4/23/2007

Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Custer State Park Deer Applications Available Online

PIERRE, S.D.--Just days after the Game, Fish and Parks Commission finalized a variety of hunting seasons at its April meeting, applications for those seasons are available online.

The latest additions to the Game, Fish and Parks Department Web site at www.sdgfp.info are applications for the state’s residents-only elk seasons and applications for the bighorn sheep, Custer State Park deer and paddlefish seasons.

To apply for a license online, applicants should go to the GFP Web site and from the home page highlight “Licenses and Reservations,” then click on “Apply for Limited Issue Licenses” and follow the instructions. For those who wish to work with a paper application, PDF versions of the licenses may be printed from the Web site.

For all of the seasons listed above, paper applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, May 25. Applications may be submitted online until 8 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, May 29. Results should be available online June 13.

A new feature available to hunters is the ability to check on applications that were submitted in 2006. This information is on the GFP Web site at https://www.state.sd.us/applications/gf79BigGame/DrawResultStats.asp

“This feature allows application volume information to be researched, by unit, from the previous drawing,” said Scott Simpson, GFP license office supervisor. “With this Web tool, hunters can see which units are the most popular and gauge their chances of a successful application.”

Simpson noted that the GFP Commission has voted to close the mountain goat and Custer State Park bighorn sheep seasons for this year and applications will not be accepted for either season. Preference earned for those seasons will automatically be carried over until the next time the seasons are open.

--GFP—