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• Since the state began a mountain lion season in 2005, the hunting of lions has been fiercely debated by those for and against shooting lions.
• The season limit has grown steadily higher each year from 13 lions in 2005 to 70 this year. The GF&P commission will soon set a limit for next year's hunt.
• Hunters have been calling for a higher limit, saying there are too many lions, and they are decimating the elk and deer populations in the Black Hills. Elk and deer limits have been lowered in the Black Hills in recent years, and game hunters are not happy.
• Wildlife advocates say the lion limit is too high, and that the problem lions are the result of hunters shooting females that still have cubs. They are not happy that the GF&P keeps increasing the lion hunting limit.
• Gov. Dennis Daugaard's office has been getting an earful from both sides of the

lion debate, too.
• Daugaard recently announced an independent review of GF&P's Wildlife Division and how it handles research and management of wildlife, including mountain lions and elk in the Black Hills. An outside consultant will conduct the study, which will be paid through funds in the Wildlife Division.
• The governor's office is limiting the study to the Wildlife Division and is asking the public for suggestions on what areas to investigate.
• We have urged that the mountain lion season limits be left to the wildlife biologists on the GF&P's staff. However, neither the game hunters nor the wildlife advocates appear to trust the science-based numbers that the professional biologists are providing.
• It's unfortunate that distrust in the GF&P's handling of managing mountain lions and game animals has reached the point that the governor has called for an independent review of the Wildlife Division.
• Asking for suggestions on areas where the study should focus is a good idea. It is our hope that the review answers most of the public's questions about the GF&P's management of the state's wildlife -- especially mountain lions.
• ___
• The Daily Republic, July 17, 2012
• Take a moment to savor the state's surplus
• Gov. Dennis Daugaard and his administration deserve a pat on the back.
• Just two years ago, when Daugaard was running for governor, South Dakota was facing a projected budget shortfall of $127 million. During his first months in office, he swiftly proposed and shepherded through the legislative process a package

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