MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) The South Dakota Wildlife Federation petitioned the Game Fish and Parks Commission to limit out-of-state turkey hunting licenses to 22% of a three-year average. That would have taken out-of-state turkey licenses from a high of 3,170 in the 2024 season to just 660 for the upcoming turkey season. The Game Fish and Parks Commission said that reduction was too drastic, although they would be open to future discussion of a license limit in the future.
A spokesman for the South Dakota Wildlife Federation testified before the Commission that while only 3% of Americans nationally are hunters, 24% of South Dakotans hunt. Other in-state hunters had been pushing for an out-of-state license limit at just 8% of what is granted currently. There is no upper limit on the number of turkey licenses that may be issued.
The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks generates $17.6 million from out-of-state licenses of all kinds and across all seasons. That compares to revenue from in-state hunters and fisherman of $11.2 million. The GFP also receives funding from the federal government and other sources as a part of their operations budget.