Black Hills To See Fewer Deer Licenses This Year

CHAMBERLAIN, SD - Fewer deer tags will be available to Black Hills hunters for the upcoming 2010 season.

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has voted to reduce the number of resident any deer licenses in the Black Hills by 100 and nonresident "Any Deer" licenses by eight.

There will also be 500 fewer resident and 40 fewer nonresident any whitetail licenses and 300 fewer resident and 24 fewer nonresident antlerless deer licenses.

The 2010 Black Hills Deer Season will also see 1,400 fewer resident and 112 fewer nonresident antlerless whitetail licenses compared to last year.

Deer herd population data indicates that the Black Hills deer population continues to decline.

Game officials say significant reduction in the antlerless harvest is needed to increase the deer population to acceptable levels.