Mountain Lion Season Proposed in South Dakota

By CnAgri2012-08-13 19:49:25 Print

The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commission has proposed several changes in the coming Mountain Lion Hunting Season.

As proposed, the season would run from Dec. 26, 2012, through Mar. 31, 2013. The season would end earlier, however, if the harvest limit of 100 total lions or 70 female lions is reached. Similar to last year, lions harvested in Custer State Park would be included in the harvest limits.

Outside the Black Hills Fire Protection District, any licensed hunter may harvest a lion from Jan. 1-Dec. 31.

Hunting in Custer State Park (CSP) would be allowed for licensed mountain lion hunters who are awarded free temporary access permits to the park.

The CSP hunting season structure would be set up in two ways.

One would involve five specific hunting periods without hounds, each period 14-16 days in length, with 30 hunters getting access permits for each period. The other would involve three hunting periods -- with the use of hounds -- each period seven days in length, with four hunters getting access permits per period.

The temporary access permits would be issued by a free random drawing.

The South Dakota mountain lion season will be finalized Oct 4-5 during the Commission meeting at Deadwood. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposal may send an email to wildinfo@state.sd.us or send written comments to South Dakota GFP, 523 E Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501.