2018 Evaluation of the Decoy-Only Hunting Unit: Lower
Oahe Waterfowl Hunting Access Area
Tim Withers
Program Assistant, Waterfowl Access South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Division of Wildlife Serving People, Managing Wildlife
T. Withers 2019. 2018 Evaluation of the Decoy-Only Hunting Unit in the Lower Oahe
Waterfowl Hunting Access Area. .
Pierre, SD: South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks.
The decoy-only waterfowl unit is a separate unit within the Lower-Oahe Waterfowl
Hunting Access Area where hunters are required to register before hunting. This
process provides a means for evaluating the use, harvest, and opinions towards this
special unit. This evaluation substitutes for an assessment of the entire Lower Oahe
Waterfowl Hunting Access Area. When hunting is good at the decoy-only unit, it is
most likely good everywhere else in the area, as geese are present in high numbers.
This report evaluates the 2018 decoy-only waterfowl unit and compares the findings
with previous years.
KEY WORDS: Waterfowl; Lower Oahe; Decoy-Only
Published by: SD GAME, FISH, AND PARKS PIERRE, SD
For Additional Copies: SD GAME, FISH, AND PARKS Human Dimensions 523 E. Capitol Ave Pierre, SD 57501
May 2019
Visit our homepage at: http://gfp.sd.gov/
i
Executive Summary
Due to the low number of waterfowl that migrated into the area during the season, 2018 saw a decrease of groups (157) and hunters (426) using the Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit in the Lower Oahe Waterfowl Hunting Access Area.
An estimated total of 386 waterfowl were harvested at the Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit, which was a decrease from 2,259 harvested in 2017.
On average, hunters were moderately satisfied with their hunting experience in 2018. The majority of hunting groups (75%) were very satisfied, 24% were neutral, and less than 1% were dissatisfied.
Groups who hunted in February (02/01 to 02/17) had the highest average harvest per group with approximately 3.3 birds per group. The average number of reported harvest per group for the remainder of the season was 1.1 birds per group. For all times that the registration trailer was operated, the average number of reported harvest per group was 1.9 birds for the 2018-19 season.
ii
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ……………….…………………………………………………………………….. i
List of Figures …………………………………………………………………………………………….ii
List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………………………………. ii
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Methods …………………………………………………………………………………………………..1
Results …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
Hunter Participation ……………………………………………………………………………. 2
Hunter Harvest…..……………………………………………………………………….……... 2
Hunter Satisfaction……………….…………………………………………………….…….… 3
Field Use………………………………………………… …………………………………..…. 4
Use Trends ..……………………………………………………………………………..….…. 5
Aerial Waterfowl Summary …….…………………………………………………………… 6
User Residency………………..……………………………………………………………… 6
Special Events……………….…………………………………………………………………..7
Decoy Loaner Trailers………………………………………………………………………… 7
List of Figures
Figure 1: Use of Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit (2014 - 2018) ………………………………………..2
Figure 2: Estimated Harvest In Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit (2014 - 2018)……………..…….……3
Figure 3: Hunter Satisfaction - Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit (2014 – 2018)……………….…….....3
Figure 4: Lower Oahe Waterfowl Access Area field map…………………………………………….5
Figure 5: Groups Registered to Hunt Within Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit by Day……...………….5
Figure 6: Decoy Loaner Trailers……………………………………………………..………………….8
Figure 7: Decoy Loaner Trailer Use…………………………………………………………..…..……8
List of Tables
Table 1: Field Use and Harvest Reported for 2018………………………………………………….. 4
Table 2: 2018-2019 Season Use………………………………………………………………………. 6
Table 3: 2018 Aerial Waterfowl Summary …………………………………………………………… 6
Table 4: Reported Residency of Users…………………………………………………………………7
1
2018 Evaluation of the Decoy-Only Hunting Unit: Lower
Oahe Waterfowl Hunting Access Area
Introduction
The Lower Oahe Waterfowl Hunting Access Area (LOWAA) is a package of varied
goose hunting opportunities designed to provide locations for quality goose hunting along the
Missouri River. The LOWAA resulted from the cooperative actions between the South Dakota
Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) and several landowners. In return for this new
public access for waterfowl hunting, the Legislature authorized the GFP Commission to issue up
to 2,000 new, restricted nonresident waterfowl licenses. The money from the sale of these
licenses was used to pay for the LOWAA.
Within the LOWAA, there is a Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit, where hunters are required to
register before hunting. This process provides an efficient and inexpensive method for
evaluating the use, harvest, and satisfaction of users in this unit. This evaluation of the unit
substitutes for an evaluation of the entire LOWAA; when hunting is good at the Decoy-Only
Waterfowl Unit; it is likely good elsewhere in the area. This report evaluates the 2018 Decoy-
Only Waterfowl Unit and compares the results to previous years (1998 to 2017). Information on
the LOWAA is included on pages 77-81 of the 2018 Public Hunting Atlas.
Methods
The registration trailer was open for 84 days from November 25, 2018 to February 17,
2019, and was closed for Christmas Day on December 25, 2018.
Forty-eight fields were available to hunt with one group registered per field, per day.
Daily registration was required to hunt and included a random drawing conducted one hour
before sunrise each morning to determine the order in which hunting groups would choose a
field. Group size was limited to no more than six hunters per group. Each hunting group was
required to designate a group leader to provide registration information regarding the other
2
hunters in their group. Registration information included the number of people in the hunting
group (including the group leader), name, address, and hunting license number of designated
group leader, along with hunting license number, and residency of each hunter in the group.
The group leader was also required to complete and return the harvest report card for their
group. The daily limit for Canada geese was four for the 2018 hunting season.
Results
Hunter Participation
Sixty-five percent of registered groups returned their harvest report cards. In all, 157
groups composed of 426 hunters took advantage of this decoy-only hunting opportunity (Figure
1). The most frequent group size was two hunters, and the average group size consisted of
three hunters.
Figure1: Use of Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit (2014-2018).
Hunter Harvest
An estimated total of 386 waterfowl were harvested in 2018 (Figure 2). Thirty-four
percent of the groups reported harvesting one or more Canada goose in 2018 and the average
number of estimated harvested per group and per hunter was 2.45 and .9, respectively.
3
Figure 2: Estimated Waterfowl harvest (2014-2018).
Hunter Satisfaction
Each year, the target group satisfaction is 80% or greater, or less than 10% of groups
dissatisfied (Figure 3). During the 2018 season, hunting groups were moderately satisfied with their
hunting experience (75%) with 69% of those being very satisfied. Less than 1% of groups were
dissatisfied and the remaining 24% were neutral.
Figure 3: Hunter Satisfaction for the Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit (2014-2018).
4
Field Use
Eighteen of the available 48 fields were hunted in 2018 (Figure 4). Field 29 received the
highest use (14.6%) followed by fields 69 (12.7%), 78 (12.7%), 87 (10.8%), and 16 (7%) (Table
1). The highest reported total harvest were in fields 30 (57), 78 (57), 82 (47), 29 (43), and 69
(28). These fields represented over 75% of the total reported harvest.
Table 1: Field use and reported harvest for 2018.
*denotes fields with a pit
Field No. # Times Hunted % of use Total Harvest
29* 23 14.6 43
69* 20 12.7 28
78* 20 12.7 57
87* 17 10.8 17
16* 11 7.0 9
38* 11 7.0 11
82* 11 7.0 47
30 8 5.0 57
24 7 4.5 9
43* 6 3.8 5
28* 4 2.5 1
50* 4 2.5 0
14 3 2.0 0
23 3 2.0 1
25 3 2.0 4
26 3 2.0 4
83 2 1.3 0
75 1 0.6 0
157 100 293
5
Figure 4: Lower Oahe Waterfowl Access Area field map. South Dakota 2018 Hunting Atlas: Including Lower Oahe Waterfowl Access Area. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks: Pierre, SD
Use Trends
The Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit was open for 84 days during the 2018 season, 31% of
which were weekends or holidays. Saturdays had the highest frequency of registered hunting
groups (32%), followed by Sundays (24%), and Fridays (17%) (Figure 5). Tuesdays and
holidays had the fewest registered hunting groups (3%).
Figure 5: Percentage of groups registered to hunt within Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit by day and holiday.
6
The operation of the Decoy-Only Waterfowl Unit was divided into six approximately
equal lengths time periods (Table 2). In 2018, less than 1% of registered groups hunted in
November, 17% of registered groups hunted in December, 52% of registered groups hunted in
January, and 30% of registered groups hunted in February. The highest waterfowl harvest rates
occurred during February (02/01 to 02/17) with 3.3 birds per group. 90% of the reported harvest
occurred during the months of January and February. The remaining 10% of the reported
harvest of geese and ducks occurred in November and December (Table 2).
Table 2: Hunt period breakdown to approximate time periods during trailer operation. * Denotes trailer and field closures December 25, 2018
Aerial Waterfowl Summary
Four aerial waterfowl surveys were flown that included Lower Oahe, Pierre area, and
Lake Sharpe (Table 3).
Table 3: Aerial Waterfowl Flight Summary * Denotes Lower Oahe flight results only
User Residency
Groups leaders were asked to indicate their place of residence along with all hunters in
their party when registering (Table 4). Hunting groups indicating residency in Pierre or Fort
Pierre were considered to be local hunters in this analysis. The majority of registered hunters
(69%) indicated non-local residency, of which 29 were from out of state.
% of
# Daily # Daily Total Harvest
Nov. 25-30 1 5 6 2 0.3 0 0.0 0.0% 0.0
Dec. 01-15 5 10 15 7 0.5 4 0.3 1.4% 0.6
Dec. 16-31* 5 10 15 20 1.3 26 1.7 8.9% 1.3
Jan. 01-15 5 10 15 53 3.5 66 4.4 22.5% 1.2
Jan. 16-31 4 12 16 28 1.8 43 2.7 14.7% 1.5
Feb. 01-17 6 11 17 47 2.8 154 9.1 52.6% 3.3
Total/Avg. 26 58 84 157 1.9 293 3.5 1.9
2018-2019 Season Use
Time
Period
Weekend
& HolidaysWeekdays Total
Groups Harvest Harvest/
Group
December 5, 2018 14,855 14,000 118,950
December 17, 2018 12,590 30,000 152,923
January 3, 2019 * 5,245 No observations 10,300
January 10, 2019 28,610 No observations 15,633
2018-2019 Lower Oahe, Pierre area, Lake Sharpe Aerial Waterfowl Summary
Flight Date Canada Geese Snow/Blue Geese Ducks
7
Table 4: All user reported residency when registering in LOWAA
Special Events
Two special events were held during the 2018-2019 season to help recruit new hunters
to waterfowl hunting. A Beginner’s Hunt took place on January 5th and 6th and eight
participants utilized two LOWAA fields, harvesting nine birds over the two days. The annual
Youth Goose Hunt held on January 11th and 12th did not utilize any of the registration-only
fields, however one group utilized a LOWAA field where the nine participants were able to
harvest fourteen birds over the two days.
Decoy Loaner Trailers
In 2013, GFP and several sponsors1 purchased an enclosed trailer and contents to make
available to the public for loan when hunting in the LOWAA. Contents included five dozen full
body decoys, two dozen shell decoys, four layout blinds, two goose flags, a goose call, and
City/Town # City/Town #
Sioux Falls 67 Dell Rapids 2
Rapid City 45 Ethan 2
Mitchell 31 Lennox 2
Black Hawk 13 Letcher 2
Madison 12 Mina 2
Huron 9 Redfield 2
Aberdeen 8 Stickney 2
Beresford 8 Tripp 2
Miller 8 Willow Lake 2
Brookings 6 Worthing 2
Parker 6 Box Elder 1
Watertown 6 Faulkton 1
Brandon 4 Spearfish 1
Harrisburg 3 Tuthill 1
Hudson 3 Twin Brooks 1
Wessington Volga 1
Springs Wessington 1
Britton 2 Wolsey 1
Burke 2 Out of State 29
Total Local: 133 (31%)
Total Non-Local: 293 (69%)
Pierre 133
3
8
hearing and eye protection. An additional trailer and contents were purchased in 2014 and, a
third trailer was added in 2017 making three trailers available for use (Figure 6).
The three loaner trailers were reserved for use 21% of the available days with the
highest use occurring in January and February (Figure 7). Hunters can reserve these trailers at
no cost by signing up through the Lower Oahe Waterfowl Hunting page on the SDGFP website.
Figure 6: Three decoy loaner trailers were equipped and loaned out during the 2018 season.
Figure 7: Percentage of use of three decoy loaner trailers at the LOWAA.
Sponsors who helped with this project include: HuntSAFE, TIPS, DOA Decoys, Big Foot Decoys, Cabela’s, Banded, Delta Waterfowl-Fowled Up Chapter, Pheasants Forever, Runnings, and M&R Signs, High Plains Wildlife Association, Dakota Decoy Co, Chase Auto & RV, Scheels.
