41-6-29. Permit to kill animal or bird doing damage--Animal or bird as property of state--Disposition--Violation a misdemeanor.

If any game animals, game birds, black bears, mountain lions, or wolves are a threat to the public's health, safety, and welfare, or are doing damage to property, the secretary of game, fish and parks may by a written permit authorize a conservation officer, a municipality or county and their designees, a designee of the department, or the person whose property is being damaged to take or kill any such animals or birds by any methods that may otherwise be prohibited or under any restrictions as the secretary may prescribe in the permit. Any animals or birds so taken or killed are the property of the state and shall be disposed of as provided for in the permit.

Any person who violates the conditions of the permit is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Source: SDC 1939, § 25.0406; SL 1984, ch 273, § 54; SL 1986, ch 347, § 1; SL 1996, ch 250, § 1.



SDLRC - Codified Law 41-6-29 - Permit to kill animal or bird doing damage--Animal or bird as property of state--Disposition--Violation a misdemeanor.

41-6-29.1. Issuance of depredation permits--Application procedures--Fee--Limit on permits--Violation as misdemeanor.

In addition to the specific authority of the secretary of game, fish and parks to issue permits pursuant to § 41-6-29 the Game, Fish and Parks Commission may also, by resolution, authorize the secretary of game, fish and parks to issue a specific number of depredation permits to respond to property damage by game animals that cannot be resolved by any other method. Upon such authorization by the commission, the secretary shall issue the depredation permits. The depredation permit authorizes the permit holder to kill and take game animals identified by the department as causing property damage. The secretary shall establish when and where each depredation permit is valid and the number of game animals that may be killed under each permit. The commission shall, by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26, establish the application procedures for the depredation permits, the procedures to be followed by the secretary in issuing the depredation permits to applicants, the fee for the permits, and the maximum number of depredation permits that may be issued each year.

Any person who violates the conditions of the permit is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Source: SL 1996, ch 250, § 2.



SDLRC - Codified Law 41-6-29 - Permit to kill animal or bird doing damage--Animal or bird as property of state--Disposition--Violation a misdemeanor.

41-6-29.2. Killing of mountain lion permitted under certain circumstances--Notification of conservation officer.

Any person, licensed or unlicensed, may kill a mountain lion if reasonably necessary to protect the life of that person or some other person. Any person, licensed or unlicensed, who owns or cares for livestock or pets, may kill any mountain lion posing an imminent threat to such person's livestock or pets. If any mountain lion is killed pursuant to this section, the person who killed the mountain lion shall notify a conservation officer within twenty-four hours of killing the mountain lion.

Source: SL 2009, ch 208, § 1.