A primary responsibility of the south dakota department of game, fish and parks is to manage all wildlife speciesin the state toward the highest level possible, consistent with land carrying…

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Division received a $1.2 million formula grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This award supports the division's core mandate to manage wildlife populations and habitats across South Dakota toward optimal conservation levels consistent with land carrying capacity and social tolerances. Primary deliverables include annual population and habitat monitoring surveys, assessment of wildlife population fluctuations and long-term trends, and evaluation of habitat parameters necessary for informed management decisions. The funding also supports evaluation of specific management practices such as hunting season effectiveness and habitat manipulation initiatives, with emphasis on increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of wildlife management operations.

The Wildlife Restoration program, authorized under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, provides formula-based funding to state fish and wildlife agencies that have enacted legislation dedicating hunting and fishing license revenues to wildlife agency administration. Under this award, the South Dakota Wildlife Division will conduct the comprehensive surveys and monitoring activities essential to support habitat restoration, wildlife population management, and hunter education programs across the state's network of game production areas, water access areas, and recreation facilities.

A primary responsibility of the south dakota department of game, fish and parks is to manage all wildlife speciesin the state toward the highest level possible, consistent with land carrying capacity and compatibility withsocial tolerances. A prerequisite to effective wildlife management is knowledge of population and habitatcharacteristics. Since wildlife populations are dynamic due to land-use changes, natural conditions, managementefforts, diseases, etc., annual population and habitat monitoring is required for determining year-to-yearfluctuation and long-term trends, and for evaluating changes. Obtaining necessary information on the differentpopulation and habitat parameters also requires different types of surveys be conducted at appropriate times ofthe year. In addition, surveys need to be conducted to evaluate results of specific management practices such ashunting seasons and habitat manipulation, with direction toward increased effectiveness and efficiency.