CHAPTER 41:06:61

MOUNTAIN LION HUNTING SEASON

Section

41:06:61:01        Mountain lion hunting season established.

41:06:61:02        Black Hills Fire Protection District -- Harvest limit -- Season dates -- Season closure.

41:06:61:03        Repealed.

41:06:61:04        Season extension -- Commission resolution required.

41:06:61:05        Repealed.

41:06:61:06        Application requirements -- License and season restrictions -- Special conditions  -- Carcass check-in procedures.

    41:06:61:02.  Black Hills Fire Protection District -- Harvest limit -- Season dates – Season closure. The season harvest limit for the area within the Black Hills Fire Protection District is 60 mountain lions or 40 female mountain lions. The mountain lion hunting season in the Black Hills Fire Protection District is open December 26 through April 30, provided that the department shall close the mountain lion hunting season in the Black Hills Fire Protection District if the harvest limit for that area is reached prior to April 30. Custer State Park is closed to mountain lion hunting, except for 75 persons who possess a mountain lion license and a temporary access permit structured to include:

    (1)  Four hunting intervals, each having 15 access permits in which hunting with dogs is not allowed; and

    (2)  Five hunting intervals, each having three access permits in which hunting with dogs is allowed.

    Hunting in Custer State Park must begin with an interval that allows the use of dogs and must rotate every 14 days with an interval that does not allow the use of dogs, until the mountain lion season closes in the Black Hills Fire Protection District. The temporary access permits are issued free of charge and may be issued by a random drawing.

    Source: 32 SDR 45, effective September 20, 2005; 33 SDR 1, effective July 18, 2006; 34 SDR 67, effective September 10, 2007; 35 SDR 47, effective September 8, 2008; 36 SDR 31, effective September 3, 2009; 37 SDR 112, effective December 8, 2010; 38 SDR 101, effective December 5, 2011; 39 SDR 100, effective December 3, 2012; 40 SDR 113, effective December 16, 2013; 42 SDR 93, effective December 30, 2015; 46 SDR 74, effective December 2, 2019; 46 SDR 116, effective April 29, 2020; 48 SDR 60, effective December 8, 2021.

    General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(17).

    Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(17).

    41:06:61:06.  Application requirements -- License and season restrictions -- Special conditions -- Carcass check-in procedures. The following requirements, restrictions, special conditions, and procedures apply to all applications for license and to all licenses issued under this chapter:

    (1)  Only residents of the state may apply for a license;

    (2)  No person may harvest more than one mountain lion in a season;

    (3)  No person may harvest or attempt to harvest a mountain lion with a spotted coat or any mountain lion accompanying another mountain lion;

    (4)  No person may hunt mountain lions with the aid of traps or bait;

    (5)  The use of dogs to hunt mountain lions is allowed only during those specified hunting intervals in Custer State Park that allow the use of dogs; and year-round outside of the Black Hills Fire Protection District when on private land, with permission of the landowner or lessee. However, a pursuit of a mountain lion by dogs that originates on private land may cross over or culminate on private land, with permission from the landowner or lessee, or on public land, unless expressly prohibited by the managing entity;

    (6)  No person may release dogs on tracks indicating multiple mountain lions traveling together;

    (7)  In Custer State Park, a person using dogs shall attempt to harvest the first legal mountain lion the person has a reasonable opportunity to harvest, except under the condition in which the lion pursued shows obvious signs of lactation;

    (8)  Licensed hunters must accompany the dog handler when the dogs are released and must continuously participate in the hunt until the hunt is completed;

    (9)  A person may use any firearm, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow established by statute or administrative rule as legal implements for the taking of deer;

    (10)  Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Park, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial are closed to mountain lion hunting; and

    (11)  All mountain lions harvested must be presented to a department representative within 24 hours of harvest for inspection.

    Source: 32 SDR 45, effective September 20, 2005; 33 SDR 1, effective July 18, 2006; 34 SDR 67, effective September 10, 2007; 37 SDR 112, effective December 8, 2010; 38 SDR 101, effective December 5, 2011; 39 SDR 100, effective December 3, 2012; 41 SDR 126, effective March 2, 2015; 46 SDR 116, effective April 29, 2020; 48 SDR 60, effective December 8, 2021.

    General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(14)(17), 41-8-15(1).

    Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(14)(17), 41-8-15(1).

    Cross-References:

    Hunting guide activities barred from certain state-owned or state-managed areas - Violations, SDCL 41-4-13.