“If we don’t keep the population at a reasonable number, we could lose a lot of animals in a bad winter,” explained Benzon, “and that does nobody any good. It’s better to allow the sportsmen to go out and harvest them, and utilize the resource. Just like any other big-game animal: You can’t stockpile them, so you might as well enjoy the resource.”

South Dakota gathers its pronghorn stats in pretty much the same way that North Dakota does -- through aerial surveys. At the end of May and into the first part of June, crews fly transects of the primary pronghorn units in the state, particularly in the northwest corner. Data from the flights document buck and doe density. To acquire reliable numbers on fawn recruitment and thus form a complete picture of the herd, the department conducts a second survey in June and July, during which crews hit the ground to do physical counts of the number of fawns per doe.

Hunter surveys contribute to a positive pronghorn picture. In 2004, hunters -- a majority of whom expressed satisfaction with their experience -- averaged a little over two days of hunting.

Data for the 2005 season were still being compiled at press time, but 2004’s numbers suffice to reflect the quality of South Dakota’s pronghorn action. In that year the SDDGFP issued nearly 6,000 resident and 473 non-resident firearm licenses, many of both being double tags that included a second doe or fawn, making a total tag count of 10,264. Those who acquired these managed a success rate of 71 percent. South Dakota’s season starts during the first week of October, with a second season for specific units running into mid-October.

South Dakota allows archery hunting for both residents and non-residents with an unlimited license system. Licenses can be applied for throughout the season or picked up over the counter at the Pierre licensing office during weekday work hours. In 2004, 837 resident and 278 non-resident bowhunters took to the field in pursuit of pronghorns and had super success, posting a rate of 23 percent. In 1998, after the horrible winter of 1996-97, bowhunter success dropped to a low of 11 percent.

South Dakota’s archery season opens in late August and extends through Oct. 31, closing for the interval during which rifle season is open. Resident licenses for archery and firearm cost $35 for a one-tag permit and $45 for a two-tag permit; non-resident pronghorn hunters spend $195 for a one-tag permit and $245 for a two-tag permit. Two-tag permits are only issued for firearm hunts.

All big-game archery hunters aged 11 to 15 and all first-time archery big-game hunters must have a National Bowhunter Education Foundation certificate, or a certification of completion from a bowhunter education course approved by any state or provincial government.