AI was utilized in the writing of this article.
Jimmy Dean
February 6, 2024
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota has enacted Senate Bill 54 (SB54) into law, stipulating a significant change in the state’s hunting and fishing license eligibility criteria. Effective immediately, individuals who spend 180 days or more outside South Dakota within a calendar year are rendered ineligible for resident hunting and fishing licenses. This legislative move aims to curtail fraudulent claims of residency, particularly targeting those seeking coveted resident licenses for elk and big horn sheep hunting.
The law’s genesis stems from concerns voiced by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Department over non-residents exploiting the system to gain access to hunting and fishing privileges reserved for South Dakotans. According to GFP’s law enforcement chief, Sam Schelhaas, the department has encountered instances where individuals, such as someone from California, might purchase property in South Dakota, profess a newfound passion for the state’s hunting traditions, yet have no intention of permanently relocating or genuinely adopting residency.