South Dakota GFP Celebrates Fall with the Grouse Opener and Annual State Park Events

By Vanessa Torres

South Dakota -(Ammoland.com)- The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) is welcoming fall this weekend with the grouse and partridge hunting season opener and fun events at two state parks.

Hunters have an opportunity to pursue upland game before the pheasant hunting season begins with the grouse and partridge season opening Saturday, Sept. 19, and ending Jan. 3, 2016.

Travis Runia, upland game biologist for GFP, expects grouse hunting to be better than last year.

“Prairie grouse numbers are not as easily determined as they are with pheasants,” stated Runia. “Spring lek surveys indicate an increase in adult prairie grouse and models assessing environmental conditions predict average reproduction. This data suggests an increase in grouse for the 2015 season.”

Last year, 10,757 hunters harvested 35,790 prairie grouse. The complete 2015 prairie grouse hunting forecast can be viewed online.

Also this weekend, Lewis and Clark Recreation Area near Yankton and Fort Sisseton Historic State Park near Lake City are celebrating fall by hosting family-friendly events on Sept. …read more

Source:: AmmoLand