongs to all Americans, including non-resident turkey hunters. 

          What remains is this:  Hunters and hunter groups continue to fight among themselves. 

Of late in Minnesota, bow hunters despise crossbow hunters.   In Montana, a resident has to pay $20 to hunt an elk; while non-resident hunter fees range from $135 (antlerless only) to as much as $1,242 to hunt, elk, deer, game birds and fish.  

          I have long complained that the practice, this game, of gouging non-resident hunters is not going to end well for all hunters.   Curious, I asked an official with the S.D. Department what he thought of the new turkey license cap BS.   He agreed there was no biological or turkey management reason to cap licenses.  His concern?   Hunters fighting other hunters.

          If unreasonable and unfair hunting restrictions continue, the number of hunters in America will continue to decline.      Fewer hunters means less political power and fewer dollars to manage wildlife, to manage hunting. 

          The Black Hills license cap is a perfect example.   One group of turkey hunters campaigned to restrict a different group of turkey hunters.   Oh, goody.  More turkeys for me says the S.D. Wildlife Federation. 

          This nation’s wildlife management system (the best in the world) is based on hunting license revenue that pays for the wildlife managers, the biologists, the researchers to maintain, improve or restore game species.

          When local hunters and some state agencies continue to play gouge the non-resident, it’s fair to ask:   Have they heard of anti-hunting organizations?  Have they heard of  legislation in some states to ban hunting for mountain lions, bobcat, lynx and bear?

          In Washington, spring bear hunting is no more.  In New Jersey, no bear hunting period.   

          So—let’s keep fighting among ourselves.  In South Dakota, the resident turkey hunter wins the gouging game.  But be warned, South Dakota hunters.   One of these days, you’ll be battling against powerful animal rights organizations who want to ban mountain lion hunting in the Black Hills.   It’ll happen.  Count on it.  Who you gonna ask to support your fight with the animal rights folks in the Black Hills.   Non-resident turkey hunters?   Good question.