Standing Rock Game & Fish Big Game Hunting Recommendations 2023

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, under the guidance of Director Jeff Kelly and tribal biologists, presents the 2023 hunting recommendations. The report highlights observations, success rates, proposed tag reductions for deer, and conservation efforts due to environmental conditions. Additionally, the document outlines key themes such as priority for elderly permits, wildlife habitat management, and member vs. non-member hunting seasons. Ground count data for 2020 is also provided to support decision-making processes.

• Standing Rock
• Big Game Hunting
• Wildlife Management
• Conservation
• Tribal Recommendations

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1. 2023 STANDING ROCK GAME 2023 STANDING ROCK GAME AND FISH AND FISH BIG GAME HUNTING RECOMMENDATIONS BIG GAME HUNTING RECOMMENDATIONS & RELEVANT BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION & RELEVANT BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION PREPARED BY: DIRECTOR JEFF KELLY & TRIBAL BIOLOGISTS DIRECTOR JEFF KELLY & TRIBAL BIOLOGISTS DR. MICHAEL GUTZMER, JORDAN DR. MICHAEL GUTZMER, JORDAN KORT KORT B.S., SETH GUTZMER B.S. B.S., SETH GUTZMER B.S. APRIL 10, 2023 APRIL 10, 2023 Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

2. Executive Summary for 2022 Executive Summary for 2022 - -2023 2023 We observed our highest number of Partridge this year with a total number of 238 observations. We recorded the highest success rate in deer harvested (79.38%) We propose to implement a distinct reduction of whitetail/mule deer buck tags; to 400 non-member buck tags. 150 whitetail and 250 mule deer tags is recommended to compensate for slightly lower white tail/mule numbers. There will be an additional 100 tags added for does. Spotlight surveys along with ground count numbers show slightly decreasing numbers across the reservation in deer populations. We are very conservative this year based on our survey numbers, climate and environmental conditions are cause for concern. Drought and substantial snowfall in the year 2022 has contributed to low population estimates. All game season dates are very close to last year season.

3. These permeating themes and concepts are offered: 1. Wherever possible, elderly permits are free and unlimited. 2. Our Game & Fish goal is to protect our precious natural resource base and make recommendations accordingly. We understand there are economic, social and political decisions that must be incorporated into the decision-making process. 3. Member seasons are more liberal than Non-Members; and in most cases, their seasons start one to two weeks before and run longer than Non-Member seasons to afford quality hunting time for Members and reduce competition. 4. We reserve the right to change and/or update our recommendations as new data becomes available. The most up to date and innovative wildlife management techniques, financially and realistically possible are implemented by our biologists. If you haven t noticed habitat management is a major variable in wildlife population success or failure and long term sustainability. Please report unusual wildlife observations to our tribal Game & Fish Dept. office.

4. 2020 Ground Counts 2020 Overall Wt Mule Ant Phea Grou Part Turk Coyo B. Eag Red. T Rough Mile Hour Jan 237 82 0 86 415 0 172 4 4 3 5 663 26.5 Feb 802 252 17 66 193 0 62 28 7 1 4 920 32 June 39 3 63 25 7 0 0 0 8 5 0 390 13 July 37 12 7 84 0 0 2 0 0 7 0 84 3.5 Aug 26 10 11 29 107 0 6 0 9 20 0 150 6 Sept 5 39 87 12 59 18 7 6 2 4 1 377 12 Oct 11 0 29 1 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 169 6.5 Nov 67 78 0 25 167 12 110 2 8 4 44 580 19.5 Dec 49 111 37 132 234 0 2 5 3 1 26 521 22 # Mile 0.33 0.15 0.065 0.119 0.307 0.0077 0.093 0.012 0.0106 0.0127 0.0207 # Hour 9.09 4.19 1.79 3.29 8.46 0.21 2.56 0.32 0.29 0.35 0.57 Total 1273 587 251 460 1185 30 359 45 41 49 80 3854 140

5. 2021 Ground Counts 2021 Overall Wt Mule Ant Phea Grou Part Turk Coyo B. Eag Golden 176 247 174 171 294 0 40 0 0 0 Jan/Feb 37 29 5 12 55 0 17 4 0 0 April 14 5 1 24 2 0 12 1 1 0 July 14 1 6 15 26 0 12 4 1 2 Aug 25 36 112 44 24 0 10 14 2 8 Sept 34 175 88 59 132 14 16 0 0 0 Oct 85 766 156 105 287 22 39 12 4 5 Nov 112 216 63 31 134 0 8 5 3 0 Dec 497 1475 605 461 954 36 154 40 11 15 Total 0.15 0.46 0.19 0.14 0.29 0.011 0.047 0.012 0.003 0.0046 # Mile 4.07 12.09 4.96 3.78 7.81 0.29 1.26 0.33 0.09 0.12 # Hour

6. 2022-Present Monthly Summary Observations 2022-Present WT Deer Mule Antelope Pheasant Grouse Turkey Partridge January 125 157 188 134 115 62 0 February 33 48 29 34 33 11 0 April 4 28 25 43 32 17 0 May 30 0 6 33 2 7 0 June 16 2 0 8 2 1 0 July 6 3 2 33 24 8 0 August 4 28 135 13 15 52 0 September 8 44 138 39 108 97 0 November 239 500 60 941 342 30 238 January 133 271 156 262 533 4 36 Total: 598 1081 739 1540 1206 289 274

7. Ground Count Totals 2014-2022 Jan Mule deer 2013-2023 White Tail deer Antelope Pheasant Grouse Turkey Partridge 2013 179 63 97 510 215 193 15 2014 91 68 86 803 50 305 16 2015 218 214 112 1452 1633 393 100 2016 264 199 177 1698 1677 398 166 2017 240 239 205 712 124 181 87 2018 217 191 329 422 258 263 20 2019 183 226 263 66 105 137 0 2020 1273 587 251 460 1185 359 30 2021 497 1475 605 461 954 154 36 2022 465 810 583 1278 673 285 238 2023-Present 133 271 156 262 533 4 36

8. Spotlight Deer Per Mile 2014-2022 Spotlight Deer Per Mile 4.5 4.26 4 3.75 3.45 3.5 3 2.75 2.65 2.6 Deer Per Mile 2.5 2.3 2.27 2.1 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Years 2019 2020 2021 2022

9. 2022 Hunter Harvest Success Rate 100 87.23 90 82.35 81.98 80 79.38 80 70 62.24 60 Percentage 50 40 30 20 10 0 Prarie Dog Elk Grouse Antelope Deer Turkey

10. 2012-2022 Hunter Success Rate Deer 90 79.38 77.05 80 76.19 74.55 71.11 69.51 70 66.38 60 55.21 53.05 Percentage 50 40 31.7 27.19 30 20 10 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

11. Bucks Observed 30 27.33 27.18 25 23.52 22.96 22.22 21.76 21.66 20.68 20.11 20 18.83 17.38 15 10 5 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

12. Hours Spent Hunting Deer 44 42.45 42.02 42 40.49 39.79 39.68 39.65 39.58 40 39.54 39.26 38 37.18 36 35.44 34 32 30 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

13. AERIAL DATA COMING SOON AERIAL DATA COMING SOON

14. Key Management for our Tribal Deer Herds Key Management for our Tribal Deer Herds The deer management goal is to improve antler quality, the overall number of bucks and quantity of ALL deer on Standing Rock-QDM. Seeing improving deer numbers and recovery from EHD from 2012/2013,and see a generally positive trend line. Quality Buck Project: 2020- Antler restriction [4 point on ONE side habitat management improvement for the next 5 years for both deer species for all hunters. 4 point on ONE side]and Long hunting seasons will modify deer behavior to avoid human infrastructure (roadways, etc.) and make hunting harder. Recent CWD testing revealed healthy deer herds on our reservation. Results of QDM: 1-hunter/customer delight, 2-maintain/sustain revenues, 3-long term population sustainability, 4- improved genome. 5 5- - better habitats for other game species better habitats for other game species

15. 2022 Recommendation for Deer 2022 Recommendation for Deer Season Dates:Archery: Elderly/Member Aug. 20 (Sat) - Jan. 1 (Sun) Resident/Non-Member Sep. 3 (Sat) - Jan. 1 (Sun) Non-Res/Non-Member Sep. 3 (Sat) - Dec. 18 (Sun) Rifle*: Elderly/Member Oct. 8 (Sat) Jan. 1 (Sun) Resident/Non-Member Oct. 15 (Sat) - Nov. 27 (Sun) Non-Res/Non-Member Oct. 15 (Sat) - Nov. 27 (Sun) No. of permits available: Elderly unlimited Member unlimited Affiliated member 50 Resident/Non member 50 Non-member/non-resident 900 400 Mule 200 Whitetail Restrictions: For All Hunters 4 point minimum on one side

16. Season Recommendation: 2023 Deer Season Recommendation: 2023 Deer Season Dates: Archery: Elderly/Member Aug. 19- Dec. 31 Resident/Non-Member Sep. 2- Dec. 31 Non-Res/Non-Member Sep. 2- Dec. 17 Rifle*: Elderly/Member Oct. 7- Dec. 31 Resident/Non-Member Oct. 14- Nov. 26 Non-Res/Non-Member Oct. 14-Nov. 26 No. of permits available: Elderly unlimited Member unlimited Affiliated member 50 Resident/Non member 50 non-member/non-resident 400 (250 Mule; 150 White tail) Restrictions: There will be 100 doe tags for the 2023 hunting season For All Hunters 4X4 point minimum 1 side

17. 2022 Antelope Season Dates 2022 Antelope Season Dates Archery: Elderly/Member Aug 6 (Sat) Oct. 16 (Sun) Resident/Non-Mem Aug 20 (Sat) Oct. 2 (Sun) Non.Mem/Non-Res Aug 20 (Sat) Oct. 2 (Sun) Rifle: Elderly/Member Sept. 3 (Sat) Oct. 23 (Sun) Resident/Non-Member Sept. 10 (Sat) Oct. 16 (Sun) Non-Mem/Non-Res. Sept. 10 (Sat) Oct. 16 (Sun) Number of Permits: Elderly Members 50 Tribal Members/Spouse 50 Resident/Non-Mem and Non-Mem/Non-Res 175

18. Season Dates: 2023 Antelope Season Dates: 2023 Antelope Recommendations Recommendations Archery: Elderly/Member Aug 5 Oct. 15 Resident/Non-Mem Aug 19 Oct. 1 Non.Mem/Non-Res Aug 19 Oct. 1 Rifle: Elderly/Member Sept. 2 Oct. 22 Resident/Non-Member Sept. 9 Oct. 15 Non-Mem/Non-Res. Sept. 9 Oct. 15 Number of Permits: Elderly Members 50 Tribal Members/Spouse 50 Resident/Non-Mem and Non-Mem/Non-Res 225 (30 doe added for 2023)

19. 2022 Elk recommendations 2022 Elk recommendations Season Dates: Archery 09/03/22 1/1/23 Rifle 10/1/22 1/1/23 10 cows for districts 10 cows for members (raffle) 8 bulls for members 8 cows for non members (raffle) 8 bulls for non-member (auction/lottery) Restrictions/Regulations: All hunters will be supervised by SRST Game and Fish

20. 2023 Elk Season Recommendation 2023 Elk Season Recommendation Season Dates: Archery 09/02/23 12/31/23 Rifle 09/30/23 12/31/23 10 cows for districts 10 cows for members (raffle) 8 bulls for members 8 cows for non members (raffle) 8 bulls for non-member (auction/lottery) Restrictions/Regulations: All hunters will be supervised by SRST Game and Fish

21. Habitat management and enhancement will ensure the sustainability of game species on the Reservation- Giving back to the land Giving back to the land- - can we bring this back? can we bring this back?

22. Example Conservation Plot- MINIMIZE OVERGRAZING