GFP Commission proposes East River deer season

During its April meeting the state Game, Fish and Parks Commission proposed that the 2018 East River deer hunting season would have 175 fewer licenses than 2017, with no more than 20,900 one-tag and 5,250 two-tag licenses available this year.

For 2018, the season would run Nov. 17 to Dec. 2. Antlerless tags would be valid Dec. 8-16 for late-season hunting.

The commission also proposed to create a new limited-access unit, Unit 59L, on public land only in Hughes and Sully counties. To view a map of the proposed unit, go to gfpga.sd.gov/images/emails/59L.jpg.

To accommodate the new limited-access unit, the commission proposed eliminating Unit 59B and modifying Unit 59A to include all of Sully County except public lands within the newly proposed Unit 59L.

The commission also proposed modifying Unit 36A to include all of Hughes County, excluding public lands within Unit 59L.

The commission will discuss the East River deer hunting proposal at its next meeting May 3-4 in Custer State Park, 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.