YANKTON, S.D. – With hunting season fast approaching, hunters are reminded of regulations for hunting on Gavins Point Project lands near Yankton, South Dakota. These rules are in place to help manage the public land and water resources, and for visitor safety. The areas included in these regulations are Corps of Engineers-managed lands around Lewis and Clark Lake, Lake Yankton (near Yankton, South Dakota), Audubon Bend Area (near Wynot, Nebraska), and North Alabama Bend Area (near Vermillion, Sout Dakota). Hunting is permitted outside developed recreation and operations areas unless otherwise posted. All visitors are reminded to check for current state regulations, hunting seasons, and to be aware and courteous of hunters while out in the field.
• Waterfowl Blind Permits are required for hunters who wish to place a permanent-seasonal (fall-winter 2018-19) blind for the waterfowl hunting season in the upper delta area of Lewis and Clark Lake, stretching from Niobrara, Nebraska, to Charley Creek Lakeside Use Area near Tabor, South Dakota. Several islands and sandbars offer excellent waterfowl viewing and hunting opportunities within the Missouri River flyway. Corps permits are not required for hunters that hunt daily from a boat blind or other temporary blind that is removed from public lands and waters daily (24-hour period). Permit application and further information can be found at: http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Media/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheet-Article-View/Article/487681/gavins-point-dam-lewis-clark-lake-annual-duck-blind-permits/
• Tree stands and ground blinds may be placed on Gavins Point Project lands from August 15 through February 15 each year. Tree stands must be portable-type, non-permanent, and no nails, screws, steps, or other device that pierces the bark of a tree may be used. Screw-in steps or spikes are not permitted. All tree stands and ground blinds are required to have the owner’s name and phone number clearly legible from the ground. Tree stands and blinds are not permitted within developed recreation areas, including campgrounds. A maximum of 3 stands per owner are permitted on project lands.
• Shotgun hunting on Lake Yankton, below Gavins Point Dam is permitted only between October 1 and May 31 to coincide with open state hunting seasons for waterfowl.
• Lake Yankton Island area is restricted to archery hunting only, during open state hunting seasons.
• All activities on Corps of Engineers lands are regulated by Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which can be found at: https://www.usace.army.mil/Portals/2/docs/EP1165-2-316.pdf
More information on hunting seasons and state regulations can be found at:
• South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks - https://gfp.sd.gov/
• Nebraska Game and Parks Commission - http://outdoornebraska.gov/