Get ready for a great hunting season in the beautiful state of South Dakota! It has some of the best outdoor opportunities in the United States. This page will provide an overview of the South Dakota hunting regulation, including information about species, regulations, and licenses.
South Dakota hunting seasons
You may also check the season durations and bag restrictions from the Game, Fish, and Parks website or manual. Archery deer season in South Dakota lasts from September to February, while muzzleloader and modern rifle seasons are between October and December. Special youth seasons, antlerless-only hunts on private land, and other restrictions may be in force in some zones.
Big Games
Deer
| West River Special Buck | Nov 16 – Dec 1, 2024 |
| East River Special Buck | Nov 23 – Dec 8, 2024 |
Elk
| Custer State Park Early Archery | Sep 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2024 |
| Custer State Park Firearms | Oct 1, 2024 – Oct 31, 2024 |
Antelope
| Archery | Aug 17 – Oct 31, 2024 |
| Firearms | Sep 28 – Oct 13, 2024 |
| Mentored | Aug 17 – Oct 31, 2024 |
| Special | Sep 28 – Oct 13, 2024 |
| Nonresident Archery Public/Private Land (Closed during firearms) | Aug 17 – Oct 31, 2024 |
| Archery Access Permit | Aug 17 – Oct 31, 2024 Top of Form Bottom of Form |
Trophy Buffalo
- Nov 18 – Jan 17, 2025 (Custer State Park)
Non-Trophy Buffalo
- Oct 7 – Nov 15, 2024 (Custer State Park )
Goat
- Sep 1-Dec 31
Sheep
- Sep 1-Dec 31
Mountain Lion
| Black Hills | Dec 26, 2023 – Apr 30, 2024 |
| Outside Black Hills Fire Protection District | Jan 1 – Jan 31, 2024 |
| Black Hills (2025) | Dec 26, 2024 – Apr 30, 2025 |
Turkey
| Spring | |
| Prairie | Apr 13 – May 31, 2024 |
| Mentored | Apr 13 – May 31, 2024 |
| Prairie Archery | Apr 13 – May 31, 2024 |
| Black Hills | Apr 27 – May 31, 2024 |
| Black Hills Archery | Apr 27 – May 31, 2024 |
| Custer State Park | Apr 27 – May 19, 2024 |
| Prairie | Apr 12 – May 31, 2025 |
| Prairie Archery | Apr 12 – May 31, 2025 |
| Black Hills | Apr 26 – May 31, 2025 |
| Black Hills Archery | Apr 26 – May 31, 2025 |
| Custer State Park | Apr 26 – May 18, 2025 Top of Form Bottom of Form |
| Fall | |
| Regular | Nov 1, 2024 – Jan 31, 2025 |
| Mentored | Nov 1, 2024 – Jan 31, 2025 |
Small Game
Gopher
- Sep 1, 2024 – Feb 28, 2025
Marmot
- December 26 – April 30
Rabbit
| Cottontail Rabbit | Sep 1, 2024 – Feb 28, 2025 Top of Form Bottom of Form |
Squirrel
| Tree Squirrel | Sep 1, 2024 – Feb 28, 2025 |
Porcupine
- Jan 1- Dec 31
Upland Birds
Pheasant
| Traditional | Oct 19, 2024 – Jan 31, 2025 |
| Youth Only | Sep 28 – Oct 6, 2024 |
| Resident Only | Oct 12 – Oct 14, 2024 Top of Form Bottom of Form |
Grouse
- Sep 21, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025
Quail
- Oct 19, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025
Migratory Birds
Crow
| Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2024 |
| Mar 1 – Apr 30, 2025 |
Dove
Sep 1 – Nov 9, 2024
Waterfowl
Duck
| Low Plains North | Sep 21 – Dec 3, 2024 |
| Low Plains Middle | Sep 21 – Dec 3, 2024 |
| Low Plains South | Oct 26, 2024 – Jan 7, 2025 |
| High Plains | Oct 12, 2024 – Jan 16, 2025 |
Goose
| Canada Goose | |
| Resident Special | Oct 19 – Dec 22, 2024 |
| Unit 1 Early | Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2024 |
| Unit 2 | Nov 4, 2024 – Feb 16, 2025 |
| Unit 2 (2023) | Nov 6, 2023 – Feb 18, 2024 |
| Unit 3 | Jan 13 – Jan 21, 2024 |
| Bennett County | Oct 19 – Dec 22, 2024 |
| Unit 1 | Oct 1, 2021 – Dec 16, 2024 |
| Bennett County, Second | Jan 11 – Jan 19, 2025 |
| Light Goose | |
| Conservation Order | Feb 19 – May 15, 2024 |
| Regular | Sep 28, 2024 – Jan 10, 2025 |
| White-fronted Goose | |
| Regular | Sep 28 – Dec 10, 2024 Top of Form Bottom of Form |
Snipe
- Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2024
Swan
- Sep 28, 2024 – Jan 10, 2025
Crane
- Sep 28 – Nov 24, 2024
Furbearers
Badger
- Jan 1- Dec 31
Beaver
- Nov 1 – Apr 30
Bobcat
| West , East River | 26-Dec – 15-Feb |
| Nonresidents | 14-Jan – 15-Feb |
Coyote
- Jan 1- Dec 31
Fox
- Jan 1- Dec 31
Mink and Weasel
| Resident | 1-Nov – Jan 31 |
| Nonresident | 1-Dec – Jan 31 |
Muskrat
| Trapping | |
| West River | 1-Jan – Dec 31 |
| Black Hills Fire Protection District | 1-Nov – Apr 30 |
| East River | 1-Nov – Apr 30 |
| Hunting | |
| Statewide | 1-Apr-23 – Aug 31 |
| Nonresidents | 1-Dec – Mar 15 |
Raccoon
| Residents | 1-Jan – 31-Dec |
| Nonresidents | 1-Dec – 15-Mar |
Opossum
- Jan 1- Dec 31
Skunk
- Jan 1- Dec 31
Prairie dog hunting South Dakota
SD Prairie dog important resources:
Hunting License Fees
SD General Hunting Regulations
- South Dakota’s laws must be followed.
- A valid big-game license must always be carried.
- The hunter must always carry their license and tag with them.
- You may use the top portion of your big game license until January 31, 2023.
- Lawful pursuing animals include turkeys, deer, and deer without antlers.
- When transferring a big game animal, the tag must be signed, dated, and affixed to the animal.
- The tag may be used to transport and maintain the animal securely.
- Unless the animal has been processed or cooked for human food, the tag or certain body pieces must go with it.
- Before shipping a wild turkey, certain parts or a processing receipt must be provided.
- South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks may answer questions.
- Joining or assisting a big game hunter without a valid license is illegal (exceptions for legally carrying a pistol or hunting a small game apply).
- No minor under 16 should hunt without a chaperone (except for legally carrying a pistol or possessing a big game license application).
- For big game, fully automatic firearms or self-loading or auto-loading rifles containing more than six bullets are banned.
- Deer and antelope may only be hunted with rifles and shotguns rated at least 1,000 foot-pounds and pistols rated at least 500 foot-pounds (only soft-point or expanding bullets allowed).
- Elk requires a.243 rifles with at least 1,700 foot-pounds of muzzle force (only soft point or expanding bullets allowed).
- Handguns or shoulder-mounted weapons with at least 500 foot-pounds of muzzle energy may be used to hunt turkeys (muzzleloading firearms of at least .44 caliber and muzzleloading shotguns also allowed).
- Muzzleloading-only seasons ban telescopic sights and require long firearms.
- 44-caliber rifles and 50-caliber handguns are authorized.
- Outside of archery and muzzleloading seasons, any authorized weapon, muzzleloading firearm, or archery equipment may be used, and crossbows may replace firearms (must have a pull of at least 120 pounds and mechanical safety, and telescopic sights are permitted).
- The large game license is a two-part document with a tag and the licensee’s personal information. Hunting licenses and tags are always required.
- All deer, elk, female and adolescent antelope, and male and female turkeys are permissible games.
- Before taking a animal to a road, camp, farmyard, home, or vehicle, the license tag must be signed, dated, and secured to the animal.
- Non-licensed hunters accompanying licensed hunters must also follow certain restrictions, such as carrying the maximum number of rifles.
- South Dakota law requires a deer or antelope rifle to have at least 1,000 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, while an elk rifle must have at least 1,700 foot-pounds and be at least.243 caliber. You need a rifle with 700 foot-pounds of muzzle power or a.44-caliber muzzleloader to bag a gobbler.
- For a bow-hunting big game, you can’t utilize explosive points, crossbows, electronic arrow releases, or telescopic sights.
- South Dakota law forbids putting up, utilizing, or maintaining bait stations to attract large game, employing dogs on hunts, hunting on interstates or controlled-access facilities, firing weapons inside the right-of-way of an upgraded public roadway, etc.
- It’s illegal to chase, harass, intercept, or disturb big animals while driving.
- It’s illegal to use a mobile phone or another electronic device when pursuing big animals in a vehicle.
- Moving vehicles can’t fire guns or bows (except for hunters with Disabled Hunter permits, who can hunt coyotes, jackrabbits, rodents, skunks, badgers, raccoons, and foxes).
- Sticking a gun out the window to shoot coyotes, jackrabbits, rats, skunks, badgers, raccoons, or foxes is lawful.
- Except for specific roads and parking spots, operating a motorized vehicle on Game, Fish, and Parks property or leased land is illegal without the manager’s or lessee’s written permission.
- Without authorization, it’s illegal to fire down wild birds or animals from an airplane.
- Aerial hunting, taking, concentrating, driving, rallying, stirring up, locating, or spotting any wild bird or animal is prohibited, except for using a drone to locate or scout a predator or varmint on privately owned land with permission from the landowner or lessee outside of September, October, and November.
- Use, hunting, or shooting from a motorized boat is illegal unless the vessel is beached, at anchor, tethered to a permanent hunting blind or natural cover, or used to collect fallen animals.
- On Commissioner of School and Public Lands land, motorized hunting, fishing, and trapping are forbidden unless done on roads, trails, or parking spots properly designated by Game, Fish, and Parks.
Fines & Penalties
Please find below a table outlining the possible penalties for Class 1 violations committed in South Dakota:
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Unlawful taking or killing of large game | Fines and/or jail time, loss of hunting rights for one year |
| Possession of twice the authorized daily or possession limit of a controlled wild animal | Potential civil liability doubles |
| Stealing large game trophies | Loss of points of preference |
| Unlawful taking or killing a Mountain goat or bighorn sheep | Up to $10,000 per animal |
| Unlawful taking or killing a Turkey | Up to $200 each |
Contacts
| Contact | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | SOUTH DAKOTA GAME, FISH AND PARKS 523 East Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501 |
| Phone | 605-223-7660 |
| WildInfo@state.sd.us |
FAQ
Can I save my license on my phone or app for hunting or trapping in SD?
Small game licenses for South Dakota may be kept on a mobile device or app. You may download the GFP mobile app and connect to the licensing system, or you can take a picture of the paper license and save it in your phone’s gallery. If the license contains a bar code, GFP conservation officers may scan it remotely, removing the need to carry a backup. The license may also be carried in written form. Fishing licenses, federal stamps, and tags won’t be impacted, but hunting licenses, federal stamps, and tags are still required.
What's the cost of a South Dakota Combination license for adults?
Adults in South Dakota over 18 can hunt small game like pheasants, grouse, partridge, quail, cottontail rabbits, and tree squirrels for a fee of $55. The list of creatures that may be lawfully hunted by hunters with this license includes coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons, badgers, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, ravens, jackrabbits, porcupines, and marmots. However, this license does not apply to furbearers. Anyone 65 or older can obtain a Senior Combination License, which grants the same rights as a regular driver’s license.
How much is a South Dakota Senior Resident Combination license?
A Senior Combination License, available to South Dakotans 65 and over for $40, allows for frogs, turtles, cottontail rabbits, tree squirrels, pheasants, and grouse, partridges, quail, and cottontail rabbits. Additionally, coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons, badgers, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, ravens, jackrabbits, porcupines, and marmots can all be legally hunted by license holders. However, this license does not cover hunting for furbearers.
Who qualifies for the Resident Reduced Fee?
For anyone with complete disabilities or veterans who satisfy certain requirements, South Dakota grants a Disabled/Veteran Hunting and Fishing Card. Discounts are offered for hunting and fishing in South Dakota with the $10, 4-year card. Families of disabled and seasoned hunters and fishermen may also use this card.
- 2024-2025 Rhode Island Hunting Seasons New Dates & Rules - August 10, 2024
- West Virginia Hunting Seasons 2024 New Dates & Regulations! - August 2, 2024
- 2024 Washington Hunting Season New Dates & Regulation! - July 27, 2024
