Habitat Stamp Dollars Open Shore For Northeast Anglers
By:
Submitted by Cody Rakow Conservation Officer Trainee
Habitat Stamp Dollars Open Shore For Northeast Anglers
Submitted by
Cody Rakow
Conservation Officer Trainee
The arrival of spring in Northeast South Dakota comes with the arrival of shore fishermen. Shore fishing is one of Northeastern South Dakota’s great pastimes, providing a great opportunity for people across the state to get out and enjoy the outdoors. As the weather warms from the lows of winter, hungry fish move towards the shallow water of the lake in search of food. Shore-bound anglers have been taking advantage of these shallow-feeding fish for generations. The Game, Fish, and Parks has been proudly providing water access to shore anglers for years and continues to focus on providing water access to outdoorsmen and women across the state and surrounding areas.
One of these access projects the Game, Fish, and Parks has taken on in recent years is at Smith Game Production Area (GPA) in Roberts County. Smith GPA sits on the northwest side of Big Stone Lake, two and a half miles northwest of Hartford Beach State Park. Smith GPA has recently seen the new addition of an improved public water access area on its southeastern end. Originally, Smith GPA Water Access consisted only of a primitive kayak and canoe launch with a rocky trail to the water. The access area has since expanded by clearing deadfall, litter, and overgrown trees. As well as adding gravel to level the parking area, improving it from a small turnaround area. The shoreline has also received reinforcement through rock and riprap, which greatly expands the available space for shore fishermen. The department made this project possible using habitat stamp dollars.
A habitat stamp is an additional purchase required before most licenses are purchased each calendar year in South Dakota. A habitat stamp is most commonly seen in tandem with small game and fishing licenses. A habitat stamp costs $10 for residents and $25 for non-residents and is valid until January 31 of the following year after purchase. Habitat Stamps are an invaluable provider of public land hunting and fishing access in South Dakota. Every cent made from Habitat Stamp purchases goes directly into improving habitat and access across South Dakota. While Smith is just one example of an area improved by habitat stamp dollars, there have been over a thousand habitat stamp-improved areas in South Dakota. You’ve probably been to a habitat stamp improved area without even knowing it.
The department uses its habitat stamp dollars on high-priority areas across South Dakota. The Smith GPA Public Water Access (PWA) is one of these areas. Smith PWA is located on the banks of Big Stone Lake, one of the most popular fishing destinations in Northeastern South Dakota. Just as Smith GPA has provided habitat to animals for many years, Smith PWA will provide critical access to anglers both by boat and by shore. We hope to see anglers across South Dakota enjoying the improved access for years to come.
