Traversing back and forth across the area are old mine trails. If you want, you can take the opportunity to visit the famed Homestake Mine. The Homestake Mine was the single largest producer of gold in the world during the past century. ATV's and motorcycles are also permitted on fire roads and logging trails.
In addition to ghost towns and mines, the Black Hills offers wonderful camping, fishing and hunting. Sheridan Lake, Deerfield Lake, and Pactola Reservoir are some of the more popular spots. Traveling to these interesting and historical areas can be part of the fun if you choose to go off-road via ATV, Jeep, SUV or some other form of 4x4.
The terrain in the Black Hills provides a diversity of off road travel. You can travel from the lonely, arid, barren Badlands, to the high rocky mountains which are covered with evergreen forests. The Badlands Boogie 4WD Trail is a great trail for the SUV. There are many little drops and climbs that make this trail fun, but not too challenging. There can sometimes be mud in the stream crossings, but taken at a leisurely pace so as to enjoy the scenery, this can be a very pleasurable ride.
Even without your own vehicle, you can have a great vacation here. There are several outstanding car rental agencies where you can rent 4x4's, pickups and sport utilities. Several touring agencies are available which can provide sightseeing tours, customized itineraries and informative guides.
One such adventure is taking a safari ride in Jeeps in the Custer Game Preserve. As you travel in the back country of the park, you may see elk, whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, red crossbills, bluebirds, golden eagles, falcons, mountain lions, and bobcats. But most people love to watch the majestic buffalo.
Amazingly, 60% of the Black Hills National Forest is open all year to off-road motorized travel. And nearly another 20% is open according to the season. Before starting out on any tour of the back country, it is wise to check the forest maps for open dates, locations of closed areas and any other necessary travel information.
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Regional Fishing Update: The ice fishing season is just getting underway in our region. Most lakes are developing at least 4-6 inches of ice, but there is some open water still in spots. Look for the latest reports next week.
Area forecast: Forecast calls for temperatures to remain in the low to mid 20s most of this next week. Small chance of snow Friday, and then again Sunday into Monday. Lows overnight in the mid teens and at times down in the single digits over the course of this next week.
Motorists urged to use caution near Cleghorn Fish Hatchery
It is an annual right of passage and a rare opportunity to see an impressive big game animal exhibiting aggressive and amazing instincts, but motorists near the Cleghorn Fish Hatchery in the Black Hills are being asked to slow down for bighorn sheep.
“This time of year, many of our resident bighorn sheep come down from the higher elevations to breed,” said John Kanta, Game Fish and Parks regional game manager for western South Dakota. “Unfortunately many of the animals congregate on or near the road around the Cleghorn Fish Hatchery. We are just reminding motorists to slow down when traveling that area.”
The sheep tend to congregate on a stretch of highway 44 west from Cleghorn Canyon to the top of the hill. Motorists are encouraged to travel below the posted speed limit. While traveling that area, also be aware of vehicles that are stopped and pedestrians who are looking or photographing the animals.
“Seeing bighorn rams sparring in the wild is an amazing sight,.” Cleghorn Hatchery Manager Will Sayler said. “Many people come to shoot photos or to just watch. We get a lot of traffic through this area and we would hate to have an injury to a person or one of these beautiful animals.”
The bighorn sheep is native to western South Dakota, but were wiped out in the state by unregulated hunting and disease in the early 1900’s. Bighorns were re-introduced in the 1920’s and currently approximately 450 animals live in the Black Hills and Badlands National Park.
Change in Length Restrictions
PIERRE, S.D.—Anglers should be aware that the walleye/sauger minimum length limit of 15 inches for Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case is not in effect for the months of July and August. The upper length limit, however, remains in effect – anglers may keep no more than one walleye/sauger 20 inches or longer year-round, as part of the four fish daily limit.
“This year anglers on those lakes may have noticed that they were catching a lot of walleyes that were just shy of the 15-inch mark,” said Josh Carr, the Game, Fish and Parks Department’s conservation officer in Stanley County. “This is due to good natural production of walleyes in 2005 and 2006.”
Those fish from the 2005 year class will begin to pass the 15-inch minimum length during 2008, however because the minimum length restriction for walleye in Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case is not in effect during July and August, people will be able to make the choice to keep some of those walleye that don’t quite make 15 inches. “Hopefully, when the 15-inch minimum length restriction goes back into effect on Sept.1, more of those 2005 and 2006 walleye will have grown past the minimum length restriction,” Carr said.
The regulation changes in July and August when hooking mortality becomes a concern. “Letting anglers harvest smaller fish during a time of year when harvest is generally low will not hurt the walleye population,” Carr said.
Anglers should also be aware that the smallmouth bass regulation changed this year on Lake Sharpe. Only smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, or 18 inches and longer may be taken. And of those, no more than one may be 18 inches or longer in the five fish daily limit. “For anglers, that means that any smallmouth bass between 14 inches and 18 inches must be thrown back,” Carr said.
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