West River's July Second Sunday Gathering

"There's gold in them hills!" This rallying cry brought thousands to the Black Hills to try their luck at panning for gold. If you have always wanted to catch gold fever, now's your chance. Join the Outdoor Women of South Dakota on Sunday, July 8th at the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center in Custer State Park for a 1:00 PM Gold Panning Demonstration. Participants will learn about the history of the Black Hills gold rush of the 1870's while trying their luck at finding some "yellow ore" in a nearby creek. Come prepared to get your feet wet and to have fun panning for gold. The Peter Norbeck Visitor Center is located on Highway 16A. There is no cost to participate, but a park entrance license is required. We hope to see you there.

For more information, contact Becky Graff at 255-4515.
 

Waterbird in Bridal Dress
Mark Wetmore & Jeanette Williams

Wood ducks are among our most beautiful waterfowl. According to the literature, the species’ scientific name, Aix sponsa, means "waterbird in bridal dress."
They depend greatly on artificial nest boxes to maintain their population.
In the late 1800s and the first few decades of the 20th century, their numbers declined tremendously due to unlimited hunting and habitat loss. Like most hole-nesting birds, their competition for nest sites is agonizingly difficult as they compete with aggressive, expanding populations of non-native species within shrinking habitats.
Unregulated hunting was generally stopped by 1920 and in the ‘30s the use of artificial nest boxes began. Now the population of wood ducks has   more

(Webmaster's note: The Wood duck article was submitted several months ago. The article was not posted due to problems with the pictures. Sorry about the delay Jeanette.)

May Second Sunday Gathering—West River
Linda Harris

The monthly event was held at Bear Butte State Park on May 20. We opted for the third Sunday instead of the second to take advantage of the open house weekend at all state parks. We hiked the Summit Trail to the peak of Bear Butte.

The morning in Rapid City started with a little fog, but the sun showed promise. However, as we started driving toward Sturgis, the fog became thicker. By the time we reached the park entrance, the butte was totally obscured. Being outdoor women who “go with the flow,” we set out on our hike. A nice variety wildflowers were in bloom. Botanist Stefanie Wacker identified many for us. We reached the summit after about an hour. The fog was still heavy, so we could not see the prairie below or the Black Hills to the south.

We had a nice visit and took a photo before heading back down. As we reached the trailhead, the fog was just beginning to lift. There were a few hikers on their way up and a Marmot along the trail. The next time any of us hikes the trail it will be like a new hike, assuming the wonderful views can be experienced.

The Bear Butte trail is the first leg in a series of hikes that will eventually take us the entire length of the Centennial Trail.

Celebrate National Recreation and Parks Month this July
SD GF&P

If you’ve never played disc golf, paddled a canoe or tossed a horseshoe, now is the time. This July, to celebrate National Recreation and Parks month, South Dakota state parks are encouraging park visitors to try out a new outdoor recreational activity, as well as participate in some time-honored favorites.

“State parks across South Dakota offer hiking, biking and swimming opportunities,” said Elizabeth Ruen, information specialist. “This July, we’re encouraging people to try out some of the great activities that the parks have to offer, from volleyball to horseshoes to canoeing.”

According to Ruen, some lesser-known recreational facilities in the state parks include outdoor basketball and sand volleyball courts, soccer and softball fields, horseshoe pits, trap shooting/rifle ranges, archery ranges, birding trails and off-road vehicle areas. These facilities vary by area and add a unique aspect to each park.

A sport gaining popularity in the state is disc golf, in which players compete to land a flying disc into a basket or hole. Eleven South Dakota state parks feature disc golf courses. On July 14, the Yankton Trilogy Disc Golf Tournament will take place at Lewis and Clark Recreation Area.

To help visitors experience the outdoors, many parks have equipment available for free checkout on a first-come, first-served basis, including disc golf discs, volleyballs, basketballs, horseshoes, croquet, ring toss, bocce ball, lawn toss, badminton or even fishing gear and tackle. Canoes, kayaks, GPS units and bicycles are available to rent a few parks for a small fee. Contact your local park to see what’s available.

For more information on the recreational activities in South Dakota state parks, visit www.SDparks.info,  call (605) 773-3391 or consult a copy of the Park Times. Online, you can also download or request a number of recreational publications, on activities such as disc golf, biking, canoeing, birding and more.

Many of the recreational opportunities, including several disc golf courses and the free equipment checkout, have been provided in collaboration with the S.D. Department of Health as they work to enhance health through physical activities.

The National Recreation and Park Association first designated July as Recreation and Parks month in 1985. For over 20 years, the national non-profit organization and its partners have used the month to promote healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives and the conservation of natural and cultural resources. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.


Mickelson Trail Adds Extension to Custer State Park
Recreational enthusiasts who utilize the George S. Mickelson Trail can now easily access Custer State Park. A new 3.2 mile, blacktop paved trail spur is now available for use. The spur runs along Highway 16 from the Mickelson Trail at Custer, S.D. to Stockade Lake in Custer State Park.

A dedication ride, ribbon cutting and presentation were held Saturday, June 2 to coincide with National Trail Day. Scheduled speakers at the event included Jeff Vonk, secretary for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks; Harold Stickney, mayor of the city of Custer; and Kitty Kinsman, President of the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

The trail spur was a cooperative project between the City of Custer the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, the Department of Transportation, and the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation. Many private donations helped make this project possible. The trail will become a part of the state park system, managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation.

For additional information on the dedication call the Black Hills Trails Office at (605) 584-3896 or the Custer Chamber of Commerce at (605) 673-2244. For additional information on the Mickelson Trail, visit www.MikelsonTrail.com  or contact the Black Hills Trails Office. For additional information on South Dakota State Parks visit, www.SDparks.info  or call (605) 773-3391.

Hunting License Applications
Archery deer, archery antelope and youth deer applications are now being accepted online. Licenses will be issued through the end of each season (no deadlines). Paper applications will be arriving in regional offices and agent locations next week.

Here is a link to the paper application posted online:
http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Applications/PDFs/ArcheryYouthDeer.pdf

Most Guns in Homes With Young Kids Not Stored Safely

Published: 06/05/07
TUESDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- At your child's next visit to the pediatrician, the usual checklist of questions might include a new one: Do you have a gun in the house?
Almost one-fourth of 3,754 parents with young children -- surveyed at 96 pediatric practices in 45 states, Puerto Rico and Canada -- keep a gun at home. Yet in 70 percent of those homes with guns, parents said they hadn't taken adequate precautions to safely store the weapons, researchers report.
Pediatricians have a key role in promoting gun safety in homes where there are children, according to one of the study's authors, Dr. Shari Barkin, chief of the division of general pediatrics at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.  more


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