GF&P commission upholds waterfowl licenses

The Game, Fish and Parks Commission voted down an attempt to restrict the area in which out-of-state visitors can hunt waterfowl.

Two wildlife groups had hoped to invalidate 2,000 three-day nonresident waterfowl licenses, saying the legislature had expanded hunting territory without expanding access for residents.

Lawmakers added five north central South Dakota counties to the territory covered by 1,500 license this session, one year after the commission declined to make a similar expansion. Another 500 licenses were opened up for use in northeastern South Dakota in 2002.

The commission itself declined to widen the licenses in the face of public opposition from both in- and out-of-state hunters.

The South Dakota Waterfowl Association and South Dakota Wildlife Federation say the legislative decisions erode the rights of in-state hunters and moved the state toward commercialization and degradation of duck-hunting quality for residents.

Lawmakers said too many of the restrictive three-day licenses have gone unused for too long, and that opening more hunting ground to out-of-staters would boost rural economies.

The sporting groups petitioned the commission to rescind the licenses on Monday, but the Commission voted 7-0 on Thursday in Mobridge to leave the legislative changes in place.

Local hunters cry foul on fowl permits

The commission’s staff attorney told the group that it didn’t have the authority to override the legislature and the Governor. Instead of approving a petition to re-open the question, they passed a resolution.

“The Commission fully respects the preeminent and the Governor of South Dakota acting through the legislative process to amend the codified laws and administrative rules of the state of South Dakota,” it said.

George Vandel, vice president of the SDWF, said the decision wasn’t a shock. The groups didn’t anticipate a win at the commission, Vandel said, but had brought the petition to draw attention to the issue and call the legislative bypass of the GF&P into question.

Waterfowl hunting and protecting the hunt for locals is a sensitive topic, Vandel said.

“We’re not surprised,” he said. “This is one of those really difficult things. It’s been a difficult thing since the 1940s, long before I was around.”

Bill Koupal, a Board member of the SDWA, said he appreciated the approach the commission took at the hearing. The commissioners didn’t blow off the groups’ concerns, he said, but acted in accordance within the limits of what they saw as their legal authority.

“They certainly didn’t look at this and say ‘this is a ridiculous issue,’” Koupal said.

Koupal said the wildlife groups intend to push for a legislative repeal of the licenses next session.