Hunters Need To Be Careful With Dry Conditions This Weekend

This weekend marks the start of the annual celebration that outdoorsmen look forward to every fall: the opening of pheasant season in South Dakota. And while men and women with their kids and canines will be beating the brush, trying to flush a pheasant they will have to be careful not to start an unintended fire in the process.

Drought has not been an issue in the state this year but it has been a while since we have had significant

“We had good moisture in the spring and summer in many parts of the state,” said South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Division Director Tony Leif. “That led to high grass and good habitat, but it has dried out quickly and we are urging hunters to be careful where they park and drive.”

Mufflers and catalytic converters and other vehicle parts could potentially start a fire. Hunters should be aware of what they are driving over at all times. If a fire should start, immediately call 911.

“Knowing exactly where you are hunting is important,” said Leif.  “Giving precise directions to where you are and where the fire is can make all the difference.”

Knowing where you are is also important when it comes to being on public or private land. A great way to know is the GFP Outdoors smartphone app available for Android and iPhone. All of the maps in the South Dakota hunting atlas are in the app. Maps are also available for Garmin GPS units from the GFP website.

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