PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A longer period of daylight-saving time might prompt a change in South Dakota's pheasant-hunting season, one of several issues to be considered next month.

Extended hours that allow pheasant hunting to begin at 10 a.m., instead of the usual noon start, have in the past coincided with the return of standard time.

This year, daylight-saving time arrived Sunday, three weeks earlier than normal, and will extend a week longer, to Nov. 4.

The proposed change would start the extended hours on Nov. 1, said Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Division Assistant Director George Vandel.

"We thought that would be a date that would be easier for everyone to remember," he said.

Another proposed change to pheasant hunting would eliminate the Black Hills unit in Butte, Meade, Pennington and Lawrence counties.

The season for western South Dakota's edge already has a significantly shorter season and the agency believes there's renewed interest in eliminating the area completely, Vandel said.

Among the other issues on the commission agenda for its April 12 meeting at North Sioux City is a proposal to add a third day to the youth pheasant hunting season, since it falls on a three-day weekend this year. The possession limit would also be increased from six birds to nine for that season.