South Dakota Mountain Lion Season Begins Sunday
OutdoorHub 12.29.11
The statewide, resident only season will run until March 31 or until a total of 70 lions or 50 female lion are harvested. This year Custer State Park is included in the statewide license, however, hunters who have received a statewide mountain lion license must apply for limited-issue time slots to hunt in Custer State Park. These free access permits are located at:
http://apps.sd.gov/applications/GF70RBGDepredation/CusterStateParkMountainLionHunt.aspx
For the statewide season, all of South Dakota is open to hunting with the exception of areas closed to hunting by the federal government, and portions of Indian Reservations where hunting is regulated by tribal governments.
All harvested mountain lions must be presented to a GFP representative for inspection within 24 hours of harvest. Mountain lions harvested in the Black Hills must be reported to GFP personnel and checked in at the Rapid City GFP Regional Office (4130 Adventure Trail at the site of the Rapid City Outdoor Campus) or the park headquarters at Custer State Park. Hunters who are successful in taking a mountain lion must call 605-394-2391 during weekday office hours (8am-5 pm), or call State Radio at 605-393-8121 during nights and weekends. Arrangements can be made to have a GFP representative meet the hunter at the Rapid City GFP Office or Custer State Park. Hunters harvesting a lion outside of the Black Hills can call the Rapid City office or their local GFP representative to arrange for an inspection.
Hunters can call the Rapid City GFP office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 605-394-2391 to make arrangements for inspections. On nights and weekends, successful hunters should call State Radio at 605-393-8121 to arrange to have a GFP representative meet the hunter.
All standard big game regulations apply to the mountain lion season. Hunters must wear fluorescent orange when hunting lions as they are considered a big game species in SD. Hunters may not harvest a lion with a spotted coat or harvest any lion that is traveling with another lion.
Shooting times are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
Hunters may use electronic calls while hunting, but cannot bait, trap or use hounds to hunt lions.
All hunters are responsible for checking on the status of the mountain lion harvest immediately prior to each day of hunting. Up-to-date mountain lion harvest totals will be posted on the GFP website at http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/mountain-lion-season-harvest-status.aspx Hunters may also call, toll free, 1-866-895-9067 to receive a recorded message on the latest status on the mountain lion harvest.
Interested individuals can also sign up for a text messaging service that will update subscribers on the number of cats harvested. Simply text the words “SDGFP lion2012” to 368638, respond to the confirmation text and you will get up to date harvest information.
