The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission is reviewing a petition from Mitchell resident Blake Roetman regarding the use of air guns for hunting predators and certain small game species.
Roetman is proposing a reduction in the minimum muzzle velocity from the current 1,000 feet per second (FPS) to 600 FPS.
Currently, South Dakota allows the use of air guns for hunting small-game species such as cottontail rabbit, red squirrel, fox squirrel, and grey squirrel, as well as any predator including coyote, wolf, gray fox, red fox, skunk, gopher, ground squirrel, chipmunk, jackrabbit, marmot, opossum, porcupine, crow, and prairie dog.
During a recent meeting, commissioners heard from Roetman and Tom Kirschenmann, director for the state Wildlife Division, who supported the rule change.
Commissioner Bruce Cull of Yankton also spoke in favor, noting that the change could encourage more people to participate in hunting activities.