Public forum on proposed changes to mountain lion hunting season - KOTA Territory News

Public forum on proposed changes to mountain lion hunting season

Big changes could lie ahead for the 2013 mountain lion hunting season.

Tuesday night Game Fish and Parks held a public forum, to answer questions and take comments about the department's latest proposal.

For the 2013 season the GF&P Commission proposed to allow up to 100 lions overall or 70 female lions, whichever comes first.

Last year's harvest quota was 70 lions or 50 females; hunters killed 73 lions in two months.

Other changes include:

-Beginning the season five days earlier on December 26, instead of January 1st.

-Possibly allowing the use of dogs to hunt in Custer State Park.

- Any properly licensed hunter, both landowners and non landowners, may hunt mountain lions outside of the Black Hills Fire Protection District from January 1- December 31.

State Biologists estimate the mountain lion population is around 300 in the Black Hills.

 The proposed quota of 100 lions would reduce the population by one third; helping the GF&P to reach it's goal of maintaining a population of around 150 mountain lions.

"I support it because there's scientific data behind the issue. Whether or not we agree with it or not I think we need to go with the staff recommendations at this time because until we can prove otherwise, we should go with scientific data," said Arlin Stratmeyer.

"I think 100 is a good number, it maybe could even go a little higher. I disagree with the use of dogs. If they are going to use dogs in the park, that's fine, but it should be at the end of the season if the quota has not been met," said Jean Skonhord.

The final decision on the 2013 mountain lion season will be made at a meeting in October.