South Dakota Proposes License Increase

SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Game, Fish and Parks Commission has proposed increases to a number of hunting and fishing license fees to help the agency keep pace with increased costs.

Aside from a $1 increase mandated a year ago by legislation that authorized an increase in certain license fees for animal damage control programs, broad changes have not been made to hunting and fishing license fees since 2005. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, inflation in that time has risen 20 percent.

Along with inflationary reasons, the Commission cited the rising costs of state-provided health care for GFP employees as driving the need for an increase.

An additional proposal by the Commission would expand the current $5 fee for preference points.

Currently, a $5 fee is assessed to big game license applicants who do not wish to draw a license but wish to add a preference point from the first lottery drawing for deer, antelope, turkey, waterfowl and paddlefish licenses. The proposal would provide for a $5 resident and $10 nonresident fee for any unsuccessful applicant wishing to add a preference point in a future first lottery drawing for licenses in these hunting seasons. Applicants would have the option of declining the preference point and therefore not pay the preference point fee.

The proposed rule changes for license fees will be finalized at the Nov. 7 – 8 GFP Commission meeting, which will be held in Pierre at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel. To view the full proposals on those seasons, visit:www.gfp.sd.gov/agency/commission/default.aspx and look under the “Rule Proposals” heading.

To comment on any of the proposals, send a letter to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501; or emailwildinfo@state.sd.us . Comments on proposal will be taken until 5 p.m. CST on Nov. 6. To be included in the public record, please include your full name and city of residence.

For those who would like to comment in person on these proposed rule changes, the GFP Commission will host a public hearing beginning at 2 p.m. CST as part of their meeting on Thursday, Nov. 7.

Resident Proposed Fee Changes

•Fishing: Annual $25-$28; Senior $10-$12; One-Day $7-$8; Paddlefish Tag $20-$25

•Small Game: Annual $30-$33; One-Day $10-$12

•Combination: Standard $50-$55; Senior $35-$40; Junior $25-$27

•Tundra Swan: $11-$18

•Turkey: Spring 1-Tag $21-$25; Spring 2-Tag $26-$35; Fall 1-Tag $11-$15; Fall 2-Tag $16-$20

•Deer: 1-Tag Any $36-$40; Any + Antlerless $46-$50; 1-Tag Antlerless $16-$20; 2-Tag Antlerless $26-$30; Special Buck $156-$175

•Antelope: 1-Tag Any $36-$40; Any + Doe/Fawn $46-$50; 1-Tag Doe/Fawn $16-$20; 2-Tag Doe/Fawn $26-$30

•Elk: Any Elk $156-$175; Antlerless $106-$116

•Mountain Goat and Bighorn Sheep: $256-$280

•Mountain Lion: $26-$28

•Furbearer: $25-$30

Nonresident Proposed Fee Changes

•Fishing: Annual $60-$67; Family $60-$67; One-Day $14-$16; Three-Day $32-$37; Paddlefish Tag $20-$40; Game, Fish Spearing $5-$10

•Waterfowl: Spring Light Goose $46-$50; Early Fall Canada Goose $46-$50; Tundra Swan $16-$25

•Turkey: Spring 1-Tag $86-$100; Spring 2-Tag $101-$125; Fall 1-Tag $76-$90; Fall 2-Tag $86-$100

•Deer: 1-Tag Antlerless $56-$80; 2-Tag Antlerless $81-$120; Special Buck $506-$560

•Antelope: 1-Tag Doe/Fawn $56-$80; 2-Tag Doe/Fawn $81-$120

•Furbearer: $250-$275

•Predator/Varmint: $35-$40