South Dakota is the fourth state to wrestle with the issue of whether to use hunting as a tool to manage growing elk herds in national parks. A member of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission is asking that the state’s congressional delegation request a hunting season in Wind Cave National Park in order to control the elk population. Hunting is not allowed in the park and the park can no longer reduce the herd by shipping animals elsewhere because chronic wasting disease has been found within the herd.

California, Colorado, and North Dakota are also dealing with the prospect of using hunting to control animal populations. Other members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus have already introduced bills to approve the practice. Commenting on legislation to open hunting opportunities in Colorado, Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) said, "The bill does not declare open season in Rocky Mountain National Park. It makes sure the Park Service has the authority to allow qualified Colorado sportsmen and sportswomen to participate under strict guidelines in the elk management plan for the park. This is a common sense solution to a real wildlife management problem."

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation is a strong proponent of using hunting as a wildlife management tool in the National Parks and has held several meetings with officials at the Department of Interior. Currently, the Grand Teton National Park near Jackson, Wyoming is the only one of the nation’s 58 national parks that allows hunting, a policy required by the park’s enabling legislation.