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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.
March 2025
Membership Dues are Due!! You can pay up three ways, the best is on the website
Renew online at www.blackhillssportsmenclub.com
Send us a check to PO BOX 9161, Rapid City, SD 57709
Bring check to Jeff Olson at the next meeting ___________________________________
Greetings From Your President
What a relief!! Finally broke that cold snap. That cold weather really makes
me feel old, I can only imagine how some of you old guys feel. We had one
morning outside that sounded like firecrackers going off, all the pine trees
were popping and cracking with the extreme cold. Did anyone get out and
chase down any Lions? How about the fishing? I imagine the ice is plenty
thick.. I personally stayed inside and played chicken.
The Black Hills Sportsman Club teamed up with the Wildlife federation and
manned a booth at the Sports show the weekend of the 15th. The show had
great attendance and we spoke with lots of folks regarding the current
legislative issues as well as just general information about our club and
the Wildlife Federation. I think we were able to wrangle in a few new
members and also got see several current members as well. I want to thank
everyone who volunteered some time and manned the booth.
As many of you are aware this legislative session has been quite the flurry
of activity. The Black Hills Sportsman Club & The Wildlife Federation have
been on the front lines working to protect our everyday hunting and fishing
rights. It is more important that ever for us to have a large member base
when we speak on these issues. Please get your memberships renewed and
invite a friend, family member, co-worker to join. Let people know we only
are asking for membership dues, we do not require commitment unless someone
wants to be heavily involved. Being a member of the club helps you stay
informed on everything coming down the pipeline.
Help us get the word out and sign some people up
https://blackhillssportsmenclub.com/ takes just a minute to get signed up.
See everyone at the luncheon
~Cody Hodson~
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-SEND A NEWSLETTER PIECE/STORY & PICTURE TO US-
WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW INPUT FROM OUR MEMBERS!!
A big thanks to all those who helped at the Sports Show. Dana was present almost the whole time. More help next
year would be appreciated. We talked to lots of people and hopefully signed up some new members. We will be reviewing all the current legislation and have membership spotlights at our next meeting. Dave Stroh has been a long time member and will share his history and maybe a hunting story or two. Please pay your dues , next newsletter we will post those who have paid for 2025. I know it is hard to remember if you have paid up or not so that should help.
~ Jeff Olson, Treasurer ~
ATTENTION South Dakota Sportsmen
Dear Black Hills Sportsmen Club members:
It is time to be worried. If you believe in the North American Model of Conservation, then you
know that wildlife is a public resource. There is an organized, highly funded private landowners’
group that has been remarkably successful in convincing the legislature and Gov. Larry Rhoden
that commercial interests are more important than the average South Dakota sportsmen and
women.
The South Dakota Landowners and Outfitters Alliance (SDLOA) is making the decisions for us
because they are more influential in political circles, and we are letting it happen.
Now is the time for us to be heard. We are the number one state in the nation with hunters and
fisherman per capita. Come on guys, we need you. Speak up. Go to commission meetings. Call
the governor’s office. Write the legislature. Talk to your friends, and please help spread the
word. We are under attack.
Here are some current examples.
The SDLOA is pushing to expand the Safety Zone. They are attempting to double the distance
in an attempt to decrease public access to public hunting areas. This is not about safety. It’s
about ending road hunting and other public land next to private land thus forcing the public to
pay for access to private land. Lots of research went into the 660 feet rule. It is not a random
distance. Studies on ballistics show that shotgun pellets do not pose a threat at that distance.
Annually, 19 citations are issued to people shooting too close to buildings in non-posted areas.
Only 4 citations in posted zones. Expanding the distance won’t stop people from breaking the
law, but will further restrict public access and road hunting, which for those unable to walk fields
is the only thing that keeps them continuing to hunt.
HB 1215, which would have allowed the Game Commission to license guides and outfitters,
was defeated by commercial hunting interests. SD is one of only three states that does not
regulate guides.
SD GF&P had indicated to the SD Wildlife Federation that it would remain neutral on this bill.
However, after the landowner’s alliance met with the governor, GF&P was instructed by the
governor’s office to kill the legislation.
Naturally, the SD LOA does not want to pay any fees or have any regulations arguing that it is
an attack on their freedom (and their pocketbook).
GFP’s job is to manage our wildlife and resources, but they are not managing one of the largest
user groups of these public resources. Bait dealers, taxidermists, hunters, anglers, preserves;
all are required to be licensed. But a guide who charges $4,000 to non-residents for a 3-day
duck hunt is not required to be licensed and has no regulations or guidelines to follow.
I am not against guiding and outfitting. I have used many throughout my life. They are a needed
industry, and I am grateful for all my great hunting and fishing trips I have had in other states
and countries. Every single one has been with a licensed guide. This is for consumer protection
and safety.
HB 1262, which would have ended the wasteful Nest Predator Bounty Program was killed in
committee. We are not anti-trapping, but there is no data that shows that the $4.4 million
already spent on this has had any improvement on pheasant populations.
It is frustrating for the biologists, who know this is ineffective, but the program was and is
mandated by the Governor’s office. And let’s be clear, there is no proof that nesting has
improved – it is a subsidy program for trappers. The GFP have been asked many
times…where is the data?
HB 1188, which grants unlimited three-day waterfowl licenses to non-resident active
military, was brought forward by an outfitter. They charge $4,000 for a three-day hunt and give
a $400 discount to non-resident active military personnel.
It has passed the committee and the House so far because it is being sold as a thank you to
those in the military. In reality, it is a gift to private outfitters. So much time and effort has been
put into creating a balance between residents and non-resident waterfowl hunters. Rest
assured, the SDLOA will not stop until they get unlimited non-resident waterfowl tags so they
can sell more duck hunts to their wealthy clients, at the further expense of resident hunters.
I was appointed to two terms to the GFP commission. I never heard once from the governor’s
office in those 8 years. We represented the stakeholders. We were 100% in charge of the
budget. It was our responsibility to oversee the GFP for the stakeholder.
Stakeholders are the users of the resource, those who buy hunting and fishing licenses and use
our parks. They are the landowners who raise wildlife. They are people who enjoy our outdoor
resources and pay for them.
Increasingly, the stakeholders being catered to are the commercial interests and those profiting
from our wild resources.
PLEASE be active and make your voice heard. We are an immensely powerful lobby; however,
tourism and commercialization of our resources are taking charge in our absence. They have
power and money, but we have the numbers. Let’s remind the executive and legislative branch
who we are. I can not stress the importance of attending commission meetings, they move them
around the state so sportsmen can attend one or two in the area. Let do it…
Jeff Olson
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
Dave Stroh's Texas Black Buck Dave Stroh and Scott McKane's Texas Hog Hunt
* Upcoming Events *
March 4th @ 11:45
BHSC Monthly Member Meeting
Location: Rushmore Inn and Suites
March 22nd @ 5:00
Black Hills FlyFishers Auction
Location: Alex Johnson Hotel
$50.00 for an awesome dinner and a chance to win prizes
April 26th
The Black Hills Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Auction and Banquet
May 10th
The South Dakota Youth Hunting Adventures will hold
the biggest fundraiser of the year!
Location: The Monument
- Quote of the Month -
" If people concentrated on important things, there would be a shortage of fishing poles".
-Doug Larson
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