The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Nest Predator Bounty Program closes on Monday after 50,000 nest predator tails were collected.
The program is part of Governor Kristi Noem’s Second Century Initiative to help increase the population of pheasants and ducks for hunting.
Keith Fisk is with the GFP. He says while this will help in specific areas, the predator population will remain substantial.
"We’re not going to be able to measure if it increases net success because there’s too many different factors that are going on at the same time, environmental factors, and a number of different items," says Fisk. "But predator control has been a long-standing technique that’s been used by a lot of people that are into raising pheasants and ducks. If they key in on the right areas at the right time of the year, they can definitely make an impact on their local level.”
Fisk says the GFP plans to remain in contact with the Governor on how to further the Second Century Intuitive.
16,000 traps were designated for the program, and nearly half were distributed.