APRIL 2013 Affi liated with the National Wildlife Federation VOLUME 53, NUMBER 3 Inside this issue: “ South Dakota Walleye Unlimited State Director Rocky Page 2 Niewenhuis(L) is presenting a check to SDWF’s Camo_ Coalition Executive Director Chris Hesla. Thank you to EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S the members of SDWU for your support and help! UPDATE Page 3 PRESIDENT COLUMN Page 4 50 Years of SDWF Youth Conservation Camp OUTDOOR IMPACT ON ECONOMY In its 50th year, the South Dakota Wildlife Federation more. Campers also will be learning the message of (SDWF) in partnership with the South Dakota Depart- conservation. Page 5 ment of Game, Fish & Parks will sponsor its annual Photos from past camps can be viewed at our Face- BILL WOULD DROP Youth Conservation Camp, June 2 – 8, at Camp Bob book page: SDWF Youth Conservation Camp. The MISSOURI RIVER Marshall in the Black Hills near Custer State Park. High cost for camp is $300/camper which includes transpor- WILDLIVE FOCUS School students, both boys and girls are eligible to at- tation to and from camp. Sportsman’s clubs and many ELK SEASON FINALIZED tend camp. Young people who enjoy the out of doors, Soil Conservation Districts across South Dakota spon- hunting and fi shing will fi nd camp a unique learning sor students to attend camp. A camper application can Page 7 experience. Campers will have the opportunity to se- be printed from the South Dakota Wildlife Federation web- WATERFOWL LICENSE lect from a number of classes that range from shoot- site, go to www.sdwf.org and click on the conservation camp NUMBERS ing which includes rifl e, shotgun, handgun and muzzle section. For more information, contact Camp Director, Mike loading, archery, fl y fi shing, reservoir fi shing, turkey McKernan, PO Box 246, Murdo SD 57559, phone 605-669- Page 8 hunting, deer hunting, waterfowl hunting, stream ecol- 2829, email [email protected] ogy, GPS skills, birding in the Black Hills and many WALLEY LIMITS STATE PARK FAMILY WEEKEND JUDGING RANGELAND The Fowl Line - Is the Canada Goose spring management program a good or bad thing? VALUES Like most fathers, I suspect, hav- fi elds of corn. ing a 2-year old boy at home has I love to read the words while redefi ned many aspects of my dailyy Miles gets a kick out of pointing life. Meals, chores, even getting outut the at the illustrations, especially door in the morning to go to work – what at one the geese. Just as in the sto- time were all mundane tasks are now equal partsts ry,ry, the suspense builds as we comedy, drama and suspense. turntuturnn a pagepa near the end of the book Life changes. Sometimes that change is hard tot discover a fl ock of Canada to accept. Other times – such as the case of geese ridingrid a night sky illuminated by this blondehaired bundle of energy thatt couldcould the “goose moon,” signaling the arrival blow a duck call before he said his fi rst words of spring.spring. Invariably,Inva Miles sees the birds, – it is a new normal worth every momentoment of points and shouts, “Duck!”“D the Terrible Twos. Bedtime, in particular,cular hashas We’re working on itit. SoSomeday he’ll know the differ- become a favorite of mine. My son, Miles, loves t o ence. read books to end the day. Naturally, my wife and I LATS have stocked his shelves with loads of titles that refl ect And if Miles takes anything from his old man, I’m F a love of nature and the natural world. Orange, Pear, guessing that someday the sight of a goose – on pa- Apple, Bear was an immediate hit, and Robert McClos- per, on the wing in spring, landing in the decoys in the key’s Make Way for Ducklings is starting to grow on the fall – will elicit a different reaction from him, one of excitement for the moment and hopefully a reverence ARCODED little guy. Lately, our favorite (or at least mine) has been B the book Goose Moon – a simple story of a girl and her for what the bird has come to represent. grandfather, an elderly farmer who helps her mark the Like most waterfowl hunters, ducks and geese and passing of the seasons by the departure and arrival their environs provide me with connections to friends of Canada geese to the wetlands near his manicured and family and the cycles of the natural world. I credit Cont on page 7 Farmers- need a tax deduction this year? Consider donating some grain or land to the SDWF. You will get a tax break and your support of the SDWF will help protect the land and wildlife you love. Out Of Doors 2 April 2013 Executive Director’s Update by Chris Hesla It fi nally happened. Most of South Dakota has gotten fi rst group of young adults to the Hills to teach them a fair amount of moisture and welcomes Spring with about conservation. Doc spent the next 25 years run- better moisture rates. Northeastern parts of SD have ning the annual camp while and donating countless an overabundance of snow to melt and I’m sure it hours of his time. Doc made sure the camp ran smoothly will cause fl ooding of the James River and possibly and would continue after his retirement and ultimately, some in the Sioux River drainage basin. I have been after his death. Doc had the great fortune to have one Executive Director reading reports where our friends in North Dakota are very dedicated volunteer, Tom Putzier. Together, they Chris Hesla preparing their sandbags and levies for fl ooding in understood how special camp is and how important it the Red River Valley. is to young adults. Tom ran the camp for years after Doc retired and shared his experience with Mike McK- Talking about snow and moisture, an article I read at ernan. In the past few years, Tom passed the reins over least 2 weeks ago reported the mountains of Mon- to Mike who is currently the Camp Director. Mile shares tana were at 85% of annual snowpack. The fl ats and many duties with Dan Opp. prairies of Montana and North Dakota were at 80% annual snowpack. There’s been a lot of snow blow- SDWF is very fortunate to have such dedicated and ing all over the upper Midwest in the last two weeks special people involved in the running SDWF’s Conser- so I suspect the totals are higher now. Two years vation Camp. We are also very fortunate and THANK- ago, those same prairies were responsible for the FUL that so many others are willing to dedicate their moisture that caused widespread fl ooding along the time and knowledge to teaching our young adults the Missouri River here in the Dakotas, Nebraska, and importance of conservation in their everyday life. You’ve Iowa. Here on Lake Oahe we can use all the run-off impacted countless young people’s perspectives and and hope for a slow-rising water level when the smelt actions. Hopefully, conservation camp begins a lifelong hatch and the river is rejuvenating its forage base. learning experience for the kids. There are a lot of new members and I want to make SDWF maintains a Restrictive Endowment Fund dedi- sure every member is aware of our camp. Please cated solely to the operation and viability for our Con- bear with me for one last pitch; servation Camp. For more information, please contact me. The fi rst week of June is always a very special time for SDWF. There have been 50 Conservation Camps held since Dr. McClellan had the idea and started the We can and do make a difference! fi rst Conservation Camp. In June 1964, Doc took the “Don’t blow it - good planets are hard to fi nd.” Quoted in Time Magazine Mr. Chris Hesla Mr. Rieck Eske Mr. Charles Dieter Mr. Harvey Malon Mr. Mike McKernan Executive-Director (Hired) President SDWF Camo-Coalition Director District 6 Director-at-Large Youth Camp Director South Dakota Wildlife Federation P.O. Box 46 South Dakota Wildlife Federation South Dakota Wildlife Federation (Non-Board Member) P.O. Box 7075 Warner, South Dakota 57479 47135 203rd Street 635 Westwind Drive South Dakota Wildlife Federation Pierre, South Dakota 57501 Telephone: (605) 229-1743 - Home Brookings, South Dakota 57006 Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 612 S. Garfi eld Telephone: (605) 224-7524 - offi ce (605) 380-9569 - Cell Telephone: (605) 693-3123 - Home Telephone: (605) 343-2349 Murdo, South Dakota 57559 (605) 222-1002 - cell Email: [email protected] (605) 688-4555 - Work Email: [email protected] Telephone: (605) 669-2829 Fax: (605) 224-7524 (605) 690-6351 - Cell Email: [email protected] Email address: [email protected] Mr. Paul Vinatieri Email: [email protected] Ms. Maggie Engler Printed by Curt Merriman Printing, Inc., P.O. Director District 1 Director-at-Large Mr. David Dittloff Box 1046, 306 S. Coteau, Pierre, SD 57501 Mr. Rich Widman - President South Dakota Wildlife Federation Mr. Ross Jensen South Dakota Wildlife Federation NWF Regional Representative for SD Subscription Rate - $10.00 per year or with South Dakota Wildlife Federation 1995 Sammis Trail Director District 2111½ Monte Vista Drive National Wildlife Federation membership in SDWF Individual members 929 8th Avenue Rapid City, South Dakota 57702 South Dakota Wildlife Federation Rapid City, South Dakota 57702 240 N. Higgins devote approximately 40 cents of their annual Brookings, South Dakota 57006 Telephone: (605) 348-3846 - Home 605 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.