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PIERRE, S.D. – Today, the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP) will kick off the third year of the Nest Predator Bounty program as part of Gov. Noem's Second Century Initiative. Tails from raccoon, striped skunk, badger, red fox, and opossum will be eligible for $10 per-tail payments with a maximum total payout of $500,000. The per-tail payment is an increase from $5 per-tail last year. "In the last two years we removed nearly 80,000 nest predators predominantly from the eastern part of the state " said Kevin Robling, GFP Department Secretary. "When trapping is done at high intensities, during the primary nesting season at a localized level, predator removal has positively influenced nest success of ducks and pheasants. With favorable weather conditions during the winter months, enhanced efforts on habitat management and the continuation of the nest predator bounty program we should expect to see fantastic bird numbers for the 2021 pheasant season." Tails eligible for submission can be harvested via trapping or hunting. Participants need a hunting, furbearer, or fishing license to be eligible to participate in the bounty program. |