By Aberdeen Insider - June 18, 2026 in NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
DEPARTMENT OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS
A Public Hearing will be held at The Galley, 230 US-12 East, Webster, SD 57274 at 2:00 pm (Central Time) on Thursday, July 9, 2026, to consider adoption, amendment and repeal of Administrative Rules of South Dakota numbered
- ARSD 41:06:00.01:02. Definitions
Effect: The rule clean-up would allow an individual to harvest a velvet antlered deer or elk.
Reason: Current rule requires the antler to be “polished.” It is common for deer to have velvet covered antlers at the beginning of the archery season and animals affected by hemorrhagic disease may have velvet covered antlers.
- ARSD 41:06:13:02. Open units — Exceptions.
Effect: Remove references to Federal property closures and separate PST-22A into county specific Spring Turkey hunting units for Day and Codington counties.
Reason: Hunting access determinations are under the authority of the landowner, and this modification would be consistent with other hunting unit descriptions. Turkey populations and hunters are not evenly dispersed in Day and Codington counties and the unit boundary change will more evenly disperse hunters to optimize hunting experience.
- ARSD 41:06:14:02. Black Hills unit — Exceptions.
Effect: Remove references to Federal property closures.
Reason: Hunting access determinations are under the authority of the landowner, and this modification would be consistent with other hunting unit descriptions.
- ARSD 41:06:14:02.01. Prairie units.
Effect: Remove weapon limitations in all units, except for Minnehaha County. Align all units for Spring Turkey and Fall Turkey.
Reason: West River hunting units are not restricted to only shotguns or bows during the Fall Turkey Season. The change would result in the same weapon restrictions across South Dakota, except for Minnehaha County. Notably, this will allow the use of rifles during the Fall Turkey Season in East River hunting units. Consistent unit boundaries between the Spring and Fall Turkey Hunting Seasons will simplify hunting season complexity and manage turkey populations at similar spatial scales.
Persons interested in presenting amendments, data, opinions, and arguments for or against the proposed rules may appear in-person at the hearing, or mail or e-mail them to the office of the Secretary of the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Foss Building, 523 East Capitol, Pierre, South Dakota 57501, or by going to the GFP website at http://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions. All persons who desire to submit written amendments, data, opinions, arguments, and their views by mail or email are encouraged to mail or transmit the same in sufficient time so that it is received by and in the office of the Secretary of the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks 72 hours prior to the date of the hearing. All written and email comments must include the name, hometown/city, and state of the person submitting the comments.
After the written comment period, the Commission will consider all written and oral comments it receives on the proposed rules. The Commission may modify or amend a proposed rule at that time to include or exclude matters that are described in this notice.
For Persons with Disabilities: This hearing will be located at a physically accessible place. Please contact the Department of Game, Fish & Parks at least 48 hours before the public hearing if you have special needs for which arrangements can be made by calling 605-773-3718.
Copies of the proposed rules are available for review on the internet by going to https://rules.sd.gov/ and copies of the proposed rules may be requested from the office of the Secretary of the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Foss Building, 523 East Capitol, Pierre, South Dakota 57501 by calling 605-773-3718.
Published once on June 18, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $43.35 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.aberdeeninsider.com