41:06:61:02.  Black Hills Fire Protection District -- Harvest quota -- Season dates – Season closure. The season harvest quota for the area within the Black Hills Fire Protection District is 100 mountain lions or 70 female mountain lions. The mountain lion hunting season in the Black Hills Fire Protection District is open December 26 to March 31, inclusive. However, the department shall close the mountain lion hunting season in the Black Hills Fire Protection District if the harvest quota for that area is reached prior to March 31. Custer State Park is closed to mountain lion hunting except for 162 mountain lion licensees who possess a valid mountain lion license and a temporary special access permit structured to include:

          (1)  Five hunting intervals each having 30 access permits, valid for 14 to 16 consecutive days, in which hunting with dogs is not allowed; and

          (2)  Three hunting intervals each having four access permits, valid for seven consecutive days, in which hunting with dogs is allowed.

          The temporary access permits are issued free-of-cost and may be issued by a random drawing.

          Source: 32 SDR 45, effective September 20, 2005; 33 SDR 1, effective July 18, 2006; 34 SDR 67, effective September 10, 2007; 35 SDR 47, effective September 8, 2008; 36 SDR 31, effective September 3, 2009; 37 SDR 112, effective December 8, 2010; 38 SDR 101, effective December 5, 2011; 39 SDR 100, effective December 3, 2012.

          General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(17).

          Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18(1)(2)(17).