SD Legislative Rules Review Committee allows GFP to limit youth deer season in southeastern SD counties

The South Dakota Legislature’s Rules Review Committee voted Tuesday 5-0 to allow Game Fish and Parks to shut down deer hunting youth seasons in some southeastern counties. Those counties include Yankton, Davison, Bon Homme, Clay, Hanson, Hutchinson, Lincoln, Turner and Union. State Wildlife Division director Tom Kirschenmann explained the deer population in these counties are extremely down. Much of the population decrease is due to what is known as EHD or Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease. This disease causes high fever and internal bleed in deer and is carried through midge bites. Youth deer season would return to normal once deer populations in those areas rebounds.