SOUTH DAKOTA ELK MANAGEMENT PLAN 2015-2019 SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA WILDLIFE DIVISION REPORT 2015-01 APRIL 2015 This document is for general, strategic guidance for the Division of Wildlife and serves to identify what we strive to accomplish related to elk management. This plan will be utilized by Department staff and Commission on an annual basis and will be formally evaluated at least every 5 years. Plan updates and changes, however, may occur more frequently as needed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This plan is a product of substantial discussion and input from many wildlife professionals. In addition, those comments and suggestions received from private landowners, hunters, and those who recognize the value of elk and their associated habitats were also considered. Management Plan Coordinator – Andy Lindbloom, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks (SDGFP). SDGFP Elk Management Plan Team that assisted with plan writing, data review and analyses, critical reviews and/or edits to the 2015 Elk Management Plan – Nathan Baker, Gary Brundige, Paul Coughlin, Shelly Deisch, Keith Fisk, Steve Griffin, Corey Huxoll, John Kanta, Emily Kiel, Tom Kirschenmann, Chad Lehman, Cynthia Longmire, Stan Michals, Mark Norton, Kevin Robling, Chad Switzer, and Lauren Wiechmann. Those who served on the South Dakota Elk Stakeholder Group during this planning process included: Travis Bies (Western SDGFP Regional Advisory Panel/BHNF Grazing Permittee); Kerry Burns (United States Forest Service); Tim Gutormson (Southeast SDGFP Regional Advisory Panel); Chris Hesla (South Dakota Wildlife Federation); Jerry Hirrschoff (Black Hills Sportsmen Club); Eric Jennings (South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association); Gary Jensen, SDGFP Commissioner; Terry Mayes (Western SDGFP Regional Advisory Panel); Casey Miller (South Dakota Stockgrowers Association); Jim Peterson (South Dakota Bowhunters, Inc.); Scott Phillips (Western SDGFP Regional Advisory Panel/Custer Coalition); Greg Schroeder (Wind Cave National Park); Tom Slowey (Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation); Leonard Spomer (Central SDGFP Regional Advisory Panel); Aaron Thompson (Spearfish Grazing Association); Bob Tiff (Northeast SDGFP Regional Advisory Panel); and Trudy Wastweet (South Dakota Department of Agriculture). i All text and data contained within this document are subject to revision for corrections, updates, and data analyses. Cover photo was provided by South Dakota Tourism. Recommended Citation: South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. 2015. South Dakota Elk Management Plan 2015-2019. Completion Report 2015-01. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Pierre, South Dakota, USA. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................................... I TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................. III LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................................................... VI LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................... VII LIST OF APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................... VIII ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................................ IX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................... X INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 1 ELK HUNTING ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 HISTORICAL HARVEST ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 SEASON STRUCTURE ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Black Hills Firearm Season.................................................................................................................................... 9 Prairie Season ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Archery Season ................................................................................................................................................... 15 HUNTER ACCESS .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 POPULATION SURVEYS ........................................................................................................................................ 18 HARVEST SURVEYS ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 INCISOR TOOTH SURVEYS .............................................................................................................................................. 24 AERIAL SURVEYS .......................................................................................................................................................... 26 HERD COMPOSITION SURVEYS ........................................................................................................................................ 29 POPULATION MODELS .................................................................................................................................................. 32 ELK RESEARCH IN SOUTH DAKOTA ....................................................................................................................... 33 RESOURCE SELECTION ................................................................................................................................................... 33 ROADS AND HUMAN DISTURBANCE ................................................................................................................................. 36 MOVEMENTS AND HOME RANGE .................................................................................................................................... 38 SURVIVAL ................................................................................................................................................................... 40 SIGHTABILITY .............................................................................................................................................................. 41 DIET .......................................................................................................................................................................... 43 CAPTURE TECHNIQUES .................................................................................................................................................. 45 GENERAL ELK RESEARCH WITHIN SOUTH DAKOTA .............................................................................................................. 46 PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................................. 47 GAME PRODUCTION AREAS ........................................................................................................................................... 47 CUSTER STATE PARK ..................................................................................................................................................... 47 WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK ......................................................................................................................................... 51 BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST ...................................................................................................................................... 55 Elk and Forest Planning ...................................................................................................................................... 56 Norbeck Wildlife Preserve .................................................................................................................................. 57 Big Game Winter Range ..................................................................................................................................... 57 Silviculture Practices ........................................................................................................................................... 58 Forage Availability and Allocation ..................................................................................................................... 60 iii Non-FS Lands 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