South Dakota deer season

[travisd]

If you haven't heard South Dakota is having some deer die off from EHD and unsold licenses are being removed in some counties. The state is also asking for hunters to return their tags for a refund if they want to. I got drawn for my deer tag this year but haven't received it yet. I wasn't sure why until the other day. I was talking to a couple guys at work and none of them had gotten their rifle tags yet. Apparently the state isn't sending them out yet because they cant decide if they want to or cancel rifle season all together. However you can still buy an archery deer tag no problem but they wont give out rifle tags. I don't see how that makes any sense if you shoot a deer with a rifle or a bow its still dead.
There is nothing official saying this but its what everyone is saying. Anyone Heard anything about this? All I can say is I'm not happy and I had better get my tag.. lol

 

[Davek1977]

I received my West River deer tags several weeks ago for Unit 50A, and haven't heard of others having their licenses "held" personally.

 

[travisd]

Weird. I got mine for Lincoln county, and everyone I've talked to lives down south farther. Everyone's got their archery tags but no rifles.

 

[Pacsd]

I got my west river deer a long tine ago also. I was up in 35A wednesday thru Friday for antelope. We hunt deer on the same ranch. We saw a good amount of whitetails and mulies but, from what the ranchers say is they are finding a few in my area but southern Butte has been hit really hard. The midges should have died off with the low 20's temps, and snow we had there. Cats have been taking a toll on the numbers also. We found 3 kill sites with in a 1/2 mile square area in relatively open areas.

 

[Davek1977]

I hinted grouse in the 50 unit (Mellette Co) one afternoon, and there were whitetails in almost every little patch of brush we hunted. While nice to see deer, this concerns me a bit. Our ranch used to hold primarily mule deer, with a few whitetails around the major drainages and creek bottoms primarily. Over the course of probably the last 5 years or so, I've seen whitetails become more common, possibly to the point of predominance. The overall population is probably close to the same, but the ration of whitetails to mule deer seems to be getting higher every year

 

[travisd]

Yeah there's plenty of deer around here still. Can't see we should run out maybe they're just slow getting tags out or something.

 

[Davek1977]

What county are you hunting in? East River or West River?? Have you called the GFP Licensing Office in Pierre? (605-223-7686)? AS close as we're getting to season, I'd be looking for some sort of answers from the people who can actually provide them

 

[travisd]

I got drawn for 44a (Lincoln county). Its east river. I was planning on calling today over my lunch break andsee if I can figure something out. I'd sure like to know what the deal is. Thanks for the number.

 

[Davek1977]

So....what did you find out regarding your tag or lack of, as it may be?

 

[travisd]

Finally managed to get a hold of them just got off the phone. The lady said they were just late getting them sent out but they would get in the mail today. Didn't say why there were so late but at least they're working on it.

 

[Delta959]

I apply down in Bon Homme (12a) and the only ones to get them there are land owners so far. My uncle got his (he is a LO) but my cousins and I didn't. Apparently there is going to be a vote in the next few weeks to see if Bon Homme will cancel their season.

 

[travisd]

Well my tags showed up in the mail yesterday so apparently once they actually get them out it doesn't take them long.