WATERTOWN, S.D. (KXLG) – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks are urging ice fishermen to be cautions driving across the lakes in Northeast South Dakota. With fluctuating temperatures, the ice remains inconsistent in different areas of the region.

Austin Norton is a Wildlife Conservation Officer with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Office in Webster. He says a recent incident on Bitter Lake thankfully ended up with no injuries, however it could have been worse.

Norton says that the weather has really made the ice unstable.

If you do decide to drive on the ice Norton says to make sure and check the depths as you go across.

There are a few other precautions that the Game, Fish and Parks Department recommend you take before venturing out onto the ice.

Experts say that ice should be 4 to 6 inches thick to walk on, 6 to 12 inches to drive and ATV or snowmobile on, and 12 to 16 inches to drive a pickup on.

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