Hunting Guide 2017

OCTOBER 2017

A special supplement to The Daily Republic and ADvisor

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Hunting Guide

October 2017

Hunting Guide 3

October 2017

Matt Gade / Daily Republic

Contents Pheasant survey.........................................................4-5 Governor stands behind pheasant work.................6-8 Game meat donations..............................................9-11

The Mitchell Department of Public Safety

Harvest and pheasant hunting...................................12 Waterfowl hunting.......................................................13 Wiltz: An affordable elk hunt................................14-16

Would like to remind you to lock your vehicles and remove valuables including your guns from your vehicles when leaving them parked.

Guide editor: Marcus Traxler

Staff photographer: Matt Gade

Staff contributors: Ryan Deal,

Guide designer: Stacey Schleich

Luke Hagen and Eric Mayer

Thank you, and have a Safe and Enjoyable Hunting Season.

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2017 South Dakota hunting information.............17-18

Hunting Guide

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October 2017

Pheasant survey shows 45 percent drop in population from ‘16

Forum News Service file photo A pheasant is shown in a field in this file photo.

By Luke Hagen The Daily Republic Significant South Dakota drought has shot down the state’s pheasant population.

The South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department’s annual survey released in late August shows a 45 percent decline statewide in the number of pheasants per mile compared to 2016. The results showed a statewide pheasants-permile index of 1.68, down from last year’s index of 3.05.

“We have to remember that over 80 percent of South Dakota experienced some level of drought by midJuly,” GF&P Secretary Kelly Hepler said. “During very severe drought conditions, pheasant nesting success and chick survival can be reduced

due to less cover and a reduction in insects for chicks to feed on.”

This year is the second-lowest pheasants-per-mile index since 1979, slightly above 2013’s dismal preseason index of 1.52. That year, an estimated 979,000 pheasants were harvested, one of three years since 1991 that hunters in South Dakota did not harvest more than 1 million pheasants.

Travis Runia, the state’s senior upland game biologist, expected some areas of South Dakota to see a decline due to severe drought conditions in much of the state. But he was somewhat surprised that eastern South Dakota, specifically areas east of the James River valley, saw such

PHEASANT: Page 5

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significant declines in bird numbers.

“It’s not unusual to have drought in South Dakota and many times when we’ve had it, it’s not a major factor,” Runia said. “One thing that did happen this year was the drought started very early, as early as April and May.” From late July through midAugust, GF&P surveyed 110, 30-mile routes across the state to estimate production. Survey routes are grouped into 13 regions, based on a local city.

The Mitchell region saw a 32 percent decrease from last year and is down 48 percent from the 10-year average. The Winner area is down 48 percent from 2016 and Chamberlain dropped 42 percent. Statewide, only 16 routes of the 110 surveyed showed an increase in pheasants-per-mile from 2016.

That’s tough news for pheasant hunters, whose statewide season opens Oct. 21 and runs through Jan. 7.

Hunting Guide 5 The three-day resident-only season on public lands is Oct. 14-16.

Runia expects the decline in population to impact the number of nonresident hunters who travel to South Dakota this year. Last year, about 143,000 resident and nonresident hunters trekked across the state’s fields in search of roosters.

In 2013, the last time there’s been a significantly large decrease from one year to the next, there were about 132,000 pheasant hunters in South Dakota.

“We have seen when numbers are down our hunters respond pretty quickly and immediately,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if hunter numbers are lower.”

Runia reminded hunters to remember some of the state’s public lands may not be great destinations to find birds this year. Due to the drought, many acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program were opened for emergency haying or grazing.

Hunters-

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Hunting Guide

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October 2017

Governor stands behind pheasant work despite declining numbers Summit, recommendations set stage for ‘long-term habitat efforts,’ Daugaard says

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year’s second-worst preseason count since 1979. Although the past two years took a toll on pheasant numbers in South Dakota, Daugaard said the eight recommendations assembled by the habitat work group have “set the stage for important long-term habitat efforts.”

“The Summit and the Pheasant Habitat Work Group’s recommendations brought to light the importance of habitat efforts to sustain our natural resources,” Daugaard said via email.

The annual statewide pheasantper-mile report was released last month and showed a 45 percent drop from 2016, following an at-times

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Shutterstock photo

By Luke Hagen The Daily Republic MITCHELL — Patience, pheasant hunters.

Despite a 45 percent drop in an annual pheasant survey earlier this year, Gov. Dennis Daugaard believes his habitat work group has been a difference-maker in South Dakota.

In December 2013, Daugaard hosted a Pheasant Habitat Summit due to concerns from the public over declining numbers in the species across the state that resulted in the formation of the habitat work group.

Since, South Dakota has seen two years with increased brood count surveys in 2014, 2015 and the following two years showed decreased numbers, including this

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October 2017

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disastrous drought that plagued much of South Dakota over the summer. This year’s pheasant-permile index of 1.68 was slightly above 2013’s preseason index of 1.52. Later that year, the habitat summit was hosted in Huron.

Less than a year later, the pheasant habitat work group issued eight recommendations in September 2014, many of which have been fully or partially instituted.

Among the successful initiatives completed includes a push to increase the price of the Federal Duck Stamp from $15 to $25. The funds from the stamp, which is required for most migratory waterfowl hunters, are allocated to conservation projects nationwide. Some of the other enacted notable recommendations are the ability for farmers to plant winter wheat and be insured, and the formation of the Habitat Pays website.

Since its launch, Daugaard said 15,669 visitors have viewed at least

one session on the website.

Through the Habitat Pays website, interested parties have the ability to contribute to the South Dakota Conservation Fund. In 2014, the nonprofit organization Pheasants Forever donated $100,000 to the fund, and a Daugaard policy adviser said there was no set goal for the fund but used the word “millions” in hopes it would significantly grow.

Daugaard said during the establishment phase of the Conservation Fund, the state provided $350,000 in seed money to be matched by outside entities.

Several individuals and entities have since provided approximately $387,750 match funds. He said 12 projects have been approved by the Conservation Board and are being implemented, including help from Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited and local Pheasants Forever chapters.

Daugaard said there is $190,912 in total assets and $55,894 available for distribution in the Conservation Fund.

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Hunting Guide

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NUMBERS From Page 7

Matt Morlock, acting director for Pheasants Forever in South Dakota, acknowledged the strides made to elevate wildlife habitat in the state.

“The recommendations provided an elevated platform to work from, but the work is far from complete,” Morlock said.

“And we — Pheasants Forever — are committed not just to working on those eight components, but all other programs and initiatives that can help establish upland habitat in South Dakota.”

And while Daugaard says the work group’s recommendations should be measured in the long-term, he recognizes weather will always play a significant role in pheasant numbers.

“Because weather can impact a single year, the true measurement of the (pheasant habitat work group) will be assessed through long-term numbers knowing year-to-year volatility will occur due to conditions which cannot be controlled,” he said.

Daugaard also pointed to more-recent efforts in ways the state is attempting to improve habitat for pheasants.

This past legislative session, a new incentive for landowners was created with riparian buffer strips, which are perennial vegetation along streams and lakes that helps protect that water body from adjacent land use. The program is eligible along 575 lakes and 11,000 miles of streams and rivers and its enrollment is open until Oct. 15.

“This new incentive for agricultural producers not only improves water quality, but it also creates great habitat for pheasants,” Daugaard said.

Morlock said there’s still work to be done for Pheasants Forever. He’s focused on how the next federal Farm Bill shapes up, including the number of acres allowed in the Conservation Reserve Program.

“That has to change, and Pheasants Forever is working in the halls of Congress in that regard,” he said.

He explained Pheasants Forever needs to “continue engaging landowners and continue building relationships with agricultural and commodity groups” and “develop community-led efforts that focus on maintaining and creating habitat on the ground while engaging Main Street.”

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Hunting Guide 9

Game meat donations increased in 2016

By Ron Fowler South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger Donation of game meat to families in need increased again in 2016 with a modest increase in donations by hunters and significant increase in meat donation through the Sportsmen Against Hunger (SAH) salvage processing program.

Deer hunters continued to show interest in, and play an important part in, donation of game meat through SAH to food pantries across the state. Total harvested deer which were donated increased from 348 in 2015 to 397 in 2016.

These numbers included 256 antlerless deer in 2016 compared with 204 antlerless deer in 2015.

The antlerless deer were donated through the SAH processing certificate program in which a processing certificate completed and submitted by the hunter to a participating SAH game processor paid for most or all of the processing cost. The processing certificate program will again be available to hunters in 2017.

The SAH salvage processing program has

DONATIONS: Page 11

A hunter carries a downed pheasant during a 2016 hunt near Mitchell.

Republic file photo

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Hunting Guide

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October 2017

PHEASANT

CLASSIC OCT. 12-25, 2017 MITCHELL, SD

WEEKEND EVENTS OCT. 19-22 Express Licensing

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Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Field Hunt Tests

Live Pheasant Display

Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Thursday-Sunday, during store hours

Cowboy Fast-Draw Laser Shoot

Boy Scout Fundraising Breakfast

Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

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Visit cabelas.com/Mitchell for more information

Hunting Guide 11

October 2017

DONATIONS From Page 9

always been an important program in that funding has been available to pay for processing of salvageable game carcasses provided by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GF&P) and other game management agencies. This game has included road-kills, confiscated game, euthanized research animals, culled animals from a National Wildlife Refuge, and animals taken in city deer reduction programs.

The amount of processed salvaged game meat received a huge boost this past winter when Wind Cave National Park conducted an elk herd reduction program from which harvested elk were processed and the meat provided to food pantries and other charitable food distributors affiliated with Feeding South Dakota. SAH was one of several funding partners which paid for processing of these salvaged elk.

Sportsmen and sportswomen also donated a variety of other types of game this past year including

seven antelope, 1,895 Canada geese, 1,831 pheasants, one buffalo and 237 walleyes. The total amount of processed donated game and fish meat provided to food pantries from all sources, including game meat food drives, increased from 31,512 pounds in 2015 to 48,174 pounds in 2016, and this meat was made available to families in need throughout the state.

In addition to recognizing those individuals and wildlife management agencies who donated game animals and fish, credit needs to be given to those hunters who donated considerable cash to SAH through the GFP license application checkoff system. SAH would also like to acknowledge the corporations, foundations, organizations, and government entities who also provided funding to SAH for the primary purpose of paying for processing of certain donated game. The large variety and amount of support for SAH translates into much-appreciated game meat for families in need.

For more information on Sportsmen Against Hunger, go to website www.feedtheneedsd.com.

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Hunting Guide

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October 2017

Harvest, pheasant hunting success go hand-in-hand Early in the season, hunters should maximize the final hour

By Eric Mayer The Daily Republic The more crops that are still in the ground, the harder pheasants are to find.

It’s a longtime pheasant hunting dilemma and one hunters will face again early in the season as landowners continue to harvest their crops. With more rainfall coming late in the summer and early this fall, crops could be in the ground later than usual. That leaves more places for pheasants to find cover when the season kicks off at noon on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Travis Runia, senior upland game biologist for the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department, said each year varies on how many crops will still be in the ground when the pheasant opener rolls around.

“I’m not an agronomy expert, but it seems to vary from year to year based on weather conditions,” Runia said. “The first couple of weekends are by far the most popular in terms of people hunting, but sometimes, hunting success can increase in that second, third and fourth week as the crop harvest progresses.”

Republic file photo

A hunter seeks pheasants during a 2016 hunt near Mitchell.

Runia also had some simple advice for pheasant hunters who may not see as many birds because they’ll be feeding in crop land.

“Make sure to hunt that last hour of the day,”

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Runia said. “Often times, the pheasants will take refuge in the crop fields during the day, but they almost always roost in some kind of grassland or upland habitat.

“Folks can often times watch pheasants fly out of the corn fields and into the grasslands in the last hour of the day. It really opens up some opportunities to hunt that last hour.”

With the GFP’s annual survey showcasing a 45 percent decline statewide in the number of pheasants per mile compared to 2016, any extra obstacles, like extra crop cover for pheasants, will be detrimental for hunters. The 2017 outlook for statewide pheasants-per-mile index is 1.68, down from last year’s index of 3.05.

Runia said corn and soybean fields, two of South Dakota’s most produced crops, are daytime hangouts for pheasants.

“It’s a food source and there’s overhead cover for the birds to be protected from any predators in the area,” Runia said. “It’s pretty open underneath too, so they can be mobile and go anywhere they want to go. It’s a place that seems to be pretty attractive during the day.”

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Hunting Guide 13

October 2017

Fall rains could mean more waterfowl hunting

By Ryan Deal The Daily Republic Recent rainfalls could lead to a jump in declining waterfowl hunting activity, said one of the state’s waterfowl biologists.

Rocco Murano, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department senior waterfowl biologist, said breeding conditions are dictated by spring precipitation. While most of the state went through a drought in the spring and summer, the recent rainfalls could lead to more waterfowl movement.

“Water conditions over large portions of the state just improved the last 10 days and I would certainly encourage anybody to get out,” Murano recently told The Daily Republic.

Murano said the state of waterfowl hunters has been down in recent years. He said the resident duck hunters in 2016 was just below 11,000.

“We certainly would like to see

Courtesy photo

In this undated photo, ducks swim atop a pond of water during the fall season. more resident duck hunters out there,” he said.

It’s not just in South Dakota.

Murano said other states are also falling in hunting numbers.

“Whenever I see numbers dropping, it’s very troubling because those are conservationist,” Murano said. “The North American model of wildlife

management is based on money and support from hunters and whenever that drops, it is certainly troubling to me.”

But the duck populations remain steady. A survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counted 47.26 million ducks, across the northcentral regions of the United States

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3. Always wear distinctive hunter’s orange clothing.

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and Canada. The figure is similar to last year’s 48.36 million and “is 34 percent above the 1995-2016 long-term average,” according to ducks.org/ducknumbers. The site also stated, “The projected mallard fall flight index is 12.9 million birds, similar to the 2016 estimate of 13.5 million.”

Mallard populations dropped 11 percent from 2016, blue-winged teal jumped 18 percent and gadwall 13 percent. Green-wing teal (16 percent) and wigeon (19 percent) both dropped significantly.

“Mallard numbers were relatively stable continently,” Murano said. “I am talking the whole picture, not just South Dakota. There was a record gadwall this year. The thing is that prairie Canada and North Dakota have fairly good water conditions in May and that kind of helps continently, but not in South Dakota. You have to look at it at larger scale and not just South Dakota.”

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Hunting Guide

14

October 2017

Wiltz: An affordable, do-it-yourself elk hunt is possible I didn’t know it, but I was in an area known as Fisherman’s Flat.

Within minutes, the sun — a shimmering orange wafer — would touch the western horizon. I had heard ROGER a bugle, but I wasn’t WILTZ experienced enough to Freelance columnist distinguish between the real thing and a fellow hunter’s call.

Still, I would take no chances.

It was the final half-hour of my second day of hunting, and I hadn’t seen an elk. A gentle, off again, on again breeze favored my direction as I worked toward the bugle sound.

From the heavily shaded timber, I approached an elongated open park. Short piles of timber had been stacked around the perimeter at 30-yard intervals. I crawled up to one, assumed a prone position, and laid my Ruger Model 77R bolt-action in .300 Winchester Mag caliber over



Metro Creative photo

a dead fall.

Within minutes, I spied a flock of turkeys moving in single-file along the northern timber edge. I went to them with my 3x9 Leupold scope.

As I followed the birds through my scope, I came upon something behind them, something that didn’t belong.

I was looking at perfect symmetry … two ivory-colored brackets facing one another … elk antlers!

Minutes later, a bull elk emerged from the darkness behind. Unaware of my presence, he was looking back.

A cow, and then a second cow, came into full view. All three faced me at perhaps 125 yards.

Personal goals had been set for my hunt. I had heard marvelous stories about cow elk meat as table fare. With four finicky females at home, a cow it would be but I had a second goal.

I wanted to spy a good bull through my scope, and I wanted to know that I could have put him down. With

WILTZ: Page 15

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WILTZ

From Page14

those goals accomplished, I centered the crosshairs on the chest of the second cow and squeezed the trigger.

She rose up on her hind quarters, like the Lone Ranger’s Silver and toppled over backwards. Minutes later, my Custer State Park elk tag went on a hind leg.

With rocks and nylon rope, I had her spread on her back as I made short work of field dressing. In 1987, one didn’t leave a state park trail and drive his pickup as closely as possible to a downed elk. A hike to my pickup and a drive to the Game Lodge produced the help I needed.

Prior to making my first ever application for a Custer State Park elk tag, I received permission from the school board to make an October elk hunt so long as I came straight home once my elk was down. The following morning, the local locker packaged and froze my meat, while I fished for a limit of rainbows from Legion Lake. I was at my principal’s desk the following morning. A second,

Hunting Guide 15 far more grueling Custer State Park elk hunt would follow in 2007. Read about that hunt in my book, A Dakota Rod and Nimrod, which is currently on sale at a number of local retailers.

When it comes to elk hunting, being a South Dakota resident has its perks. Granted, our state pales in comparison to Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. However, we South Dakotans do have opportunities for quality elk hunts on our home turf.

It is simply a matter of waiting for one’s turn.

For me, there’s elk hunting in South Dakota, and affordable elk hunting out of state and I’ve had some great experiences with both.

Other than Custer State Park and the adjoining Black Hills units, South Dakotans can hunt elk in Prairie Units including Fall River, Meade, Butte, Bennett, and Gregory. As one might expect, “Antlerless” elk tags are far easier to draw than the “Any Elk” tags. I currently have 14 preference points (14 fruitless years of applying for the tag) for a Black Hills “Any Elk” tag. With those points, I can give

up on the “Any Elk” tag and draw a guaranteed “Antlerless” tag for next fall’s Black Hills hunt. Depending on my health, I might just do that, as time is running out.

No elk hunt is cheap, but hunting cow elk is far more reasonable than an antlered hunt. I would make the rough estimate that a bull hunt in the same area runs five times as much as a comparable cow hunt. Same mountains, same lodge or camp, same food, same guide, and better meat.

Are cows less challenging than a bull? Probably not. Are antlers worth $5,000-$10,000? To some hunters they are, but not to me. Let me give some actual examples.

In 2004, Ed Kniffen, Doug Koupal, and I hunted northwest New Mexico’s San Juan Mountains. Ed and I did selfguided cow elk hunts that included good private property to hunt and retrieval and delivery of our downed elk to the local locker plant. We paid $600 apiece for our hunts and $200 apiece for the tags. I’m guessing that Doug’s trophy bull hunt took most of $6,000, as the terrain, elk numbers,

and hunt were top drawer.

In 2012, Betsy and I went to The Lodge at Chama, in Chama, New Mexico, where I hunted on the Jacarilla Apache Indian Reservation.

The lodge was a five-star operation with gourmet dining and my guided cow hunt cost under $2,000, tag included, while a bull hunt ran $12,000-plus. The lodge also skinned, quartered, and cooled my elk and the famous Lodge at Chama is one fine memory for both of us.

Come December, I will hunt cow elk at Meteetse, Wyoming’s Wood River Ranch. My guided three-day hunt will cost $1,650 and my tag cost $302. I anticipate the hunting area to be breathtaking, but there is little I can say until after the hunt.

All too often, when I talk with hunters returning from an expensive bull elk hunt, I hear about poor horses and equipment, ho-hum guides, and no elk. Because of these many disappointments, I want to talk about our 2010 experience at Idaho’s Broadmouth Canyon Ranch. This

WILTZ: Page 16

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Hunting Guide

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WILTZ

From Page15

operation is owned by Rulon Jones and though Jones is a former all-star defensive end with the Denver Broncos, he is a regular, down-to-earth, guy.

The late Don Kaberna, Kevin Kaberna, Doug Koupal, and I hunted bull elk at 9,000 feet on 10,000 acres of fenced-in mountainside. Some of you may be repulsed by the fence, and I expect that you will read no further. Fine, but let me tell the rest of you about our “hunts.”

The food, lodge, and guides were excellent. A queen-sized bed with a restroom at 10 feet, or a tent camp and sleeping bags was our choice.

For me personally, I chose the modern comforts.

I don’t care to tip-toe around in the dark at 2:00 a.m.

We could choose between horseback or ATV. I did both. Don, Kevin, and I took “management” bulls — five- or six-point bulls that measured 300 B&C points or better. Doug chose to upgrade the basic package. We paid $3,900 apiece, and that included skinning, quartering, cooling, and transportation to the Idaho Falls locker facility.

Today, the same hunt has jumped to $4,900.

The hunt? The fence did not come into play. It was all “fair chase,” in my estimation. Let me tell you about how Rulon runs his business. I never

October 2017

told you about this before. On the late morning of the first day’s hunt, I passed on a 125-yard shot because of my tremor. I felt terrible about it, but I wasn’t going to wound an elk. Apparently, my guide told Rulon about it. Before supper that night, Rulon called me aside. “Roger, shoot only if you’re comfortable. If you don’t pull the trigger during this hunt, you owe me nothing.”

How’s that for a way of doing business.

As it turned out, I asked my guide if he was permitted to carry a rifle. He was, and he agreed to back me up. The following evening, we watched a good bull thrash and trash some thick brush from far above. I snuggled my rifle into a rocky ledge and touched off a shot. The bull crumpled. My guide asked, “Roger, how long do you think that shot was?”

“I have no idea, but I know I was comfortable,” I answered. He replied that the shot was 256 yards. Knowing I had backup must have had a positive effect on my ability to make a solid hold.

I’ve taken a fair number of elk in my life, and most of the hunts were self-guided cow hunts. I feel I’ve garnered a lot of bang for my bucks and many freezers full of good, healthy meat.

If I were asked for some elk hunting tips, I’d make two recommendations. First, hunt where the elk are. Count on spending a day or two in search of a fresh sign. Second, hunt quietly, and hunt into the wind.

Shutterstock photo

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Hunting Guide 17

October 2017

2017 South Dakota hunting license and season information

By The Daily Republic

Here’s a list of what hunters need to know ahead of the hunting seasons in the Mitchell area.

Hunting season dates Pheasant Resident only: Oct. 14-16 Youth only: Oct. 7-11 Statewide: Oct. 21 to Jan. 7, 2018. *Future opening dates: The pheasant season traditionally opens on the third Saturday in October, which is Oct. 20 in 2018 and Oct. 19 in 2019.

Prairie chicken/grouse Sept. 16 to Jan. 7, 2017.

Ducks Low Plains — north zone: Sept. 30 to Dec. 12

Low Plains — south zone: Oct. 14 to Dec. 26.

High Plains: Oct. 14 to Jan. 18, 2018.

Youth: Sept. 23-24.

Deer Youth: Sept. 9 to Jan. 15, 2018 Archery: Sept. 23 to Dec. 31.

East River: Nov. 18 to Dec. 3.

West River: Nov. 11-26 Black Hills: Nov. 1-30 Muzzleloader: Dec. 1-31 *For archery and muzzleloader hunting, only antlerless whitetail deer tags are valid from Jan. 1 to Jan. 15, 2018. See the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department website at gfp.sd.gov. for more information.

Low Plains — middle zone: Sept. 30 to Dec. 12

HUNTING: Page 18

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Hunting Guide

18

October 2017

HUNTING From Page 17

Antelope Archery: Aug. 19-29 and Oct. 16-31.

Firearms: Sept. 30-Oct. 15.

Fall turkey Nov. 1 to Jan. 31, 2018.

Sandhill crane Sept. 23 to Nov. 19 *For those seasons not listed here, see the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department website at gfp.sd.gov.

Cost for licenses Resident fees • Combination (small game and fishing): $55 • Senior combination (age 65 and up): $40 • Junior combination (ages 16-18): $27 • Small game: $33 • One day small game: $12 • Youth small game (ages 12-15): $5 • State migratory bird certification: $5 • Predator/varmint: $5 • Furbearer: $30 Non-resident fees • Small game (two 5-day periods): $121 • Youth small game, ages 12-15: $10 • Waterfowl (valid 10 days, lottery only): $121 • Waterfowl (valid 3 days, lottery only): $86 • Predator/varmint: $40 • Furbearer: $275 • State migratory bird certification: $5 • Shooting preserve (annual): $121 • Shooting preserve (5-day): $76 • Shooting preserve (1-day): $46 • 2017 licenses are valid Dec. 15, 2016 through Jan. 31, 2018.

• 2018 licenses will be valid Dec. 15, 2017 through Jan. 31, 2019.

(Note: New in 2017, the fee for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses sold by a license agent or online is $4 per item; the fee for issuing all non-resident small game licenses is $8.)

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Republic file photo

Terry Erwin loads his shotgun during a hunting trip at Firesteel Creek Hunting Lodge near Plankinton during a 2014 hunt.

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Hunting Guide 19

October 2017

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Hunting Guide

October 2017

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