Lawmakers denied a Game, Fish and Parks Department request for additional nonresident waterfowl license for a second time.
The Interim Rules Review Committee heard from Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Kevin Robling on a proposal to increase nonresident waterfowl licenses on private land.
Robling said the department’s push for an additional 105 new nonresident licenses is meant to curve the decline in waterfowl hunting in the state.
“National duck hunter numbers have dropped from over two million in 1970 to less than one million today. In 1998, South Dakota had over 25,000 resident duck hunters. Today, just over 10,000. The issue is not less ducks, it is less people are picking up the shotgun to hunt ducks across the nation and across South Dakota," said Robling. "We need to stop saying, ‘no you can’t hunt here,’ to waterfowl hunters before the department has nobody to say no to any longer.”
Sen. Jean Hunhoff is on the committee. She challenged Robling on GFP’s intentions.
“What value do you give to duck hunters that, again, the responses were over 300 that were opposed. What does it take for numbers of South Dakota citizens to actually make an impact to change a decision?” asked Hunhoff.
Robling responded by saying that the department did in fact listen.
“There was a five percent increase across the board for all those licenses. Three-hundred-fifteen would have been the actual proposed allocation that was in front of that commission, that was proposed to that commission. They changed that significantly to 105. I would argue the residents of this state were heard loud and clear,” said Robling.
The commission voted unanimously to send the proposal back to the GFP department. This is the second time the committee denied GFP proposal. According to state law, the department can resubmit its proposal at the next committee meeting.
