A bill introduced into South Dakota’s House Agriculture and Natural Resources at the request of Gov. Kristi Noem (R) would require conservation officers for the state’s Game, Fish and Parks Department to obtain permission from the landowner or lessee before entering the property.
There are exclusions for instances when a conservation officer may enter onto the property without permission, including: reasonable suspicion or probable cause of a violation; crippled or distressed wildlife observed on the private land; and to respond to emergencies, accidents, or other threats to public safety.
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee voted 10-2 to send HB 1140 to the full House for debate.
Interim Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Kevin Robling told KELO News “a strong partnership” with landowners is “absolutely critical.” He said conservation officers generally had followed the ask-first policy since 2011 even though it has not been a state law.
