10/03/05
Guiding Not Permitted On State-Owned/Managed/Leased Lands
PIERRE, S.D. – People performing as hunting guides in South Dakota are reminded that it is illegal to guide hunters on lands owned, leased or controlled by the State of South Dakota.
State law (§ 41-4-12) defines a hunting guide as a person who holds himself or herself out to the public as a hunting guide and, for compensation or remuneration, directs or provides services to any person for the purpose of hunting any wild animal.
Game, Fish and Parks Regional Law Specialist Bruce Nachtigall of Rapid City said, "State law (§ 41-4-13) prohibits any person acting as a hunting guide from conducting any hunting activity on state-owned, leased or managed lands." These lands include:
 | Game production areas. |
| State parks. |
| Recreation areas. |
| Lakeside use areas. |
| Federal land leased or under agreement to the state which is posted as a game production area and managed for wildlife purposes. |
| Private land leased or under agreement to the department of Game Fish and Parks for the purpose of providing public access (Walk-In-Areas and the areas leased under the Lower Oahe Waterfowl Access Program). |
| Highways or other public rights-of-way within the state, except that a hunting guide may guide hunting activity on the road right-of-way immediately adjacent to property owned or leased by the hunting guide. |
Nachtigall noted that a violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
"If a hunting guide intends to operate on any federal lands," he added, "the guide should contact the appropriate federal agency and determine if this activity is allowed. If allowed, some federal agencies required guides to have a permit to conduct this activity. For example, any guides operating in the Black Hills National Forest must have a permit from the appropriate U.S. Forest Service District."
-GFP-
Click Here To Return To The Previous Page
