GFP News - September 14, 2012

  • Grouse Hunters Asked to Take Fire Precautions
  • Time Winding Down for Canada Geese Donations

Grouse Hunters Asked to Take Fire Precautions

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota hunting seasons for grouse, prairie chicken and partridge open Sept. 15 and the Game, Fish and Parks Department is asking that hunters keep safety foremost in mind.

Fire danger has been extremely high throughout the summer, and remains so throughout much of the state. With that in mind, hunters are being asked to take precautions to help prevent range fires.

GFP asks hunters to take these basic precautions:

  • Equip their vehicles with a large fire extinguisher, shovel and water they’ll need to fight a fire.
  • Extinguish cigarettes with water or dirt or use an ashtray inside their vehicle.
  • Limit vehicle traffic to designated roads and trails.
  • Never park a vehicle over dry grass.

In addition, hunters can provide an extra safety measure by carrying a cell phone and being alert for possible fires. If smoke or fire is seen, hunters should report the fire location to local law enforcement or call 911 immediately. 

-GFP-

Time Winding Down for Canada Geese Donations

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota goose hunters have only a few days left to take advantage of the opportunity to donate Canada geese harvested during the Early September Canada Goose season.

Donations may be made through Sept. 21 as part of an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow hunters to contribute Canada geese through the Sportsmen Against Hunger program.

In turn, the Sportsmen Against Hunger program has worked to offer an incentive to cooperating meat processors in South Dakota to process Canada geese. Geese may be taken to cooperating facilities and processed at no fee and distributed through Sportsmen Against Hunger to the needy.

After Sept. 21, harvested geese will no longer be accepted through Sportsmen Against Hunger program, however that does not preclude individuals from gifting to another individual.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations restrict individuals from receiving, possessing, or giving to another, any freshly killed migratory game birds as a gift; except at the personal home or domicile of the person making the donation or the person being donated to, unless the birds have a tag attached, signed by the hunter who took the birds, stating such hunter's address, the total number and species of birds and the date such birds were taken.

For information on participating meat processors, visit the Sportsmen Against Hunter website.

-GFP-