Select Page
Working to Preserve South Dakota's Hunting & Fishing Heritage

Action Needed!

Home » 2020 Legislative Bills » Action Needed!

Need your action

Please email all Sen. and ask them to oppose HB 1184 (reasons below) on the Senate Floor on Wed,

If passed, and in the future we have smaller deer or antelope numbers, our tag numbers are set by herd health, these tags are guaranteed, I ask you whose tags will be cut in numbers and opportunity to get their tag of your choice?

Please email all House Members and ask them to oppose SB 150 on the House Floor on Wed.

HB 1184 provide limited deer and antelope licenses to landowners

http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1184&Session=2020

SDWF strongly opposes this bill. Amendment 1184B did improve it by removing much of the potential for abuse by limiting the tags to landowners owning AND OPERATING 640 acres or more contiguous acres of land. The language concerning leasing was mostly removed, a good step. However, this was a bad bill to begin with, and removing some of the language SDWF objected to does not make it a good bill or a compromise. Nothing in this bill is good for resident sportsmen and women. 

  • This bill could potentially remove many hundreds or even thousands of deer and antelope tags from the pool of licensees now currently available to average sportsmen, including those that go to resident landowners.
  • HB 1184 includes all hunting units across the entire state. The bill would allow nonresident landowners in the West River, East River, Black Hills and any other unit to obtain guaranteed any deer tags and any antelope tags for them and their families. In addition, those landowners will be allowed to obtain free doe licenses. 
  • The bill does not allow SD GF&P to make reductions in nonresident landowner deer tags if EHD, CWD, adverse weather conditions or other problems impact the herd.
  • We have to ask if HB 1184 has the potential to increase land prices, keeping resident landowners from expanding their operations and preventing new farmers and ranchers from starting out? This is a question that should be answered. If true, a side-effect could be to increase current property taxes. 

SB 150 an act to revise nonresident waterfowl licensure. SDWF strongly opposes The bill has the potential to increase hunting pressure in South Dakota, making it a lose-lose proposition for the vast majority of waterfowl hunters, resident and nonresident alike. There is no regard to the long term consequences of the privatization and

commercialization of wildlife. Resident participation has been in steep decline over the past several years and this legislation has the potential to make those losses worse http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=150&Session=2020

How to contact your Legislator:

Go to   http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/ContactLegislator.aspx?Session=2020 this will pull up all members of the House and Senate simply click on the Legislator you want your message sent to and create or paste your message.

If you do not know who your Legislator is go to this link:

http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Who_Are_My_Legislators/default.aspx?CurrentSession=True

Or call and leave a message with the pages; tell them who message is for, the message, who you are. The page will deliver your phone message to their desk

Senate 773-3821

House 773-3851

Please write your response in your own words. It is fine to use our suggestions, but best if you do not simply just copy our points. Make your message a personal note from you to them. Include a family fishing picture if you have one for effect. As always, be polite and respectful.

Please include your name, number and address on all messages sent to your Legislators.

Thank you for all that you do! Together we can and do make a difference!