South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

Mountain Lion Season Set to Start Nov. 1

PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakota’s third mountain lion season will start on Nov. 1 with some changes from the 2006 season.

“Perhaps the biggest change is combining the state into one unit,” said John Kanta, the Rapid City-based regional game manager for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “Last year the Black Hills Unit was open to residents and the Prairie Unit was open to landowners. Now the entire state is open to properly licensed resident mountain lion hunters.”

Another change from last year is an increase in the number of lions that may be harvested. The season will end statewide immediately if either 35 total lions or 15 female lions are harvested. If neither of the harvest limits are reached, the season will end on Dec. 31.

It is up to hunters to keep informed about the status of the season, either by calling a toll-free phone number, (866) 895-9067, or checking the GFP Web site at http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/
MountainLions/MtLionseasonstatus.htm 

Spotted or young lions are off limits as are lions traveling together, which is often a sign of a mother with juvenile lions.

As in past seasons, successful hunters must report mountain lion kills to GFP within 24 hours. To report a harvested lion, hunters should call the GFP Regional Office in Rapid City which can be reached on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (605) 394-2391. After-hours reports should be made to State Radio at (605) 393-8121.

The mountain lion hunting season is open to South Dakota residents only. Licenses are available through the end of the season from the GFP Licensing office in Pierre or through the department Web site at www.sdgfp.info.

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