YANKTON, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota's first bobcat season east of the Missouri River opens Saturday.

GF&P conservation officer Sam Schelhaas tells the Yankton Press and Dakotan (http://bit.ly/UqbXut) that the East River bobcat population has reached the point where it can sustain a limited harvest.

The season runs in Yankton, Bon Homme, Charles Mix, Brule and Buffalo counties from Dec. 8-30.

Schelhaas says hunters and trappers who take bobcats are required to remove the pelts from the carcasses and surrender the entire carcasses within five days to GF&P for registration and tagging,

Hunters must have a fur-bearer license, and only one bobcat is allowed per hunter or trapper.