South Dakota

Black Hills Chapter Spotlight

January/February 2009

By Brandon Mason

The Right Time, The Right Place

I’m sure that some of you have heard comments like this, “Why do we need another chapter of a wildlife group in this area? There are too many already.” or “Why do we need a group for mule deer? They are all over my hay stacks in the winter time!” or “These deer are destroying the trees in my yard and eating my garden!” Even though these comments could be addressed in a lengthy article, I’m going a different direction.

In the Black Hills of South Dakota, mule deer are facing a number of challenges that have avid mule deer hunters very concerned. Factors including mountain lion predation, liberal OHV use in certain areas, habitat loss due to urbanization and some poor grazing practices in the Hills, past hunting season structures allowing liberal amounts of mule deer to be harvested, competition with elk and white-tailed deer, etc. are all having an affect on the mule deer population in the Black Hills; and not a positive one.

While sitting at the Black Hills Sport Show and Sale in Rapid City for two years in a row, I heard a lot of different comments on the Black Hills mule deer population that mirrored the ones listed above. My concern was not justifying why we needed a chapter in the Hills, it was finding enough of the right people to run it.

The second year I was at the show representing the MDF, I had several passionate sportsmen stop by and insinuate they would be interested in helping with chapter activities in their area. In fact, after talking to some of these people for literally hours at the show, they shared with me what was convincing them to get involved: our mission statement! As you know, our mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitats. Having the word conservation in the mission statement showed the potential committee members that the MDF is not only interested in habitat work, sportsmen’s issues, youth activities, mule deer predation work, loss of habitat due to a variety of factors, etc., but all of these factors and more!

After gathering a list of the prospective committee members and calling a meeting, I was shocked and elated when about a dozen people showed up for our first meeting. The Black Hills Chapter of the MDF was up and running again! The true test, though, would be when we would hold the second meeting. Low and behold, we had the same people, and a couple more, show up! Some of those in attendance included Dale and Hunter Johnson, Tom and Suzy Dennis, Parker and Kim Dennis, Arlin Stratmeyer, Scott Phillips, Bill Clendenen, Marty Jolley, Harvey Malon, Brian Meiers and Jeff Edwards.

The first banquet was held in May 2008, and we had a sold out crowd! With the help of some generous donations and some new life members, the banquet was a great success. Now we had a base to begin doing some good things in the Black Hills.

Right away we were on a mission. The focal point of many conversations in South Dakota is mountain lions. It was immediately apparent to the chapter that we could make a positive difference in the mountain lion predation issue. Too many anti-hunting groups have had an influence on the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) decisions on mountain lion hunting season limitations due to their political influence and also their persistence. The time is now for sportsmen to stand up for what is right, and the MDF has been the flagship for starting the process of making sportsmen’s voices heard. The chapter has had some very beneficial meetings with the SDGFP about this topic. The Black Hills Chapter has made it very clear we are here to support the SDGFP’s ability to manage the state’s wildlife resources with the benefit of all of the state’s wildlife populations in mind; not just one large predator species. The chapter is keenly aware that the word conservation does not mean to manage a specific species of wildlife to the detriment of all other species. Rather, conservation is the term given to the wise and sustainable use and enjoyment of wildlife populations in general. The Black Hills Chapter is determined to see this vision of conserving wildlife as a whole become the driving force in their home state. One of the ways that they are accomplishing this is by circulating a petition for sportsmen to sign and send to the South Dakota Game Commission, showing their support for increased pressure on the growing mountain lion population in the Hills. (Go to http://www.muledeer.org/States/sd.html to view the petition that is being sent to the South Dakota Game Commission.)

But mountain lions aren’t the only iron that’s in the fire for this chapter. The chapter is involved in an Adopt-A-Highway program that will put the chapter in charge of cleaning up a mile of highway going from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore. There will be a sign along the highway with the MDF logo on it, making all passersby aware that we are helping clean up our environment.

In addition, the Mentored Hunting Program that the SDGFP has gotten underway is something that members of the Black Hills Chapter committee are passionate about and have gotten involved with. The program is designed so parents can make the decision on when their child is ready to go hunting for the first time. By emphasizing one on one interaction between the beginning hunter and the experienced hunter, safety, respect for wildlife and solid conservation ethics are passed to the conservation leaders of tomorrow. (Visit http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/MentoredHunt/index.htm for complete program information.)

The Black Hills Chapter has also been showing their support for season structure changes that the SDGFP has made to their deer rifle season. In the past, a resident or nonresident has been able to purchase a ‘Buck Only’ Tag for the Black Hills. Many people were not happy with the low number of mature bucks that they were seeing, so more restrictions were made. Point restrictions were put in place and it was moved to a drawing for 5,000 ‘Any Deer’ tags. Mule deer numbers were still not what they used to be, so in 2007 the season changed to where a resident has to apply for one of 500 ‘Any Deer’ tags or apply for one of the 5,000 ‘White-tailed Deer’ tags. There have now been two deer seasons that have been under the new season structure, and the consensus appears to be that most sportsmen are happy with the changes. The true test, however, will be in a couple of years to determine how much of an effect this has had on the mule deer population in the Black Hills.

Lastly, the chapter is actively seeking habitat projects in the Hills and surrounding areas. One of the possibilities is aspen regeneration in the Black Hills. Through innovative grazing practices and grazing systems, aspen regeneration is possible and necessary to sustain this critical habitat component in the Black Hills.

In the midst of all of this activity, the chapter has still made the time to spread the word about the MDF and their chapter at local gun shows and also at the Cabela’s Grand Opening in August. People have been very receptive and energetic about what the chapter is doing and what they are taking on.

With all of these things going on, it’s easy to see why I never heard any negative comments on starting a chapter of another wildlife group in the Black Hills area of South Dakota. There is more to do and to be concerned about than one group can handle and South Dakota sportsmen are up to the challenge! It is quite evident that the ‘new crew’ in the Black Hills Chapter has come along at the right time and is in the right place.

For more information on the Black Hills Chapter and how you can get involved, contact Chapter Chair Dale Johnson at 605-390-9739 or Regional Director Brandon Mason at 701-527-0609.

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