Ranchers Close Land
Over Hunting Dispute

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Ranchers in western South Dakota have declared nearly a million acres of privately owned land off-limits to hunters in a dispute over state hunting policies.

More than two dozen ranchers on Saturday banned hunters from their land until the state pays for damages caused by wildlife, reduces charges against a rancher accused of unlawfully shooting deer, and meets other demands.

"As far as I know, the ban will be in effect until the Game, Fish and Parks Department decides to do something," Wes Reeves, a rancher from the Owanka area, said Monday.

The declaration, which appeared in a Rapid City Journal advertisement titled "Operation Lockup," also urges federal officials to reduce charges against several Wall residents accused of giving mule deer buck licenses to out-of-state hunters.

Landowners in North Dakota and elsewhere have staged similar hunting bans as a way of protesting government policies.

In South Dakota, ranchers have long objected to what they say are unfair regulations from the state Game, Fish and Parks Department.

Most notably, the ranchers want compensation for losing corn and hay to deer during the winter. They also want to be allowed to sell deer tags to help them cover expenses.

Others are upset by the pending trial of Lyle Williams, a Box Elder rancher accused of shooting six deer that were eating corn on his land last winter. Williams faces a possible $1000 fine.

Al Bahe, a spokesman for the state's wildlife division, said legislators are considering a range of proposals to help landowners in western South Dakota.

"These are issues we are concerned about and know are out there, and we'll work through the different channels to get them addressed," he said.

Bahe said the demands convey a long-running philosophical dispute between ranchers and state wildlife officials. "It's their way of making a political statement," he said.