PIERRE, S.D. – The 2009 South Dakota Legislature passed several bills pertaining to the Game Fish and Parks Department, hunters and fisherman. These bills will become law on July 1.
House Bill 1004 provides the ability for any person in South Dakota to kill a mountain lion if they are protecting themselves, another person, livestock or a pet. The person who killed the lion is required to contact Game Fish and Parks within 24 hours of the incident.

House Bill 1051 allows for the sale or purchase of a lawfully mounted fish. Except for bait fish trapped by licensed bait dealers, fish from a licensed fish hatchery, fish taken as part of a commercial fishing contract or fish taken with a hoop net or set line license, it is illegal to sell fish taken in South Dakota. A legally mounted fish fell under the existing law, until this bill was passed.

House Bill 1053 allows for seized or abandoned items sold by the GFP to be resold. In the past, any previously seized or abandoned item that was sold by the Department could not subsequently be resold. This bill makes that process legal.

House Bill 1054 authorizes designated shooters for certain disabled youth hunters during the youth big game seasons. This allows disabled youth to actively participate in certain big game seasons.
House Bill 1104 gives the sentencing court the discretion to impose consecutive revocations of the applicable hunting, fishing or trapping privilege for instances where an individual is convicted of two or more violations that include revocation as a condition of the sentence.