South Dakota Mountain Lion Public Opinion Poll

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Mountain Lion Management in South Dakota Appendix C Larry M. Gigliotti Comments from Public Meetings Hills, the loss of habitat area, the relatively small hunting area in the Black Hills, etc., etc. • There is absolutely no reason this magnificent animal should be pursued by hunters, even without the use of hound! (Using hounds and the manner in which hounds are trained is certainly another matter bordering upon animal abuse and cruelty!) Those animals that would be hunted and killed are not the lions that are the “problem” lions. The mountain lions hunted would be the trophy lions, and look at what has happened to our deer population when only the older, larger deer have been taken. Our deer population is now a much smaller, “puny” specie than we had in the past! The mountain lions help control the deer population and generally select those smaller deer. • Also, setting the proposed number of lions to be removed at 20 is ridiculous. Sure, I am aware of how the formula was determined, but – my gosh! Last year more lions than that were killed due to various other forms! When do we as humans take responsibility for protecting our wildlife? So far this year, I have found three poached elk, one deer, and a coyote. After deer hunting season, the woods are a shambles with litter; animal carcasses and innards, beer cans, and other “crap” left behind by so-called sportspersons! Are there no hunter ethics? Is shooting a pursued, tired and frightened mountain lion perched in a tree a sport? It is like the buffalo hunt in Custer State Park which is no more than a fundraiser, and I am a great fan of Custer State Park, but we need to tell it like it is! With the road network in the Black Hills, most hunters can drive within feet of where they intend to make a kill. Then they get out their 4wheeler to load their trophy. This combined with all the “gadgets” hunters use does not seem to be very “sporting”! • Why not simply have a list of those individuals who want to “kill” a mountain lion and give these people the opportunity to “take out” a documented problem lion? That would solve two concerns – the troublesome lion would be removed, and the hunter’s ego or “kill” mentality would be satisfied! Certainly, the GF&P should charge for this privilege and it should be more than a slap on the paws you naughty lion, fee of $10. In these days of budget cuts and woe are the GF&P coffers, charge at least $100 for a resident license to be put on this list to remove the pesky mountain lion. If a person’s name is not selected, too bad! This is another way a lottery can benefit our great state! • The “hearings” regarding the proposed mountain lion season have been appreciated. At the Custer session, much good information was traded, although I did feel that the group making the presentation was leaning toward instituting a season on the lions. Hopefully, these sessions were 42
Mountain Lion Management in South Dakota Appendix C Larry M. Gigliotti Comments from Public Meetings not just a “formality” as many people state, with the decision to have a season already decided upon! Please – let’s use common sense, compassion, and scientific data, and not politics! Humans and this majestic mountain lion – another of God’s beautiful creations – can live in harmony! • Please, oh please – NO MOUNTAIN LION HUNTING SEASON IN SOUTH DAKOTA! 82. I lived all my life on Alkali Creek, which is 10 miles east of the Ft. Meade National Cemetery. I went to the Rapid City lion meeting to better understand people’s attitudes about mountain lions. After listening to the attitude of many people at the meeting, I feel fortunate not be on the GF&P staff. I also came away from the meeting with a feeling of panic as to what lies ahead for those of us in the livestock business. It appears that hunting is not a good way to control the population, because a rifle hunter can’t discriminate as to age, sex, or if it’s a nursing female. Dogs don’t seem to be the answer because it would violate someone’s property rights, especially some homeowner in the Black Hills. Opposition was strong against an outfitter bringing someone with a dog to hunt the lion. He might make too much money off it and local people can’t participate because their pocket books aren’t deep enough. We in the livestock business that have ranches along rivers and streams are just beginning to see the results of lion over-population in the Black Hills. I hope that GF&P people realize that almost all of South Dakota real estate is in private lands. You need good relations with the agriculture community to keep your operating budget in tact. You have always helped the agriculture community in the past. You will be hearing more from us, please listen. 83. 1. Allow dogs for hunting – more successful. • This permits identification opportunity to decrease loss of locating females or immature juveniles, and kittens. • Identify hound owners and allow them to hunt with licensed hunters. • Utilize hound owners for reporting: • Sex and age of kills; • Sex (probable) and age (estimated) killed; and • Cats breed or identified and not killed. 2. Hound owners, if identified and monitored, allows for better reporting, and regulation of the numbers of lions killed. Therefore, better management and communication to call off hunt when quota is reached. 43
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South Dakota Mountain Lion Public Opinion Poll

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