Black Hills Sportsmen Club

The Black Hills Sportsmen Club exists to do one thing: protect hunting and fishing rights through conservation, sound wildlife management, and active advocacy. This isn't a range or retail shop—it's a membership organization where serious hunters and anglers collaborate on real conservation work that impacts the Black Hills ecosystem.

Members gather on the first Tuesday of every month at 11:45 AM at the Rushmore Inn & Suites in downtown Rapid City for lunch meetings featuring guest speakers from South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, elected officials, and conservation experts. These aren't casual gatherings—legislators show up, agency officials answer hard questions, and members provide direct input on wildlife management decisions.

Active projects and initiatives:

• •Youth Mentorship Programs: Sponsor 4-6 kids annually to attend South Dakota Wildlife Federation Youth Camp. They also donate $1,500 per year to the South Dakota Youth Hunting Adventures program and actively mentor young hunters through classroom and field instruction.
• •Sportsmen Against Hunger: Founded this program and partner with local meat processors to donate wild game to food banks. Members coordinate seasonal food drives.
• •Annual Hunting Film Tour: Their biggest fundraiser, held at the Elks Theatre in Rapid City with documentary films about hunting and conservation.
• •Stream & Habitat Work: Active in the Adopt-A-Creek program to keep Rapid Creek clean. Support the Rapid City Outdoor Learning Center.
• •Legislative Presence: Track and respond to legislation affecting wildlife, habitat, outdoor recreation, and natural resources. Members serve on state-level working groups for elk management, turkey management, OHV policy, and deer habitat access.

Leadership: - President: Cody Hodson ([email protected]) - Vice President: Pete Koupal ([email protected]) - Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Olson ([email protected])

• •Board Members at Large: Gary Brundige, Shelly Deisch, Paul Barber, Paul Vinatieri, Tom Krafka, Eric Porsch, Leon Fenhaus

Members hold positions on boards and working groups with: - South Dakota Wildlife Federation - Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - National Wild Turkey Foundation - Safari Club International - South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Foundation - Backcountry Hunters & Anglers - The Camo Coalition

This network structure means BHSC has direct input into elk management decisions, turkey population goals, deer habitat access disputes, and OHV policy affecting hunting access across South Dakota.

"To promote the conservation, sound management and sustainable use of wildlife and wildlife habitat and to protect the privilege of sportsmen to hunt and fish through advocacy and education."

Unlike shooting ranges or gun shops, BHSC focuses on the bigger picture: keeping habitat healthy, keeping hunting seasons viable, keeping access open, and bringing the next generation into the field. They work directly with state wildlife agencies, attend management stakeholder meetings for parks like Custer State Park, and testify on legislation.