He most recently served as chair of the commission and voted against the resolution to extend the bounty program. Gary Jensen, a Rapid City lawyer, just completed his time as a member of the GFP Commission. Opponents of the program, including some influential members of the South Dakota wildlife management community, are less confident that paying youths and adults to kill five species of animals is a proper way to boost pheasant and duck populations.
“But we are confident that this bounty program is enhancing nest success.” “As far as quantifying pheasant abundance, we don’t have any research design set up for that,” Robling said. Robling acknowledges there is no data or concrete evidence to show that the bounty program has improved pheasant or duck numbers or enhanced successful nesting rates, but he remains convinced it is working. “It’s really a success story when you look at enhancing our trapping traditions and outdoor heritage,” he said. The bounty program has seen a recent spike in youth participation, Robling said. Noem, Robling and a majority of members of the state Game, Fish & Parks Commission, the policymaking arm of state wildlife management, want the program to continue. South Dakota is home to a lucrative but steadily declining pheasant hunting industry that generated nearly $300 million in direct spending in the state in 2016, a majority of that from non-resident hunters. Kristi Noem, who first implemented the program, and new Game, Fish & Parks Secretary Kevin Robling, see the bounty program as an effective method to reduce predation on pheasants and also encourage young people to move away from playing computer games and take up trapping as a hobby instead. Little common ground can be found in assessing the merits or methods of the program, which has been described as both a wildlife-management success and an inhumane, senseless killing of wild animals The program that takes place for a few months during the spring pheasant nesting season has been approved for another year in 2022. Known as the Nest Predator Bounty Program, the effort to boost pheasant and duck populations by paying trappers to kill animals that eat the eggs and hatchlings of pheasants and ducks began in 2019 and recently completed its third year of operation. Find more in-depth reporting at A state-sanctioned pheasant protection program that pays South Dakota youths and adults $10 for every raccoon, skunk and other predator they trap has led to the killing of more than 134,000 animals in the past three years with no scientific evidence the program is working. In addition, each client will be contacted prior to starting work to discuss the safest approach to working in your home.įor more information about the Weatherization Assistance Program, please contact the Weatherization Program Support Assistant at 65.This story is reported by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit news organization. Payment is made directly to the contractor on your behalf when the work is completed and after the CDA has inspected the work.Ĭommitted to Safety During COVID-19: Each worker who will enter your home to perform weatherization work has participated in mandatory training around safe work practices, and is required to practice OSHA guided safe work practices while in your home. The CDA will assist you in selecting a qualified contractor to complete the work. If you qualify for the Weatherization Assistance Program, the CDA’s Energy Specialist will conduct an energy audit on your home to determine solutions to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Weatherization Assistance Program Income Limits: Household Size Make other related health and safety improvements.Replace inefficient refrigerators, lighting or shower heads.
The program provides income qualified homeowners in Carver, Dakota and Scott Counties with a grant to assist with making their home more energy efficient. The Weatherization Assistance Program is administered as a joint effort between the CAP Agency and the CDA. Weatherization services will permanently reduce energy bills by helping to make your home more energy efficient.
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