August 2022 Newsletter
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BLACK HILLS SPORTSMEN CLUB
The Newsletter of the Black Hills Sportsmen and Sportswomen Mission Statement: To promote the conservation, sound management, and sustainable use of wildlife and wildlife habitat and to protect the privilege of sportsmen to hunt and fish through advocacy and education.  August 2022  Renew online at www.blackhillssportsmenclub.com OR send us a check to PO BOX 9161, Rapid City, SD 57709 ___________________________________
Greetings From Your President
August! Just one more month until we can officially call it Hunting Season! Did everyone get the deer tags they are after? I picked up my west river prairie unit but that's it. Still awaiting Antelope results as I'm not holding my breath due to the tag reductions.
Our club testified for approval stance on the proposal regarding setting a limit on currently unlimited non-resident archery tags for both deer and antelope in South Dakota. The GFP Commission voted down the proposal but vowed to have the GFP start its due diligence into the overdue topic. We will have to wait and see where this goes but stay tuned for updates or comment periods. South Dakota is the last state in the US to offer unlimited resident and non-resident archery over the counter tags. This reform is long overdue. As most of you have hear we now have the Zebra Mussel in Pactola Lake. Let's make sure we all do our part for South Dakotas fisheries and follow the guidance of the GFP by keeping our watercraft & gear clean and dry when moving from lake to lake. Send us your hunting Pictures. We need to spice up the photos section. ~Cody Hodson~
 ----------- -SEND A NEWSLETTER PIECE/STORY & PICTURE TO US- WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW INPUT FROM OUR MEMBERS!!
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A big thanks to Al Krause from coming to visit with us last meeting. We had a great conversation on many issues. We will continue with those again at the next meeting. It is the annual "the state of big game" in South Dakota meeting. We will have Trenton Haffley and possibly other GFP biologists with us to discuss important issues. The GFP commission has stated they will now be taking a serious look and the unlimited archery tags for non-residents and we need to get our two cents in. Big game numbers are down and there needs to be some changes on how tags are allocated across the board.. Did everyone get there preferred tag? It has been three years and time to review that process also. Attendance is pretty low in the summer but we need you to please attend and provide input. Thanks much The SDWF will be holding its 76th Annual Summer Convention Sept 23,24,25 2022 at the Outpost Lodge north of Pierre. This is this the first one in person in awhile and could not be a better location. The Outpost Lodge is on Cow Creek and one my hangouts. Plenty of nice lodging. There is a lot of public land close by for dove and grouse hunting at this time and of course the fishing is another bonus. I may or may no be able to attend, it depends on how my dates with a moose in the bighorn mountains works out up to that point. We do have a budget to send delegates , so please let us know if you are interested. I would like to see 2-3 members attend. A west river voice is always good. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We have put a lot of time into the web page also. If anyone has input or would like us to add to our webpage please email us at blackhillssportsmenclub@gmail.com ~ Jeff Olson, Treasurer ~   2022 Namibia Hunt with Paul Vinatieri & his grandsom I had purchased a Namibia hunt from Jamy Traut hunting Safaris, which was a seven-day hunt at Panorama camp in Namibia at our GDC-SCI banquet. The safari included six animals Red Hartebeest, Blesbok, Springbok, Gemsbok, Blue Wildebeest, and a Burchell Zebra. I had harvested all these animals previously, so I asked my 17-year-old grandson to go with me and I will be the observer and take photos and he can do all the shooting. He did a outstanding job shooting, and he was a great hunter and walked many miles with no complaints. At the lodge the chef would cook the loins from the animals that my grandson had shot. My grandson is a fussy eater, but he loved the food at camp and would eat 2 or 3 servings at dinner. The lodge and bungalows were excellent (four stars) and everything was outstanding. The PH and all the tracers were excellent, and I plan on going back again. I became very close with my grandson and we will remember this safari for the rest of our lives. I would recommend this to all the grandpas who like to hunt and have grandkids, because you get very close to them out in nature. I think my grandson will have this great memory for ever and that is priceless, for him and for me. Upcoming Events PLEASE NOTE THESE DATES WILL ALL BE LISTED ON THE BHSC WEBSITE UNDER "EVENTS" Annual Hunting Film Tour
DATE: OCTOBER 12TH
We are working with everyone involved with the film to get the important details figured out and will have this information available to everyone as soon as we can!
Location: Elks Theater
We are glad to have this back and hope to get some local films again. We have been promised all new films! Reminder - this is our ONLY fundraiser and we hope to have a great turnout. PURCHASING Film Tour TICKETS:
- Contact the Elks theater or go to their website - Contact Jeff Olson _____________________________________
AUGUST
August 2nd - GFP Big Game Report SPEAKER: Trenton Haffley & Mike Cudmore August 20th - SCI Banquet LATER MONTHS: September 6th - The Nature Conservancy "Beaver Management in the Black Hills" SPEAKER: Lori Brown (Riparian Rangeland Specialist) Interested in volunteering for Outdoor Campus West ? For anyone interested in being a volunteer mentor please contact Katie Schlafke or Clint Whitley. Katie (primary contact for all volunteers) Katie.Schlafke@state.sd.us Clint (contact for volunteer hunting/shooting mentors - Hunting 101) clint.whitley@state.sd.us For other kinds of volunteering - please visit their website linked below: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?ap=1970180025     ___________________________________________________  __________
- Quote of the Month -
“The old man used to say that the best part of hunting and fishing was the thinking about going and the talking about it after you got back.” — Robert Ruark |