RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The first kill of the South Dakota mountain lion hunting season was an 87-pound female lion in Lawrence County.

KOTA television reports that the first kill was made on Friday, a day after the season opened.

The season runs through March, unless a harvest limit of 75 mountain lions or 50 females is reached earlier. All killed lions must be presented to a Game, Fish & Parks representative for inspection within 24 hours of the harvest.

Cabela's employee John Quiggle says sales for mountain lion hunting equipment are slowly rising, as the season just began.

He says it's important to hunt mountain lions to keep down their population.

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