• MADISON, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota wildlife officials decided Thursday to raise several nonresident hunting license fees next year to bring in more than $1.1 million in additional revenue.
• While officials said they were careful to keep the fees in line with those in other states, one hunting preserve owner predicted if South Dakota continues to increase the cost of licenses for out-of-staters, they'll go elsewhere. "It we stop our hunters from coming over the border, everybody loses," said Will Stone, a Gary pheasant hunting preserve owner.
• Pheasant hunting has always been a South Dakota pastime, but tourism officials over the past decade have turned the season into a nationwide draw. The state's airports are awash in blaze orange this time of year, and hunters drive in from such nearby states as Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming.
• Stone said the cost of out-of-state licenses for those visiting his family preserve have jumped 950 percent during his 28 years in the business. He said even if he offers discounts on his hunting packages, customers still complain about the high cost from the state.
• "It's a mom-and-pop operation," he said. "It's designed for fathers and sons."
• The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission agreed to raise the fee for a nonresident 10-day small game license by $10 to $120, while an annual shooting preserve license will go up by $35 to $120. Two nonresident shooting preserve licenses are going up $10, with a 1-day costing $45 and a 5-day costing $75.
• Nonresident waterfowl licenses are increasing $10, with a 10-day running $120 and a 3-day costing $85.
• No changes were made to resident hunting license fees.
• Commissioner Jim Spies, of Watertown, voted against the proposal, saying he understands the need to increase revenue, but he doesn't think out-of-state hunters should pick up the majority of the tab.
• "I don't think this is right, and I think we have to look at the resident license fee real soon," Spies said.
• South Dakota licensed more than 95,000 nonresident small game hunters and about 69,000 resident small game hunters last year.

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