LEGISLATIVE ALERT
President’s message – George Vandel, Pierre
March 2, 2020
SB 150, the bill to increase nonresident waterfowl hunting opportunity will be up in the House Ag and Natural Resources Committee Tuesday (March 3) beginning at 7:45 in Room 412. The bill changes the 3,775 10-day permits into two 5-day licenses. If passed through the House un-amended it will go to the Governor for signature. I see no reason that she will not sign the Bill if it gets to her.
This is our last and best opportunity to kill this bill. Now is the time for you to contact members of the House Ag Committee and your local Representatives. You all did a great job in the Senate and now is the time to again let your House members know how you feel about this bill.
Below are some taking points:
- According to GF&P, we are losing nearly 600 resident waterfowl hunters each year
- Incredibly, GF&P’s response to this dramatic loss is to increase the number of nonresident waterfowl hunting days
- GF&P projects SB 150 will increase the number of days nonresidents will hunt waterfowl by as much as 3,775 days
- GF&P’s bill gives no consideration to commensurate increases in opportunity for residents
- The bill makes no effort to address the dramatic loss in resident duck hunters, who are as much as three times as valuable to South Dakota’s main street as nonresidents.
House Ag and Natural Resource Committee contacts:
Brunner, Thomas (R) Chair – 605-257-2336 – thomas.bruner@sdleglislature.gov
Chase, Roger (R) – 605-352-5100 – roger.cbar@midconetwork.com
Finck, Caleb (R) – 605-933-2042 – caleb.finck@sdlegislature.gov
Glanzer, Bob (R) – 605-354-3088 – bglanzer@hur.midco.net
Lesmeister, Oren (D) – 605-964-3023 – oren.lesmeister@sdlegislature.gov
Livermont, Steve (R) – 605-685-6998 – steve.livermont@sdlegislature.gov
Marty, Sam (R) – 605-866-4477 – sam.marty@sdlegislature.gov
Mulally, Tina (R) – 605-451-9796 – tina.mulally@sdlegislature.gov
Otten, Herman (R) – 605-941-1770 – hermanottendist6@gmail.com
Overweg, Marty (R) – 605-680-0304 – marty.overweg@sdlegislature.gov
Peterson, Kent (R) – 605-425-3299 – kent.peterson@sdlegislature.gov
Pourier, Peri (D) – 605-877-1238 – peri.pourier@sdlegislature.gov
Wangsness, James (R) – 605-853-3493 – james.wangness@sdlegislature.gov
How to contact your Legislator:
Go to http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/ContactLegislator.aspx?Session=2020 this will pull up all members of the House and Senate simply click on the Legislator you want your message sent to and create or paste your message.
So, thanks again – your contact efforts are making a difference – please keep it up. Contact your representative today.
A word of advice, feel free to let them know you are mad about this bill just please don’t act mad. Be blunt but polite. Do not cut and paste these points – try to put them in your own words and individualize each response.
I’m going to continue working with our Friends with the Wildlife Federation but our only recourse now is to fight and kill SB 150 in the House. If we can muster the same support from you, our members, we have a strong chance to be successful.
Call or text me at 605-295-2880 or e-mail me direct at gvan3@pie.midco.net if you have questions.
Our main issues 1) expand and increase quality waterfowl hunting access opportunities in South Dakota 2) maintain quality waterfowl hunting in our state by balancing nonresident waterfowl hunter numbers such that they not create undue conflicts with resident waterfowl hunters and 3) ensure that commercialization of waterfowl hunting in South Dakota remains low.
Board: John Simpson – Pierre, Spencer Vaa – Brookings, Tom Yseth – Brookings and Bill Koupal – Pierre. Bobby Cox will serve as Secretary Treasurer and Chuck Dieter will serve as Past-president.