S.D. governor, feds reach deal on warden

A game warden accused of intimidating hunters can continue supervisory work, but will no longer enforce hunting and fishing laws, officials said Wednesday.

The deal ends a dispute between Gov. Mike Rounds and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about federal game warden Bob Prieksat.

"This is a good deal. I think we can make this work and get on with life," said Rounds' chief of staff, Rob Skjonsberg, who had handled the dispute for the governor.

Rounds earlier this year asked the Fish and Wildlife Service to fire Prieksat or transfer him because the governor believed Prieksat has been too aggressive and rude in checking whether hunters are complying with the law.

Prieksat's actions have given South Dakota a bad reputation because people sometimes have thought he worked for the state in an area that draws thousands of waterfowl hunters each fall, the governor said.

Hunters claimed that the warden has tried to intimidate them with rudeness, vulgar tirades or aggression. More than 60 people filed written complaints and many people signed petitions calling for his removal.

However, an internal investigation by the Fish and Wildlife Service cleared Prieksat of the misconduct allegations. Federal officials two weeks ago said Prieksat would remain in his job but would spend less time in the field checking hunters and more time supervising federal wildlife officers in South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska.

The federal agency also said another federal warden would be added to the Pierre office soon.

After the federal announcement, Rounds said he wanted an assurance that Prieksat would not be allowed to work in the field to check hunters. South Dakota had threatened to end a cooperative agreement that authorizes state game wardens to enforce federal wildlife laws.

Prieksat, who has an unlisted telephone number, generally has refused to comment publicly about the matter. Prieksat's regional supervisor in Lakewood, Colo., Gary Mowad, was traveling on Wednesday and was not available for comment.

The agreement provides that Prieksat will not be involved in field enforcement in South Dakota except in an emergency or when directed by his supervisors on federal or tribal land. Prieksat's only contact with the state Game, Fish and Parks Department will be through Department Secretary Jeff Vonk, who negotiated the agreement.