PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Hunters and landowners will be able to help determine the issues covered in an independent review of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department’s management of wildlife issues, Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s chief of staff said Monday.
The review by an outside consultant will focus on the department’s Wildlife Division and how it handles research and management involving controversial subjects, such as mountain lions and elk in the Black Hills, Dusty Johnson told the Game, Fish and Parks Commission.
The public, along with members of the commission that oversees the department, will have a say in how the study is conducted, Johnson said.
“We’ve got landowners, we’ve got sportsmen and we’ve got a lot of people who care a lot about these issues,” Johnson said.
Plans for a review by an outside consultant were made public over the weekend, but Johnson met with the commission Monday to explain the process of setting up the review, which will be guided by Jason Glodt, a policy adviser to the governor. Johnson said the review wouldn’t include the department’s Parks and Recreation Division.
Glodt said members of the public should send their suggestions to him by the end of July. Officials then will determine the study’s scope and request proposals from companies or other organizations interested in conducting the study, which likely will start early next year and take up to six months to complete, he said.
The eight members of the appointed Game, Fish and Parks Commission also will submit their ideas.
Glodt said he hopes the study will give the public trust and confidence that the Wildlife Division is doing a good job in researching and managing wildlife. The cost of the study depends on its scope, but a similar study in neighboring Wyoming cost between $100,000 and $150,000, he said. Funds from the Wildlife Division would likely be used to pay for the review, he said.
Johnson noted that the Wildlife Division often deals with controversial issues that lead to a split in public opinion. He said Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Jeff Vonk suggested the study during a discussion with officials in the governor’s office.
With a growing population of mountain lions in the Black Hills in recent years, the division has been under pressure to increase the number of hunting licenses for mountain lions because some hunters believe the cats are devastating the population of elk and deer. Other groups believe too many mountain lions are being shot.
Chris Hesla, director of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation, which represents hunters and anglers, said he supports the study.
“I think any review of any department is a good thing,” Hesla said.
Glodt said wildlife agencies in other states routinely go through such reviews, but no review has been done in South Dakota for about two decades.
Barry Jensen, a commission member from White River, said businesses routinely analyze their strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities and threats they face, but he was unsure what the review of the Wildlife Division would include.
“It seems a little cloudy to me where we’re going,” Jensen said.
Johnson said the review’s scope is purposely vague at this point because its focus will be set by issues the public identifies as important.
Glodt said the results of the review will be made public.
___
Suggestions about what issues should be included in the review can be submitted to Glodt by calling 605-773-3661 or emailing Jason.Glodt(at)state.sd.us
