GFP Commission proposes additional bighorn sheep hunting unit

During its January meeting in Pierre, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission proposed establishing a new hunting unit for bighorn sheep in Pennington County east of the Cheyenne River and in Jackson County north of the White River, excluding Badlands National Park.

With the proposed new hunting unit, a total of four licenses would be available for the 2018 and 2019 bighorn seasons. Three licenses would be available in Unit 2 (Custer County west of Highway 79), and one license would be available for the newly proposed unit. The area comprising Unit 1 in Pennington County remains closed.

One bighorn sheep license is allocated as an auction license if a minimum of three bighorn licenses are approved by the commission. The commission authorized this auction license to be valid for Unit 2.

In 2018 and 2019 the bighorn season will run Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.

The GFP Commission will consider adopting this new bighorn sheep hunting unit during its next meeting on March 1-2 in Pierre, when public comments will be heard. Written comments, which must include name and city of residence, can be emailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us or mailed to 523 E. Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501.

For more information, go to gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/.