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South Dakota Chapter

The Wildlife Society

A Prairie Voice

What’s Inside...

President’s Message

SDTWS and CMPS Joint Annual Meeting Info

NEW….Online registration & membership dues

Executive Board Candidate Biographies

Although most of the state has been experiencing a long, cold

winter, a few nights ago, while kenneling up my dog, I heard the drip-

ping of snow melting off my roof and down the gutter, and I immedi-

ately thought, it’s the January Thaw! Each year, when I am reminded

of this January Thaw, I think back to Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Al-

manac and the January Thaw. “Each year, after the midwinter bliz-

zards, there comes a night of thaw when the tinkle of dripping water

is heard on the land. It brings strange stirrings, not only to creatures

abed for the night, but to some who have been asleep for the winter”.

With the January thaw upon us, at

least for now, it is a reminder that we are

less than one month away from the

SDTWS Annual Meeting! I am happy to

report that the SDTWS Board has been

working very hard to put together another

great meeting, which will be held collaboratively with the Central

Mountains and Plains Section Annual Meeting. President-Elect, Josh

Stafford is putting the finishing touches on what looks to be a great

agenda, with several presentations that speak to our meeting theme

of “Precision Conservation: The Interface of Wildlife, Agriculture,

and People”. This year’s keynote speaker will feature South Dakota

State University President, Barry Dunn. A biography of SDSU’s 20th

president can be found at: https://www.sdstate.edu/office-

president/about-president-dunn

A Message From the President

Nathan Baker

This year’s annual meeting will again feature

a live auction, so if you have items that you would

like to donate, please remember to bring them

along. We will also have a gun to raffle off, as well

as the second year of our photo contest! If you

have some photos that you would like to share,

please consider entering them into the photo con-

test. As a side note, the photo that was selected last year has been

made into a canvas print and will be auctioned off at this year’s meet-

ing.

As this year we are hosting a joint meeting with CMPS, there will

be a SDTWS annual business meeting, as well as a CMPS annual busi-

ness meeting, and I encourage everyone to attend both of these busi-

ness meetings. During the SDTWS business meeting, we will give com-

mittee reports, so committee chairs, please be prepared to give an up-

date to our membership during the annual meeting. We will also be

electing a new president-elect, board member, and secretary/

treasurer. Candidates for these offices and their biographies can be

found later in the newsletter.

Finally, registration is now open for the annual meeting, and can

be completed online through our website at: http://wildlife.org/south

-dakota-chapter/south-dakota-chapter-annual-meeting/. We will also

be registering attendees during the meeting as well.

Hope to see everyone at the Annual Meeting!

Nathan Baker

President – South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society

2017 SDTWS and CMPS

Joint Annual Meeting

Cedar Shore Resort, Oacoma, SD

February 27th – March 1st, 2017.

Call (605) 734-6376 to make your reservation.

“PRECISION CONSERVATION: THE INTERFACE

OF WILDLIFE, AGRICULTURE, AND PEOPLE”.

Joint

Meeting

NEW THIS YEAR

ONLINE REGISTRATION

click HERE

(credit cards accepted).

Please note: The link for online registration works best if

you keep both the SDTWS webpage & the Paypal website up

at the same time, and toggle back and forth until you get eve-

ry option that you want in your “cart” in paypal. If you have

questions please contact Julie DeJong.

Cedar Shore Resort and Convention Center

Oacoma, South Dakota

27 February - 1 March, 2017

MONDAY, 27 FEBRUARY

11:00 1:00 Registration and Lunch

1:00 1:15 Welcome and Introductions

Special Session: Precision Conservation: The Interface of Wildlife, Agriculture, and People

1:15 2:00 Precision Ag Business Planning: A New Approach to Conservation Delivery

Rachel Bush, North Dakota State Coordinator, Pheasants Forever, Inc.

2:00 2:30 Ranching for Conservation: Sustaining Biodiversity, Livelihoods, & Communities Dusty

Downey, Audubon Rockies

2:30 3:00 Bryan Jorgensen - TBD

3:00 3:15 BREAK

3:15 4:00 A First Look at the Distribution, Status, and Future Role of South Dakota’s Native

Grasslands and Woodlands’

Pete Bauman, Range Extension Specialist, South Dakota State University Extension

4:00 5:00 What Nature is Worth: An Anthropological Inquiry.

Fredrick Errington, Trinity College and Deborah Gwertz, Amherst University

5:00 5:30 Social

5:30 Supper

6:30 Fundraising Auction

8:00 10:00 Social

TUESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY

8:00 8:30 Committee meetings (This is scheduled time to allow for standing and special committees to

meet if desired.)

8:30 10:00 Central Mountains and Plains Business Meeting

10:00 10:15 Break (Rolls and Coffee)

10:15 12:00 Annual Chapter Business Meeting

12:00 1:00 Luncheon

1:00 1:20 Highlights from the second South Dakota Breeding Bird Atlas Eileen Dowd Stukel and

Nancy Drilling

1:20 1:40 Breeding biology of northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadicus) in northwestern South

Dakota Nancy Drilling and Charlie Miller

1:40 2:00 Working lands habitat on saline soils: new programs and partnerships on marginal acres

Sam Fryman, Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist, Pheasants Forever

2:00 2:20 Using technology to guide deer management decisions in South Dakota Andy Lindbloom

2:20 2:50 Ungulate Migrations in Wyoming: Incorporating New Science into Wildlife Policy and

Management Bob Lanka, CMPS Representative to Council, The Wildlife Society, and

Statewide Wildlife and Habitat Management Supervisor, Wyoming Game &Fish

3:00 3:20 BREAK

Session One: Contributed Papers

3:20 3:40 Prevalence of Yersinia pestis from small mammal fleas in Lower Brule, SD: comparisons

to host blood using lateral flow tests for the presence of F1 antibodies Lauren P. Maestas

and Hugh B. Britten

3:40 4:00 Characteristics of successful puma kill sites of elk in the Black Hills, South Dakota Chad P.

Lehman, Wildlife Biologist, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Christopher T. Rota, Mark A.

Rumble, and Joshua J. Millspaugh

4:00 4:30 Decoding the historical echos and the invisible metrics of the fall flights of wild ducks Ken-

neth F. Higgins

5:00 6:00 Social

6:00 7:00 Supper

7:00 8:00 Keynote Speaker – “Agriculture and its Externalities: Irony and Paradox.”

Dr. Barry Dunn – President of South Dakota State University.

8:00 8:30 Award Presentations

WEDNESDAY, 2 MARCH

Session Two: Contributed Papers

8:00 8:20 Distribution and Habitat Selection of Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) in the Northern Great

Plains Emily L. Mitchell, Tammy L. Wilson, Donelle Schwalm, and Jonathan A. Jenks

8:20 8:40 The Hazards of Disease: Strain-Specific Consequences of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae

Bighorn Sheep Epidemics Brandi L. Felts, Daniel P. Walsh, E. Frances Cassirer, Thomas E.

Besser, and Jonathan A. Jenks

8:40 9:00 Brood rearing resource selection of Greater Sage-Grouse on the eastern fringe of their

range Lindsey Bischoff, Jonathan Jenks, Andrew Gregory, Travis Runia

9:00 9:20 Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticides on Physiology and Reproductive Characteristics of

Captive Adult Female and Fawn White-Tailed Deer Elise Hughes Berheim, Jonathan A.

Jenks, Jonathan G. Lundgren, Eric S. Michel, and William F. Jensen

9:20 9:40 Evaluation of Gamebird Production in Roundup© Ready Alfalfa used for Seedbed Prepa-

ration during Perennial Grassland Conversion on State Game Production Areas in East-

ern South Dakota Neal Martorelli and Joshua Stafford

9:40 10:00 BREAK

10:00 10:20

10:20 10:40

10:40 11:00

11:00 11:20

11:20 11:40

11:40 12:00 Present Student and Open Presentation Awards

Gun Raffle Drawing

Closing Comments and Adjourn Meeting

Contributed Posters:

Bridging Wildlife Nutrition and Disease: Serochemical Evidence of Pneumonia Progression and Recov-

ery in Bighorn Sheep Spencer A. Carstens, Brandi L. Felts, David Knudsen, E. Frances Cassirer, Daniel P.

Walsh, Thomas E. Besser, and Jonathan A. Jenks

THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY

Founded in 1937 as The Society of Wildlife Specialists, The Wildlife Society has

evolved into an international nonprofit organization of professional wildlife ecologists

and managers. Members number over 10,000 from 40 different countries, and include

administrators, biologists, conservation officers, educators, managers and researchers.

The objectives of TWS are to:

1. Promote sound stewardship of wildlife resources and the environments upon which

wildlife and humans depend;

2. Undertake an active role in preventing human-induced environmental degradation;

3. Increase awareness and appreciation of wildlife values; and

4. To seek the highest standards in all activities of the wildlife profession.

SOUTH DAKOTA CHAPTER OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY

The South Dakota Chapter of TWS (SDTWS) was initiated on February 19, 1966 with

56 charter members. SDTWS is affiliated with the Central Mountains and Plains Sec-

tion, one of eight subdivisions of TWS. The full membership of SDTWS meets annu-

ally in the spring to exchange scientific information through presented papers, debate

current issues in wildlife management and land use, and conduct chapter business. The

chapter’s Executive Board of Directors, consisting of President, Past-President, Presi-

dent-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, and two standing board members meet at least 4 times

each year to discuss issues that don not require full chapter approval. The chapter also

communicates with its members through a newsletter, The Prairie Voice, published within 30 days of Execu-

tive Board meetings. SDTWS has a current membership of 171 people interested in the welfare of South Da-

kota wildlife.

South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society

2017 Executive Board Elections

Information on candidates for President Elect, Secretary/Treasurer, and

Executive Board Member is presented below. If you are not able to at-

tend the 2017 SDTWS annual meeting at the Cedar Shores Resort, an ab-

sentee ballot is included in this edition of A Prairie Voice.

Candidate for President Elect—Alex Solem

Personal Data: I was born in Worthington, MN and currently reside in Huron, SD

with my wife and 2 year old son. I thoroughly enjoy training and hunting with my

4 year old yellow lab, Miley, and introducing my son to the outdoors any way

possible.

Education: I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from

South Dakota State University in 2010. I earned my Master’s Degree from South

Dakota State University in 2013. My Master’s degree project was “Development

of sustainable harvest strategies for cellulosic-based biofuels: harvest effects on

game bird production.”

Employment: I am currently an Upland Game Resource Biologist with the South

Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. My primary responsibilities in-

clude monitoring, researching, and evaluating populations of upland game species

in South Dakota. My research has focused on the impacts of landuse changes and

large scale habitat characteristics on various populations of upland game species.

I have investigated the impact of spent lead shot on ring-necked pheasants and

evaluated various methods of habitat management for the benefit of pheasants.

Over my career, I have gained experience working with GIS, private landowners,

big game species, and migratory birds.

Memberships and Affiliations: Delta Waterfowl Board Member (Puddle Jumpers

Chapter), Beadle County Sportsmen’s Club, Pheasants Forever Board Member

(Heartland Chapter), SD Chapter of the Wildlife Society (Board Member), SD

Grasslands Coalition, and Ducks Unlimited.

Candidate for Secretary/Treasurer — Jacquie Ermer

Personal Info: I’m originally from Albany, MN and grew up on a dairy farm with

3 brothers and a sister. I have lived in Webster area with my husband for about

12 years. We are blessed with 2 young kids, a yellow lab, and a little property to

manage for wildlife.

Education: I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Moorhead State Uni-

versity in 1996 and a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Sciences from South Dakota

State University in 2000. My Master’s degree project focused on using fecal line

transects to determine population trends in coyote and fox.

Employment: I am currently a Regional Terrestrial Resources Supervisor with

the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. My primary responsi-

bilities include overseeing the wildlife and habitat programs in the northeast re-

gion, implementing management plans, and developing season recommendations.

Memberships and Affiliations: SD Chapter of the Wildlife Society, The Wildlife

Society, and a family membership with Pheasants Forever and Rocky Mountain

Elk Foundation. I also serve as Promoter on Altar Society at my local church.

Candidate for Executive Board —Brian Pauly

Personal Data: I was born in Sauk Centre, MN, and currently reside in Woon-

socket, SD, with my wife and family. Family comes first of course, but I enjoy

spending as much time as I can hunting and fishing.

Education: I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources Management

from the University of Minnesota, Crookston in 2009. I earned my Master’s De-

gree from South Dakota State University in 2014, for the work I did studying

ring-necked pheasant reproductive ecology in winter wheat fields in Presho, SD.

Employment: I am currently a Private Lands Biologist with the South Dakota

Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. My primary responsibilities are to admin-

ister the Wildlife Partners Program to private landowners in South Dakota. I as-

sist private landowners with habitat management guidance and enrollment in var-

ious cost-share programs and opportunities.

Memberships and Affiliations: Delta Waterfowl member, Ducks Unlimited mem-

ber, Pheasants Forever member, 4-H Shooting Sports coach, SD Chapter of the

Wildlife Society member, SD Grasslands Coalition member.

SDTWS Board Officer Ballot - 2017

President – Vote for one:

Alex Solem

_________________________________

Secretary/Treasurer – Vote for one:

Jacquie Ermer

_________________________________

Executive Board Member – Vote for one:

Brian Pauly

________________________________

If you are unable to attend the South Dakota Chapter of The

Wildlife Society Meeting, please complete this absentee ballot and

return it by February 20th, 2017 to:

Nathan Baker, SDGFP,

20641 SD Hwy 1806,

Fort Pierre, SD 57532

2017 PHOTO CONTEST

Keep those camera’s handy

this year. The Executive

committee has once again de-

cided to host a photo contest for the 2017

annual meeting. We need your photos….and

they can be submitted anytime during the

year.

Entry fee: $5 per photo—no limit on number

of entries

Size: 8x10 attached to 10x12 black

cardboard / foam board mat

Photos can be submitted prior to the meeting to any board

member or can be brought to the annual meeting

Winner will be chosen by popular vote at 2017 Annual Meeting &

receive 50% of the entry fees.

The winning photo will be displayed on the SDTWS website and

will be made into a canvas to be auctioned off at 2018 annual

meeting.

Executive Board Meeting

November 8th, 2016

Board Members Present:

President: Nathan Baker, Past President; John Kanta, President elect: Josh Stafford, Secretary/Treasurer: Julie DeJong, Board members: Alex Solem (via phone) and Ben Lardy

Secretary/Treasurer’s Report

Approval of minutes from last executive board meeting (11/08/16)

Approval of treasurers report, Motion to approve: Josh Stafford, Sec-ond: Alex Solem, All in favor

Old Business

2017 Annual Meeting - Theme : “PRECISION CONSERVATION: THE INTERFACE OF WILDLIFE, AGRICULTURE, AND PEOPLE”

Keynote Speaker - Barry Dunn. Discussion held concerning specific arrangements for speaker travel and timing

Meeting Registration Fees—Most the same as 2016 Meeting –since coinciding with CMPS. Reducing General 1 day and Student/Retiree to $35.00. Leftover coolers priced at $20 on registration form. Meals the same price for better selections

Final Review of Annual Meeting Checklist—Board meeting set for Feb-ruary 26th at 7 pm . Reserve room for meeting - Baker

Assignments—Moderators – Solem/Stafford. Registration, set up si-lent auction and photo contest – DeJong. Set up on-line registration with new form - DeJong. Compile and print agendas – Stafford. Print registration and silent auction forms – Baker. Reserve rooms for male and female undergrads - Baker. Reserve room for speaker Bryan Jorgensen – Stafford/Baker. Print raffle tickets – Boyd Schultz. Presentation Evaluations – Baker/Stafford. Lanyards and nametags, raffle bucket – Solem. Banners – Kanta. Cash box - DeJong

SDTWS Board Member Candidates Needed

President-Elect – one nominee so far: Alex Solem

Board Member – one nominee so far: Brian Pauly

Secretary/Treasurer – one nominee so far: Jacquie Ermer

New Business

Review Draft Annual Meeting Agenda—Some revisions yet to be made for CMPS and additional speakers

Meet with Kathi at Cedar Shore Resort to make final arrangements for Annual Meeting—Decided on meals and snacks

Review Award Nominations

Wildlife Professional of the Year (2 candidates). Motion to approve: Stafford. Second: Kanta. All in favor

Citizens Wildlife Award (2 candidates). Motion to approve: Lardy. Second: Stafford. All in favor

M.S. Wildlife Student Scholarship (1 candidate). Motion to approve: Kanta. Second: DeJong

Ph.D. Wildlife Student Scholarship—No nominations for this award. Will send out an additional request

TWS Student Chapter Board Membership Dues. Support from State Chapters to pay for student officer dues. Board tabled for now until more information is gathered concerning possible monetary amount and interest

Mountain Lions in SD Film Project. Request from Clark DeHart for a letter of support for project. Board decided not to send a letter of support as the project does not meet the SDTWS mission

Treasurer’s Report for annual meeting. Discussed time frame and de tail required by by-laws, and switching to a calendar year report.

Wifi Hotspot (Purchase). Would be used for credit card registration pay ments at Annual Meeting since wi-fi was overloaded at Cedar Shores during registration. Stafford will check into pricing and options

January SDTWS Newsletter. Annual Meeting Information. Board Mem ber Candidate Bios. Draft Agenda. Other items?

Meeting adjourned 3:18 pm

Motion to adjourn: Stafford. Second: Kanta. All in favor

All current and new TWS members will soon have online access to

the latest wildlife science published in The Journal of Wildlife Management, Wildlife Monographs ,and the Wildlife Society Bulle-tin. Click here to check it out

The Wildlife Society News

Saving monarchs by identifying where they’re born

Popular Articles on the TWS website

For the latest TWS News Center

http://wildlife.org/learn/news-center/

Check it out...

SDTWS website.. Click Here

SDTWS is on Facebook!

Click here to join the group! Facebook is a great way to share infor-

mation, post events, to stimulate discussions on environmental issues or

other topics of interest.

SDTWS Membership : Join or Renew online… Click Here

Contact Chuck Pyle at [email protected] if you have events, pictures, or

topics you would like posted to the site.

House bill reintroduced to permanently reauthorize LWCF

Bumble bee to receive ESA listing

President Nathan Baker

SD Game, Fish & Parks

20641 SD Hwy 1806

Fort Pierre, SD 57532

(605) 223-7709

Past-President John Kanta

SD Game, Fish & Parks

4130 Adventure Trail

Rapid City, SD 57702

(605) 394-2391

President-Elect Josh Stafford

SDSU

NPB138 Box 2140B

Brookings, SD 57007

(605) 688-5759

Secretary-Treasurer Julie DeJong

304 North Cherry Street

Lennox, SD 57039

(605) 214-1779

Board Member Ben Lardy

Pheasants Forever

43899 133rd St

Webster, SD 57274

(605) 461-8249

Board Member Alex Solem

SD Game, Fish & Parks

895 3rd Street SW

Huron, SD 57350

(605) 353-7319

SDTWS Executive Board 2015

Northern Great Plains Working Group Representative: Rocco Murano, 353-7185

The South Dakota Chapter TWS Objectives are:

To develop and promote sound stewardship of wildlife resources and of the environment upon which

wildlife and humans depend.

To undertake an active role in preventing human-induced environmental degradation.

To increase awareness and appreciation of wildlife values.

To seek the highest standards in all activities of the wildlife profession.

To aid in the achievement of these objectives,

the South Dakota Chapter proposes to:

Provide opportunities for better liaison among individual members, their Section, and The Society.

Evaluate and respond to the principles involved in proposed or enacted societal actions that could affect

wildlife or its habitats.

Recognize and commend outstanding professional achievements in maintenance, restoration and en-

hancement of habitats for wildlife.

Focus the aims and objectives of The Society and the Central Mountains and Plains Section upon profes-

sional wildlife needs, problems, and events in local situations.

Encourage communication between members and nonmembers to facilitate understanding and effec-

tiveness of research and management of wildlife resources. Evaluate the principles involved in proposed or enacted public or private actions that could affect wildlife and to make these evaluations known to the public and public officials.

SDTWS—Standing Committee Chairs *

Audit – Mark Norton, 773-3096

Awards - Nathan Baker 223-7709

Conservation Review - Paul Coughlin, 773-4194

Education & Information - Laura Hubers, 947-4521

Membership – Chuck Pyle, 353-5753

Program – Nathan Baker 223-7709

Nominations and Elections – Nathan Baker 223-7709

Resolutions & Public Statements – Vacant

SDTWS - Special Committee Chairs *

Arrangements – Mark Norton, 773-3096 & Tom Kirschenmann, 352-1874

Certification – Troy Grovenburg, 688-5064

Chapter History - Corey Huxoll, 773-4195

Energy - K C Jensen, 688-4781 & Silka Kempema, 773-2742

Fee Hunting & Ownership of Wildlife - Andy Lindbloom, 223-7709

Fund Raising – VACANT

Grassland Issues - Lee Erickson, 347-4952

Missouri River Issues – Nathan Baker, 223-7709

Newsletter – Jennifer Briggs, 256-2974

Website - Charlene “Charlie” Bessken, 222-9445

Public Lands -, Dennis Mann, 939-8156, Eddie Childers, 433-5263

Tribal Fish & Wildlife - Mike Gutzmer, 402-910-3533

Wetlands – Randy Meidinger, 380-0380

Wildlife Diseases - Steve Griffin, 394-6786

Wildlife Diversity - Eileen Stukel, 773-4229, Silka Kempema, 773-2742

Workshop – Travis Runia, 353-8477 & Casey Heimerl, 773-4345

*Please see the Committees webpage at SDTWS to find the list of

Committee members and email contact information.

SOUTH DAKOTA CHAPTER OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY

Application for Membership Renewal or click Here for Online Application

Name _______________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________ State _____________ Zip ___________

Telephone (indicate home or work) ________________________________________________

E-mail Address (for newsletter delivery) ____________________________________________

Please Note:

SDTWS’s newsletter, A Prairie Voice, is all-electronic. Therefore, an e-mail address must be provided above in order to receive it (paper copies will be provided only to individuals who do hot have a computer,internet access, or an email address).

Please Check One: _____ New Member* _____ 2017 Dues Renewal

* If you did not pay your dues in 2016, you will be considered a new member as per the SDTWS Bylaws.

Employer ____________________________________________________________________

Sponsor’s Name ______________________________________________________________

Send the completed application/renewal form and a check for $10.00 (regular), $6.00 (student) to:

Julie DeJong

304 North Cherry Street

Lennox, SD 57039

(605) 214-1779

Regular Dues: $10.00

Student Dues: $6.00

Life Membership dues are prorated by age as follows:

Age 20 to 35: 25 x annual dues ($10 x 25 = $250)

Age 36 to 45: 20 x annual dues ($10 x 20 = $200)

Age 46 to 65: 17.5 x annual dues ($10 x 17.5 = $175)

Age 66 to 75: 12.5 x annual dues ($10 x 12.5 = $125)

Age 76 and over: Free

For more information on becoming a life member, contact Chuck Pyle (605) 353-5753.