new lion law with hounds in SD

[Emily]

from the Rapid City Journal
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/new-la ... um=twitter
New law doesn't change restrictions on hunting lions with hounds, GF&P officials warn
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March 14, 2013 5:00 am • Kevin Woster Journal staff(5) Comments
State Game, Fish & Parks Department officials say some hunters are confused about a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Dennis Daugaard that appears to change state law allowing the use of dogs to hunt lions.

The bill really doesn't change that part of the law, although the title gives the impression that it does.

"I've heard people say, 'OK, now we can go out anywhere and hunt lions with dogs. It doesn't do that at all," GF&P Regional Supervisor Mike Kintigh said Wednesday evening. "It actually started out to allow the use of leashed dogs to retrieve wounded big game, and then that lions stuff got confusing."

The state GF&P Commission already had the authority to allow the use of hounds in lion hunting. And this year, for the first time since establishing a lion season in 2005, the commission is allowing limited use of hounds for lion hunting in Custer State Park only.

Hounds are still prohibited for lion hunting outside of the 71,000-acre park.

The new law doesn't change that. The language used in its title indicates that it might, however: "An act to allow the use of dogs to hunt mountain lions and leashed dogs to track and retrieve wounded or presumed dead big game animals."

The second part of that sentence is where the change comes in. Emmett Keyser, an assistant Wildlife Division director for GF&P in Pierre, said the intent of the bill was to allow the use of leashed dogs in finding big game that has been wounded or is presumed dead. That involved a part of state law that prohibits the use of dogs in big-game hunting but allows exceptions.

An existing exception authorized the use of dogs to hunt lions if approved by the GF&P Commission. The new law doesn't change that, Keyser said.

"The existing language in statute on that was reconfigured a bit, and unfortunately, that was misunderstood," Keyser said. "There's no change in that authorization. The commission can, of course, already allow the use of dogs in certain situations."

Dogs are allowed for other types of hunting in South Dakota, including waterfowl and pheasants and other upland birds. But dogs can't be used to hunt big game, other than lions under special circumstances.

Now, another exception will allow dogs on a leash to be used to help locate wounded big game.

"We had a guy from Sioux Falls bring that issue. We ended up not bringing it as a department bill but said we would work with him on it," Keyser said. "Then we had people show up to testify who thought the bill would really open up the use of dogs for lions. But that part of the law hasn't changed."

Some houndsmen have urged the GF&P Commission to allow the use of hounds in the lion season beyond Custer State Park. So far, the commission has declined.

Keyser said the commission would likely pass regulations implementing the new authorization for leashed dog use in finding wounded big game.

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com