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6/01/2006
SD GFP News for 5-30-06 * Spring Pheasant Populations Look Good Pheasant Populations Look Good, but Will Need Help For the Future There are good reasons that you are probably seeing a lot of pheasants this spring. First, and most obvious, most of South Dakota currently has a lot of pheasants. In comparison to the rest of the country, South Dakota has always had a lot of pheasants, but in comparing this year to others, the state has a well above average spring population of pheasants. "There are a ton of reasons we are where we are in regards to pheasant numbers," said George Vandel, Assistant Director of Wildlife for South Dakota Game Fish and Parks. "First we have a lot of birds left over from last season. Although we harvested just short of 2 million birds last year, we had an estimated pre-hunting season population of over 9 million. Second, another pretty mild winter allowed the birds to get through with minimal die off." That being said, Vandel stresses the fact that the pheasant is a short-lived bird. "According to our research, only about 15-25% of the total population of pheasants during a hunting season is leftover from the previous season. Spring is a real rough time for hen pheasants. Due to breeding activities, we lose more hen pheasants in the spring than any other time of year. With the all-important time for hatching quickly
approaching, Vandel pointed to four keys on having a successful hatch: "Weather plays a big part," said Vandel. "As far as weather goes, you need the right amount of moisture just after the hatch of the chicks. Moisture promotes a good population of insects, and that is what the chicks eat exclusively for the first few weeks of their life." Having a big spring or fall population is no accident however. "The entire key to raising wild pheasants is no secret," said Vandel. "It is habitat. CRP habitat provides everything a pheasant needs. It allows populations to rebound after some sort of tragic event more quickly. Honestly, without the CRP program, you will see a drastic decrease in pheasants across the country. The nesting cover, food plots and winter protection CRP provides is the reason we are enjoying the 'Golden Years' of pheasant hunting right now." Even with having great habitat conditions, being a baby pheasant in an egg getting ready to hatch is no walk in the field. Only one out of three nests will successfully hatch, even with everything going right. With a successful hatch of 10 to 12 chicks, only half of them will make it to the fall hunting season. A common myth across the pheasant belt is that a hen will raise a batch of chicks and then re-nest and have another batch. Vandel says this simply doesn't happen. "The really late chicks people see and think they are a second clutch is normally a hen that maybe had her nest destroyed once or twice already. Nesting is really tough on these birds so a hen raising a second successful batch rarely if ever happens." So while all the signs point to another banner year, hunters will have to keep an eye on Mother Nature and the Farm Bill for continuing "Golden Years" in regards to pheasants. "The bottom line is that as long as we have CRP and good nesting cover, pheasants can bounce back from a lot of things. Before CRP we were averaging about 3 million birds in the state. Last year we had almost 10 million. That means a lot to the economy and quality of life South Dakotan's enjoy," said Vandel. -GFP- East River Producers Reminded of Ditch Mowing Restrictions PIERRE S.D. - With the recent abundance of pheasants in the state, it would be easy to think one little ditch wouldn't make much of a difference as far as a pheasant population goes. What is easy to overlook is that road ditches are some of the best nesting cover to be had in many areas. With that in mind, producers are reminded that Department of Transportation rules state that state highway road ditches are to remain unmowed until July 10th east of the Missouri River and Lyman, Gregory and Tripp county ditches can be mowed after June 15. "Pheasant populations rely on the miles of roadside ditches found throughout the state," said Tony Leif, Game Manager for the Wildlife Division of Game Fish and Parks. "We realize the inconvenience it may pose on some farmers and ranchers, but holding off on mowing until after these dates will pay off come October." Producers west of the Missouri, excluding Lyman, Gregory and Tripp, will continue to have no mowing restrictions. For more information of pheasant hunting and other outdoor activities, visit www.sdgfp.info. -GFP- Enjoy Free Family Activities June 10 in the SD State Parks PIERRE, S.D. - On June 10, visitors to six South Dakota
state parks will have the chance to take part in special family activities.
These free activities are a great way to spend a summer day. Make plans to
attend the following events: There is no cost to participate in any of these programs, although a park entrance license is required. All times are Central Time. These programs are held in addition to regular programming hosted by individual parks on summer weekends. The three Walk in the Park programs are part of a series of educational, guided hikes held throughout the year in South Dakota state parks, recreation areas and nature preserves. Parks staff and volunteers lead the programs, which are co-sponsored by the SD Department of Health and the Department of Education. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and to dress for the weather. For more information on SD state parks and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.SDparks.info or call (605) 773-3391. -GFP - Luce Pioneer Day at Lake Herman Features Period Activities and Entertainment PIERRE, S.D. - Lake Herman State Park near Madison will rekindle the pioneer spirit during its annual Luce Pioneer Day on Sat., June 10. The event will allow visitors of all ages to experience activities reminiscent of the days of old. "This year's Luce Pioneer Day will center around the theme "Childhood Memories" and promises to be a great experience for everyone," said Vicki Seger, park manger. "We'll have some great period entertainment and demonstrations, plus, visitors will get to try several pioneer-era activities for themselves." Luce Pioneer Day activities will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the day, visitors can take part in pioneer and Dutch oven cooking, rope making, weaving, wheat grinding, gold panning and making pioneer toys. In addition, demonstrations on bee keeping, trapping, spinning and butter churning will be held. Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the day by the Schumacker Family Band and at 10:30 a.m. the group the HarmonicKatz will perform. Visitors can enjoy kettle corn and other food items, as well as exploring the many booths and displays, including South Dakota Chic Beads, Vintage M, Hope Neuvou, Fantastic Photos, Awesome Agates, Christmas at the Cabin and Jeff Person's frontier goods. Other activities taking place are the horseshoe tournament at 2 p.m. and hoop races throughout the afternoon. A short reading by Herman Luce and his friends will take place at 1 p.m. There is no cost to participate in any of the activities programs, although a park entrance license is required. Seger wanted to especially thank the Mary Chilton Dar Foundation and the Smith-Zimmerman Museum for their support of the event. Luce Pioneer Day is named in honor of Herman Luce and his family, the first homesteaders in the area. The historic Luce cabin still stands in the park, and was recently restored by park staff. Seger encourages visitors to take some time during the day to visit the cabin and learn more about the area's unique history. Lake Herman State Park is located two miles west of Madison off SD Hwy 34. For more information on the event, call (605) 256-5003. To learn more about the South Dakota state parks or other upcoming events, visit www.SDparks.info or call (605) 773-3391. -GFP - State Park Publications Aid Recreation Planning PIERRE, S.D. - If you pedal, paddle or simply amble through South Dakota state parks, several free brochures will help you plan your adventures this year. "With summer just around the corner, now is a great time to begin planning spring and summer outings," said Emilie Miller, information specialist with the Division of Parks and Recreation. "The state parks have a number of free brochures to help you plan, focusing on all types of interests, from canoeing to horseback riding to discovering South Dakota's rich history." The brochures highlight several popular activities in the SD state parks. These and other publications are available at your local state park office or by contacting the division office at (605) 773-3391 or ParkInfo@state.sd.us. Many of the publications can also be downloaded for free from the state parks website at www.SDparks.info . The free brochures include the following: -GFP- Last-Minute Campers Can Find SD State Park Campsites Online PIERRE, S.D. - Campers wanting to make spur-of-the-moment camping trips to South Dakota state park areas have several options available to help them find a site for the weekend. "Once you get that itch to go camping, check the state parks website at www.SDparks.info ," said Emilie Miller, information officer with the SD Division of Parks and Recreation. "There are several resources available online to help campers find a campsite, whether you are planning a couple of weeks in advance or if you want to head out in just a few of days." According to Miller, the best tool for last-minute campers is the weekend campsite availability report on the state parks website. The report is posted on Tuesdays and Thursdays to show sites available for the upcoming weekend. "This report is a great tool for those campers who are unable to plan in advance or who need a quick get-away vacation," said Miller. "Reservations are taken until Wed. at 10 p.m. (CT) for the upcoming weekend, so you can check the website on Tuesday and still have plenty of time to reserve one of the remaining sites. On Thursday morning, the list shows those parks with sites that were not reserved, and they become available on a first-come, first-served basis." In addition, a number of campgrounds offer either all or a portion of their sites as first-come, first-served throughout the season. These include: For those planning little farther in advance, Miller suggests checking the reservation website at www.CampSD.com . The "General Availability" feature allows visitors to search all state parks and recreation areas for available campsites over a period of time. The site will let you search for and reserve sites as early as 90 days prior to arrival and as late as Wed. night for an upcoming weekend. Campers can also learn about upcoming events in the parks, request information, and print campground maps from the state parks website. For more information on the South Dakota state parks, visit www.SDparks.info , contact your local park office, or call (605) 773-3391. -GFP - Preparation is the Key to Water Safety PIERRE- As summer approaches, a water enthusiast's thoughts turn to the rivers and lakes of South Dakota and preparation for a much-anticipated fun day on the water. "Whether a fishing trip or recreational boating, it's hard to imagine anything that could mar such a pleasant event," Curt Robertson, Boating Safety Coordinator for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks said. "Yet without the proper safety precautions, a wonderful time on the water with family and friends can turn into a day of regret." Not only are some items essential to safe boating in South Dakota, some are required by law. Robertson shared what is required on different type of boats. On boats less than 16 feet in length and on all canoes
and kayaks, you must have the following safety equipment: * A U.S. Coast
Guard approved wearable PFD for each person aboard "The Coast Guard estimates that 9 of every 10 drownings are preventable with proper safety precautions. Remember, preparation is the key to safety whether on or in the water," Robertson said. Boating safety information and regulations can be viewed by going to the GFP homepage at www.sdgfp.info , highlighting "Wildlife, Hunting and Fishing," clicking on the link to "Fishing," and then clicking on the link to "Boating Information" near the bottom of that page. A copy of the South Dakota Boating regulations can be obtained by writing: Game, Fish and Parks Information Office, 412 West Missouri Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501. - GFP-
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