At the risk of picking a fight I do not want…

To say I am unhappy would be a HUGE understatement.  I just completed a conversation with an official from the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks.  He was kind enough to return my call when I was requesting information on stocking pan fish in a dam we have built on our ranch.

So, why would I be unhappy??

He informed me that I must  have GF&P permission to place fish in my own stock dam on my own property.  They require an APPLICATION, which is subject to their approval.

Further, I was educated to the fact that it is not legal to transport a fish from my neighbor’s dam (also on private property) to my dam.

He also shared with me that, even though the dam was built at my expense on my own property, that the water is “public”.  Yes, I know that is the position of the state and federal government, but I am not buying it for one hot second.  There is not and will not be ANYTHING public about this water in my dam on my own ranch.  We have always welcomed people who wanted to fish on our property.  We will continue to do so, but they will understand this is PRIVATE water on PRIVATE property.

It took much effort on my part, but I remained civil.  I guess you have to give the guy some latitude for just doing his job.  He was courteous and obviously a nice person.  That didn’t/doesn’t change the premise of our conversation.  As pleasantly as I knew how, I explained to him that I will NOT file an application, and will NOT ask for their approval.  This is an example of extreme government over-reach and a clear violation of my private property rights.

I don’t mind providing free grazing and habitat for big game wildlife on my own property at my own expense.  I don’t even mind terribly that I have to pay for a license to harvest said big game that I have personally raised and cared for.   What I have trouble with is a GF&P that has grown to a powerful arm of government with very little oversight, and serious regulatory and prosecutorial over-reach.  Instead of partnering with the very people who raise the game the GF&P sells for profit, landowners are viewed as little more that subservient to the GF&P whims.  The utter lack of common sense and respect for private property rights is off the charts.

Again, I do not want to fight with GF&P, or the state/federal government.  There does come a time, however, when enough is enough.

There will be fish in my stock dam.

*** PS *** The next thing you know, they will be restricting the kind of livestock I can raise.  Oh, wait… they already do!!

*** Gordon Howie *** is an author and CEO of Life and Liberty Media

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