PIERRE, S.D. -(Ammoland.com)- The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission proposed and set several goose hunting seasons at their December meeting.
The Commission proposed to reduce the daily limit of Canada geese during the early fall Canada goose hunting season from 15 geese in 2017 to eight in 2018 with a possession limit of 24. The proposed early fall Canada goose hunting season would run from Sept. 1-30, 2018.
The GFP Commission proposed to add Lawrence and Meade counties to Unit 2 for the 2018 goose hunting season. No changes were proposed for the light goose, white-fronted goose hunting seasons or the spring light goose Conservation Order.
2018-2019 season dates include:
Canada Geese (and Brant)
- Unit 1: Oct. 1 – Dec. 16, 2018
- Unit 2: Nov. 5, 2018 – Feb. 17, 2019
- Unit 3: Jan. 12-20, 2019
Light Geese
- Statewide: Sept. 29, 2018 – Jan. 11, 2019
- Spring Light Goose Conservation Order
- Statewide: Feb. 18 – May 7, 2019
White-fronted Geese
- Statewide: Sept. 29 – Dec. 23, 2018
The special Canada goose hunting season in Bennett County has been set to follow the previous year structure and will run from Oct. 20 – Dec. 23, 2018, with 800 three-tag Canada goose licenses available to residents and 25 two-tag permits for nonresidents.
The GFP Commission reauthorized an August management take for Canada geese in Pennington County, west of the Cheyenne River to occur under the same 2017 structure for the 2018 season. This season will run from Aug. 18 – 31 and have a daily limit of 15 Canada geese and no possession limit.
The GFP Commission will finalize the early fall Canada goose proposal Jan. 11-12, at the Pierre RedRossa Convention Center.
To comment in person, the public hearing will be held Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. CST. Individuals can also provide written comments on commission rule proposals by sending them to 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501, or via email to wildinfo@state.sd.us.
To be included in the public record and to be considered by the Commission, comments must include a full name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of 72 hours before the public hearing (not including the day of the public hearing) per HB 1006.