GFP News - January 26, 2012

• GFP Reminds Sportsmen to Purchase 2012 Hunting and Fishing Licenses
• Deadline Nears for Game, Fish and Parks Summer Employment
• Paddlefish Snagging Extended to Lake Francis Case
• Enjoy Eagles and Bagels at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area
• Ice Bowl to Test Disc Golfers Feb. 4 at Richmond Lake

 

GFP Reminds Sportsmen to Purchase 2012 Hunting and Fishing Licenses

PIERRE, S.D. –The South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks is reminding hunters and anglers that their 2011 licenses will expire on Jan. 31.

The 2012 licenses are available at local authorized GFP licensing vendors or can be purchased online at www.gfp.sd.us. The state Game Fish and Parks Department licensing office can be reached at 605-773-3393.

Hunting and fishing licenses for 2012 are valid through January 2013.

- GFP -

Deadline Nears for Game, Fish and Parks Summer Employment

PIERRE, S.D. - The deadline is fast approaching to apply for summer employment with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

Applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than Feb. 10. They are available at www.gfp.sd.gov and at South Dakota One-Stop Career Centers.

The department offers a variety of summer employment opportunities across the state.

State park positions include general maintenance, entrance station attendant, maintenance worker, campground attendant, law enforcement, heavy equipment operator, and naturalist/programmer positions.

Positions with the Division of Wildlife include habitat technician, habitat aide, fisheries technician, wildlife technician, conservation crew leader, naturalist/programmer, and wildlife damage technician. Most listings have multiple positions available.

All applicants must be 18 years of age and available to work the normal summer season, mid-May through Labor Day. Applications received after the Feb. 10 deadline will only be considered for any remaining positions.

Seasonal employment with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks is also available through Executive Intern Program positions. The application deadline for summer 2012 internship positions is Wednesday, Feb. 1. To qualify for an internship, applicants must be full-time students of at least sophomore standing and currently be enrolled at a college, university or vocational-technical institute.

For the complete job listing and to apply, visit www.gfp.sd.gov, or contact any South Dakota One-Stop Career Center office.

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Paddlefish Snagging Extended to Lake Francis Case

PIERRE, S.D. - Applications are now available from the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks for a paddlefish snagging season that will take place on Lake Francis Case from May 1 through May 31, 2012.  

There are 350 tags available for the resident-only season. Tags will be issued by lottery drawing, with a first application deadline of Feb. 17. In addition, the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Sioux tribes will each issue 25 paddlefish snagging tags to tribal members for those season dates.

Annual paddlefish stocking efforts initiated in the early 1990s have resulted in good numbers of paddlefish in Lake Francis Case. Jason Sorensen, a GPF fisheries biologist in Chamberlain, said one of the original goals of the stocking program was to develop a paddlefish sport fishery.

"Due to the success of our stockings over the years, we can be confident that conservative harvest from this paddlefish stock will not have profound negative implications on the population of these unusual fish," Sorensen said.  

The season will be open reservoir-wide on Lake Francis Case, and anglers also may snag paddlefish in the White River, from the mouth upstream to the Highway 47 bridge, he said.

"Since this is a new season on Lake Francis Case, we cannot be sure where anglers will concentrate their efforts, but we feel most activity will take place in the tailwaters below Big Bend Dam and near the White River confluence," Sorensen said.  

Anglers will not be allowed to snag paddlefish from immediately below the Big Bend Dam powerhouse to the downstream chain link fence (about two-tenths of a mile). Snagging hours will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST daily.

The season offers a unique opportunity for anglers to pursue paddlefish along a stretch of the Missouri River that hasn’t been fished for paddlefish in over 30 years," Sorensen said.

Biologists will collect information from anglers and harvested paddlefish during the season to aid in managing the new fishery.  

Paper applications for the paddlefish drawing are available at license retail agents, GFP offices or by printing them from the GFP website. Additionally, anglers can apply online at www.gfp.sd.gov.

- GFP -

Enjoy Eagles and Bagels at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area

PIERRE, S.D. - Visitors at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Fort Pierre will learn all about the park's winter residents and enjoy a snack on the Eagles and Bagels Walk in the Park event Feb. 4.

“This is a good opportunity for families and participants to get out and enjoy our South Dakota winter and view the migrating eagles at Oahe Downstream," said Pat Buscher, Oahe Downstream district supervisor. “Participants have a great opportunity to view, learn, and ask questions about the bald eagles on the guided walk."

January and February offer park visitors a great chance of seeing many birds, he said.

“The cold weather, abundant cottonwood trees, and waterfowl keep the eagles located close to the downstream area," Buscher said.

Participants will also learn more about eagles from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Charlene Bessken, author of the 1991 children’s book, Eagles for Kids. Bessken also wrote the Wisconsin Bald Eagle Recovery Plan, and she coordinated recovery efforts.

The Feb. 4 program will begin at 9 a.m. CST at the Oahe Downstream group lodge. A short presentation will highlight eagles, their habitat, and tips and proper conduct for viewing and photographing birds. The group will then travel into the park for a 1.5-mile guided hike (weather permitting) to observe the birds in their natural setting. The hike will include a number of stops to view eagles and answer questions. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, cameras, comfortable hiking shoes and cold-weather clothing.

Following the hike, guests are invited back to the lodge for bagels, provided by Pier 347, and coffee and juice, provided by Lynn’s DakotaMart.

The Oahe Downstream campgrounds are currently closed to vehicle traffic to protect the roosting eagles. Walkers and cross-country skiers are allowed in those areas, although they must be careful not to disturb the roosting eagles. If disturbed, the eagles may abandon their roosts and use up valuable food reserves.

There is no cost for the guided walk, but a South Dakota park entrance license is required. The 2012 park entrance licenses are available at the park. For more information, call 605-223-7722. Oahe Downstream Recreation Area is located five miles north of Fort Pierre, just off state Highway 1806.

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Ice Bowl to Test Disc Golfers Feb. 4 at Richmond Lake

ABERDEEN, S.D. - Grab your flying discs and warm up your throwing arm. Disc golfers in South Dakota are invited to compete in the 16th Annual Frozen Tundra Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Richmond Lake Recreation Area near Aberdeen.

Ice bowls are held across the country, and can really test even die-hard disc golfers. It’s no wonder that the slogan is “No wimps, no whiners. Weather is no excuse!"

Participants will play one round of 18 holes, and prizes will be awarded to the top three players. Registration takes place at 10 a.m. in the park office at Forest Drive, with a tee off time of 11 a.m. A free chili feed provided by Prairie Dogs will take place following the tournament, and hot chocolate and coffee will be available to warm the disc golfers.

The entry fee is $10 with a donation of three cans of non-perishable food. All food proceeds will go to the Salvation Army food bank. A park entrance license is also required.

The event takes place at the disc golf course at Richmond Lake Recreation Area's Forest Drive unit, located 10 miles northwest of Aberdeen, off U.S. Highway 281. The tournament is co-sponsored by the Aberdeen Area Disc Golf Association and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

For more information on the Frozen Tundra Challenge or Richmond Lake Recreation Area, contact the park office at (605) 626-3488.

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