JULY 11, 2023:
Hunters and trappers have turned in over 50,500 (50,552) tails this year as part of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department’s Nest Predator Bounty Program. The tails were submitted by 2,481 participants.
GFP Department Secretary Kevin Robling says the 2023 program saw the highest level of youth participation since inception, with youth under the age of 18 composing 46% of total participants. He says new for 2023, every participating youth received a free live trap when submitting their tails for the first time. In total, 1,014 live traps were distributed to youth across South Dakota.
Robling says the 2023 program opened for South Dakota youth under the age of 18 on March 1. The program then opened to all South Dakota residents on April 1. He says the cap of 50,000 tails was reached June 29 and overall participation in the program was up 5% from 2022.
APRIL 5, 2023:
The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP) reminds individuals the Nest Predator Bounty program opened for all South Dakota residents on April 1, 2023.
The 2023 program opened for South Dakota youth under the age of 18 on March 1. To date, 769 tails have been submitted by participating youth.
Tails from raccoon, striped skunk, badger, red fox, and opossum are eligible for $10 per-tail payments with a maximum total payout of $500,000. The program will end July 1 or sooner if the maximum total payout is reached.
“Now is a great time for families to make outdoor memories,” said Kevin Robling, GFP Department Secretary. “Getting youth and their families involved in conservation and the long-standing tradition of trapping is critical to keeping our South Dakota outdoor heritage strong.”
Since the program began in 2019, four-year averages for resident furbearer license sales show a 17% increase.
Tails eligible for submission can be harvested via trapping or hunting. Participants need a hunting, furbearer, or fishing license to be eligible to participate in the bounty program. Landowners harvesting nest predators for the program on their own land and youth under 18 are exempt from this license requirement.
Complete program details as well as dates, times and locations for tail submissions can be found on the GFP website. For bounty submissions outside of the listed office locations and times, please contact your local wildlife conservation officer or wildlife damage specialist.
“We are also continuing the Youth Trap Giveaway in honor of Benton Howe,” concluded Robling. “One participating youth under the age of 18 will be drawn weekly to receive a raccoon trapping starter kit, Trapping Handbook, a knife, and a write-up explaining Benton Howe’s love for the outdoors.”
MARCH 14, 2023:
The youth-only portion of South Dakota’s Nest Predator Bounty Program is open through the end of the month (March 31, 2023).
South Dakota youth under 18 years of age are eligible to participate in the program, administered by the state Game, Fish and Parks Department.
Secretary Kevin Robling says a new feature this year is every participating youth will receive one free live trap. When youth submit their tails for the first time, they will receive their live trap to use throughout the program.
Robling says the Youth Trap Giveaway is in honor of Benton Howe, a young man who had a passion for the outdoors and shared that passion with his family and friends. He says one participating youth will be drawn weekly to receive a raccoon trapping starter kit, Trapping Handbook, a knife and a write-up explaining Benton Howe’s love for the outdoors.
Tails eligible for submission can be harvested via trapping or hunting. Participants need a hunting, furbearer or fishing license to be eligible to participate in the bounty program. Landowners harvesting nest predators for the program on their own land and youth under 18 are exempt from this license requirement.
The program opens to all South Dakota residents on April 1, 2023. Tails from raccoon, striped skunk, badger, red fox and opossum will be eligible for $10 per-tail payments with a maximum total payout for the program being $500,000.
In 2022, 143 youth participated in the youth-only month of March and submitted 2,100 nest predators during this time. Overall, 2,367 individuals participated in the 2022 program removing 55,220 nest predators. Youth made up 32% of total participants, which was higher than in 2021 at 29%.
Complete program details as well as dates, times, and locations for tail submissions can be found on the GFP website. For bounty submissions outside of the listed office locations and times, please contact your local wildlife conservation officer or wildlife damage specialist.
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