They have a few Game, Fish & Parks Conservation Officer positions posted up that way, and seeing as how South Dakota POST seems somewhat open to accepting out of state law enforcement certifications, I tossed my name in the hat.
They don't have any specific region of the state listed.. but after doing a little research, it doesn't seem to be a bad place to hang one's hat.
Thoughts?
They have a few Game, Fish & Parks Conservation Officer positions posted up that way, and seeing as how South Dakota POST seems somewhat open to accepting out of state law enforcement certifications, I tossed my name in the hat.
They don't have any specific region of the state listed.. but after doing a little research, it doesn't seem to be a bad place to hang one's hat.
Thoughts?
(DROOL)....
Leavin' for that God's country tomorrow am... Wish I never had to turn around and come back...
Just keep it quiet and don't tell anyone else..
Maybe soon, we shall both be there.. permanent!
It gets cold in the winter there. Seriously cold. My buddy who lives in Mitchell says that it keeps the riff raff out.
If you stand on a soup can, you can see all the way to Minneapolis.
It's a wonderfully underrated state. One of the lowest tax burdens as well.
And, it is balmy, IMO.
Excellent state, that I had the privilege to live in for 6 years.
Depends on where the F&G office is as the main one is located in Pierre. Overall the fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, and kayaking is excellent.
Hunting- Elk, Mulies (Big ones), whitetail, antelope, turkeys galore, pheasant (best in the nation, hands down, no holds barred, GFY if you disagree best of the best of the best)
Fishing- Walleye, Salmon, trout, crappie, bass, catfish
Weather- Windy on a frequent basis which compounds the cold weather, and creates large drifts of snow. It snows a fair bit in the winter time. Usually dry during the summer months. Some days below 0, winter is from nov-march, blizzards possible until may. First snow usually in Sep/Oct. Dry heat in the summer, last year had record days over 100, but it is a dry heat.
Jobs - Excellent, unless in pierre. Too small out there
People - Very nice and courteous. Not southern hospitality. Almost everyone is white, the minorities are native american. I'd say 1-3% black at best/worst YMMV
Taxes- No state income tax, sales tax is 6 or 6.5%
If you can move out that way I certainly recommend it. Shoot me a PM if you would like more info, or we can discuss SD over the phone.
If you stand on a soup can, you can see all the way to Minneapolis.
And the state tree is a telephone pole.
Go for it. SD GFP is a great organization to work for, at least in the Black Hills area. A couple of years ago I worked a season in Custer State Park.
Just as an example, at the end of the tourist season, they have a game and fish dinner for employees and volunteers....most of it procured/cooked by the upper management.
If I could get my wife to move I'd be there tomorrow. Love it there!
If you stand on a soup can, you can see all the way to Minneapolis.
And the state tree is a telephone pole.
Except for the Black Hills.
It's a great state to live in. I moved here from Phoenix, AZ in 1990 because of the similar climate! I thought I'd be here 5 years max. I haven't moved because I have not wanted to. The state is really divided in half, or thirds. The western third includes the Black Hills and high plains. There are lots of hunting/shooting/fishing opportunities. We have Sharptail Grouse, Sage Grouse, ducks, geese, whitetail, mule deer, elk and antelope. Also prairie dogs, fox and coyote. Truthfully, don�t count on getting an elk tag anytime soon. It takes a while to get drawn and then there�s a 9 year wait before you can start applying again. The Black Hills has some great blue ribbon trout fishing. Heck the SD GF&P hardly ever catch a guy poaching! Just kidding, don't be getting mad at me.
The middle third includes the Missouri River and the breaks and lots pheasants, grouse and ducks. Also includes the capital in Pierre.
The eastern third is the flat part. Nothing much out that way. We�re thinking of letting Minnesota take it over.
(The east river fellows will like that a lot.)
Bob
Democrat farmers east of the Missouri
Republican ranchers west of the Missouri.
According to your information, I should be looking WEST of the Missouri then.
According to your information, I should be looking WEST of the Missouri then.
Roger that!
Bob
I don't post much, so I can find these quick:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...9497/Re_South_Dakota_hunting#Post6689497http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/5898339/Re_Rapid_City_SD#Post5898339https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...2/Re_Rapid_City_South_Dakota#Post2278022SD GFP is probably decent to work for. I have a couple friends at SDDOT who don't seem to mind. My only frame of reference for GFP was one summer at Bear Butte State Park and a game warden friend down the street. No complaints that I can recall.
West river is the place to live. But I married an east river girl, so YMMV.
Lots worse places to live. Good luck.
sd
my dad was born in Pierre...but he's passed on ...so there is room there for one more...
The eastern third is the flat part. Nothing much out that way. We�re thinking of letting Minnesota take it over.
(The east river fellows will like that a lot.)
Bob
Bob, Keep every square inch you have and value it. Don't let the socialist thugs here have a handful of dirt. They'll figure out how to tax it. Pretty soon, pretty soon........
my dad was born in Pierre...but he's passed on ...so there is room there for one more...
Casey Tibbs lived north of Pierre a ways so it ain't all bad.
Best brawl I ever got in was at the Hopscotch bar way back in about 1953. Couple of us got it started and pretty soon everybody there was in on it. Cops never did show up.
I used to live in Chamberlain right on the river. Humid during the summers there. Damn good walleye fishing thats for dang sure. Hopefully one day go pheasant hunting with my father.
I have lived in SD for 53 years. Bobcape has done the best job of detailing it for you. But like other places all the best hunting is not free access wise. Those GFP CO jobs? Buffalo/ Harding co some of the best deer and antelope west river hunting borders Montana and North Dakota. This CO position has been open for 4-6 years,it's real strong landowner rights country and they ran the last CO outta there on a rail. Faith/ Northern Meade and Perkins Cos. deer and antelope with upland and waterfowl hunting in places.Ranch country and also strong landowner rights area.Hayti is I believe Kingsbury Co flatland pheasant country/ waterfowl with glacial lakes and sloughs. Phillip/Haakon Co. strong ranch country deer some antelope and upland, Like Buffalo and Faith around Phillip strong connections are needed for access.Redfield/Spink Co waterfowl and pheasant country the heart of some of SD best pheasant hunting if you have the connections and or money for access.Check out the SD Bureau of Personnal website and look at the pay scales and benfits ,it's a shock compared to wages in other states. The majority of South Dakotans still have family type values. If you get an interview look around for a few days to get a feel for the place it's different. Like the other LEO positions in the state you do 20 and can retire if you can afford it(tough these days).Good luck with your job search. Magnum Man
The eastern third is the flat part. Nothing much out that way. We�re thinking of letting Minnesota take it over.
(The east river fellows will like that a lot.)
Bob
Glacial Lakes region up here has hills (Coteau des Prairie said Nicollet when he explored the region) and those lakes make for pretty good fishing. Hunting isn't bad either. "South Dakota: The land of infinite variety." It's all good but don't think I'd want to get stuck up around, say, Lemmon.
Oh hell there is plenty of public land access east river and without heavy pressure once the out of staters get done with pheasants. Particularly if they keep the out of state waterfowl licenses down and give residents first shot at big game tags. Most farmers I know will let you hunt if you ask nicely and appear to be the decent sort. And if they're not holding it for relatives. (Excluding early season pheasants when the out of staters are about, pheasants have become a sort of cash crop.)
I appriciate all of the great responses.. from the sounds of it, I made a pretty good decision applying, now if they are going to call me in for an interview, that's the real question.
The cold winters wouldn't bother me much.. I have a high tolerance for cold.. I actually prefer it. Now, as for the hot, humid summers.. not so much, but I get that here as well, especially this year.. so I suppose it would be more of the same.
I have actually been looking around for jobs.. Conservation Officer/Game Warden jobs in a few other states that interest me.. Wyoming, Nevada, Alaska, South Dakota, Montana and Maine. I actually went to school and graduated with my Bachelor's in order to get hired onto the West Virginia DNR.. and somehow I ended up working for a Sheriff's Office.. but the dream has never really expired.. I have been toying around with relocating alot latly, so I figured why not try to slip into the position that I have always wanted to be in at the same time.
The no income tax thing for a few states is a real insentive.. I was looking at one of my check stubs yesterday, and honestly, all else being equal, that's a fairly substancial raise in this day and age, when every penny counts.
After checking a few sites for property in South Dakota, vacant land doesn't appear to be that bad, if one is looking for under 50 acres.. though again, it's hard to get a gauge on things when there is no specific city/town/region being mentioned.
From what everyone has described, I am hoping that there are openings west of the Missouri.. and more specifically, the Black Hills area. That seems more.. 'me.'
Thanks again everyone.. I appriciate the responses.
If anyone works for or knows someone who works for the SDGFP service, let me know, I wouldn't mind picking your brain.
It has lands so bad..............
they are called BADLands.
and Dead Wood.
Even Injuns don't want it!
I will be PCSing there in the next couple of weeks. We cant wait, there seems to be a ton of opertunities to hunt and fish. I have an 'in' with some ranchers south of the base. I can see myself staying there for a good long while.
I will be PCSing there in the next couple of weeks. We cant wait, there seems to be a ton of opertunities to hunt and fish. I have an 'in' with some ranchers south of the base. I can see myself staying there for a good long while.
Welcome. You'll enjoy it. I notice you're currently in ROK. I was stationed in Teague, Camp Henry. I loved it, I did almost two years there. Hope you enjoyed your tour there.
Bob
I moved from Idaho to the Black Hills last winter. We found the property prices a little higher than in the Boise area. Wages are lower and we don't see the COL any lower.
You have to be an archer to take advantage of the big game opportunities, far more days than rifle.
My dad was born there too, in a sod hut on the prairie in Lemmon, to a homesteading family in 1909. Unfortunately, the continuing drought drove them to give up and return to North Dakota, along with everyone else in their community. I heard that two people stayed.
I think conditions are better today.
South Dakota is a great place to live. Born and raised here and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
We did the black hills on our honey moon 10 years ago. Our annivesrsary is coming up and she wants to go see the musical in medora.
I'd rather go scouting archery muley hunting in SD but I guess I must conform to to the deal....
I'll take ya Rooster, I know where all the mulies are, I'm just a whitetail man myself.
SD is a good state.
err I mean, I'm surprised anyone wants to live here, I'd move if I could save enough to afford it. stay out whilst you can!
I'll take ya Rooster, I know where all the mulies are, I'm just a whitetail man myself.
SD is a good state.
err I mean, I'm surprised anyone wants to live here, I'd move if I could save enough to afford it. stay out whilst you can!
LOL Ryan! I just saw this post today. I really would like to bowhunt mulies in SD. I have quite a few times in ND and it was always a blast!
It's right west of Minnesota, right between Nebraska and North Dakota.
I'll take ya Rooster, I know where all the mulies are, I'm just a whitetail man myself.
SD is a good state.
err I mean, I'm surprised anyone wants to live here, I'd move if I could save enough to afford it. stay out whilst you can!
LOL Ryan! I just saw this post today. I really would like to bowhunt mulies in SD. I have quite a few times in ND and it was always a blast!
I'm going next year, God willing and tags drawn. With a rifle of course. I've had a chubby for deer hunting in the BH's for many years now. Haven't been there since I was a kid but I'll be there hopefully next year. Whitetail or Mulie, doesn't bother me. It's the hunt I'm after.
