PIERRE – The recent crop harvest activity brought reports of dead deer in Sanborn County in southeastern South Dakota. As a result, the Game, Fish and Parks Department eliminated all remaining unsold deer hunting permits.
All “any deer” licenses for Sanborn County sold out in the original drawing, but 132 antlerless permits still remained. These remaining licenses have now been eliminated.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) was suspected as the cause of the deaths, although the deer had been dead too long to be confirmed through laboratory testing. EHD was responsible for a larger-scale deer die-off a year ago, primarily in southeastern and south central counties. GFP will continue to monitor any deer die-offs through observations by field staff and reports from the public.

Charles Unterbrunner of Artesian was presented the Lyle Farrand Award by Special Olympics of South Dakota on Nov. 2 in Aberdeen.
This award is given to an outstanding volunteer who has made an invaluable impact on Special Olympics and is given in honor of Farrand, of Sioux Falls, who was influential in starting the Olympics in South Dakota in 1968.
Unterbrunner has served as head umpire at the state softball tournament, makes schedules for umpires and scorekeepers and has had the privilege of working at national-level tournaments in Ames, Iowa, and Lincoln, Neb.

The Christmas Caring Tree for Sanborn County area children will be located in the lobby of the First National Bank of South Dakota at Woonsocket during the holiday season.
Families who would like their children to participate may pick up an application in the bank or call 796-4422.
Confidentiality will be enforced and all participants will remain anonymous.
Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, Dec. 18.