Pierre, S.D. -(Ammoland.com)- The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission finalized the 2015 elk hunting seasons at their April meeting.
The Commission finalized the allocation of eight any elk licenses for the Custer State Park (CSP) firearms season. As in 2014, four any elk licenses will be available for the CSP early archery elk season. The CSP late archery elk and CSP antlerless elk seasons will remain closed.
The 2015 Black Hills firearms elk season will have 430 any elk and 500 antlerless elk licenses available, an increase of 260 licenses from 2014. The Commission also allocated a pool of antlerless elk contingency licenses, not to exceed 20 percent of allocated antlerless licenses for the Black Hills firearms season.
These licenses will only be utilized in extreme situations such as those created by drought conditions. Contingency licenses would be authorized through a GFP Commission resolution and considered in August.
The Commission finalized 48 any elk and 50 antlerless elk licenses for the 2015 prairie elk season, an increase of five licenses from 2014. No licenses will be issued for Unit 30A (portions of Gregory County). The portion of Jackson County south of Highway 44 and BIA Highway 2 will be added to Unit 11 A, B, C and D. The season dates for Unit 11C have been adjusted and will run from the second Sunday of October to Nov. 30.
There will be 144 any elk and 56 antlerless elk licenses available for the 2015 archery elk season, an increase of 93 licenses from 2014.
The Commission also re-opened the mountain goat hunting season, the first time in the state since 2006. The season will offer two any mountain goat licenses and the season will run from Sept. 1 – Dec. 31, 2015.
For more information on the South Dakota elk hunting seasons, visit: http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/elk/. For more information on the South Dakota mountain goat hunting season, visit: http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/mountain-goat.aspx.