For people who love outdoor activities: if you’re getting ready for exciting outdoor adventures in South Dakota, you’re in the right spot. The hunting season schedule is just around the corner, and we have listed the most up-to-date information on South Dakota hunting season, notices, and license details that all hunters should know.
Whether you’re hunting deer, birds, or a unique small game, we’ll assist you in preparing for a season this year. In this article, we have summarized and updated the necessary information regularly. Keep reading!
South Dakota Deer and Elk Hunting Season
The following table contains the different hunting seasons for deer and elk.
Elk Seasons
| Species | Dates |
| Elk Season – Custer State Park Firearms | Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2024 |
| Elk Season – Custer State Park Early Archery | Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2024 |
| Deer Season – East River Landowner | Nov 23 – Dec 8, 2024 |
| Elk Season – Landowner Black Hills Archery | Sep 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2024 |
| Elk Season – Black Hills Archery | Sep 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2024 |
Deer Seasons
| Seasons | Dates |
| Municipal Archery | Sep 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 |
| Archery | Sep 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 |
| Muzzleloader | Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 |
| Apprentice and Mentored | Sep 13, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 |
| Black Hills | Nov 1, 2025 – Nov 30, 2025 |
| Black Hills Landowner | Nov 1, 2025 – Nov 30, 2025 |
| West River | Nov 15, 2025 – Nov 30, 2025 |
| West River Special Buck | Nov 15, 2025 – Nov 30, 2025 |
| West River Landowner | Nov 15, 2025 – Dec 21, 2025 |
| East River | Nov 22, 2025 – Dec 7, 2025 |
| East River Special Buck | Nov 22, 2025 – Dec 7, 2025 |
| East River Special Buck | Nov 22, 2025 – Dec 7, 2025 |
| East River Nonresident Landowner | Nov 22, 2025 – Dec 7, 2025 |
| Nonresident Archery Private Land | Sep 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 |
| Nonresident Archery Public Land | Sep 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 |
| Custer State Park | Nov 1, 2025 – Dec 15, 2025 |
The most common species you can hunt in this state are white-tailed deer and mule deer. To hunt big game like deer, you will need to submit an application for hunting licenses. Select the hunting unit you want to hunt in, and then wait for the drawing result. Are you the lucky one? Check the result here: South Dakota Draw Statistics.
South Dakota Big Game Hunting Season
| Seasons | Dates |
| Mountain Lion Black Hills Fire Protection District | Dec 26, 2025 – Apr 30, 2026 |
| Mountain Lion Season – Statewide | Dec 26, 2025 – Dec 25, 2026(Year Round) |
| Antelope Season – Archery (Season closed during firearms season) | Aug 16 – Oct 31, 2025 |
| Antelope Season – Firearms | Oct 4 – Oct 19, 2025 |
| Antelope Season – Special | Oct 4 – Oct 19, 2025 |
| Antelope Season – Landowner | Oct 4 – Oct 19, 2025 |
| Antelope Season – Nonresident Archery Public/Private Land | Aug 16 – Oct 31, 2025 |
| Antelope Season – Archery Access Permit | Aug 16 – Oct 31, 2025 |
| Bighorn Sheep Season – Black Hills | Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2025 |
| Bighorn Sheep Season – Custer State Park | Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2025 |
| Custer State Park Trophy Buffalo | Jul 23 – Aug 7, 2025 |
| Custer State Park Non-Trophy Buffalo | Jul 23 – Aug 7, 2025 |
🔔Notes:
- The Mountain Lion Black Hills Fire Protection season will close early if the harvest limit of either 60 total mountain lions or 40 female mountain lions is reached.
- You can use decoys when hunting big game.
- Electronic calls are not allowed for big game hunting, except when hunting mountain lions.
- Dogs cannot be used for hunting big game, except that a leashed dog can be used to help track and retrieve wounded or dead big game animals.
- When hunting big game (except turkeys and mountain lions) with a firearm, you must wear visible fluorescent orange or pink clothing.
- You cannot use self-loading or auto-loading firearms that hold more than six cartridges for big game hunting.
- Only soft-point or expanding bullets are allowed.
South Dakota Turkey Hunting Season 2025
Turkey Season – Spring Prairie: Apr 12 – May 31, 2025
Turkey Season – Spring Archery: Apr 12 – May 31, 2025
Turkey Season – Spring Mentored: Apr 12 – May 31, 2025
Turkey Season – Spring Black Hills: Apr 26 – May 31, 2025
Turkey Season – Spring Custer State Park: Apr 26 – May 18, 2025
Turkey Season – Fall Mentored: Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026
Turkey Season – Fall Prairie: Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026
South Dakota Waterfowl Hunting Season
Duck Hunting Season
- Duck Season – Low Plains North: Sep 21, 2024 – Dec 3, 2024
- Duck Season – Low Plains Middle: Sep 21, 2024 – Dec 3, 2024
- Duck Season – Low Plains South: Oct 26, 2024 – Jan 7, 2025
- Duck Hunting – High Plains: Oct 12, 2024 – Jan 16, 2025
*The 2025 duck hunting season hasn’t been released yet. Stay tuned!
Goose Hunting Season
- Spring Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb 17 – May 15, 2025
- Canada Goose – Resident Special: Oct 18 – Dec 21, 2025
Other Waterfowl Season
- Youth Waterfowl: Sep 13 – Sep 14, 2025
- Tundra Swan Season: Oct 4, 2025 – Jan 9, 2026
The bag limit and total possession limit for these waterfowl species are as follows:
| Species | Daily Limit | Possession Limit |
| Ducks | 6 | 18 |
| Canada Goose | 8 (Unit 1) | 24 (Unit 1) |
| 4 (Unit 2 & Unit 3) | 12 (Unit 2 & Unit 3) | |
| White-Fronted Goose | 3 | 9 |
| Light Goose | 50 | Unlimited |
South Dakota Upland Birds Hunting Season
| Seasons | Dates | Limits |
| Grouse Season | Sep 21 – Jan 31, 2026 | 3 daily and 15 in total |
| Partridge Season | Sep 21 – Jan 31, 2026 | 5 daily and 15 in total |
| Pheasant Season – Traditional | Oct 18, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026 | 3 daily and 15 in total |
| Pheasant Season – Youth Only | Sep 27 – Oct 5, 2025 | 3 daily and 15 in total |
| Pheasant Season – Resident Only | Oct 11- Oct 13, 2025 | 3 daily and 9 in total |
| Quail Season | Oct 19 – Jan 31, 2025 | 5 daily and 15 in total |
Shooting hours for each season vary from:
- Pheasant: 10 a.m., central time, to sunset.
- Prairie and Grouse: sunrise to sunset statewide.
- Quail: sunrise to sunset statewide.
South Dakota Small Game Hunting Season
River Otter: Nov 1 – Dec 31, 2025
Cottontail Rabbit Season: Sep 1, 2024 – Mar 31, 2025
Tree Squirrel Season: Sep 1, 2024 – Mar 31, 2025
Crow Season: Sep 1, 2024 – Oct 31, 2024
Crow – Second Season: Mar 1, 2025 – Apr 30, 2025
Snipe Season: Sep 1, 2024 – Oct 31, 2024
Mourning Dove Season: Sep 1, 2024 – Nov 9, 2024
*The seasons for some small games have not been updated yet.
South Dakota Hunting Licenses
Here we listed some of the important licenses you will need to hunt in the state along with their costs.
| Resident Licenses | Prices |
| Habitat Stamp | $10 |
| Small Game | $33 |
| Youth Small Game | $5 |
| State Migratory Bird Certificate | $5 |
| Predator/Varmint | $5 |
| Furbearer | $30 |
| Federal Waterfowl Stamp | $25 |
| Combination (small game and fishing) | $55 |
| Senior Combination, ages 65+ (small game and fishing) | $40 |
| Non-resident Licenses | Prices |
| Habitat Stamp | $25 |
| Small Game (two 5-day periods) | $121 |
| Youth Small Game, ages 12-17 (two 5-day periods) | $10 |
| Waterfowl (valid two 5-day periods, lottery application only) | $116 |
| Waterfowl (valid 3 days, lottery application only)* | $81 |
| Early Fall Canada Goose | $45 |
| Spring Light Goose Conservation Order | $45 |
| Youth Spring Light Goose Conservation Order, ages 12-17 | $21 |
| State Migratory Bird Certificate | $5 |
| Predator/Varmint | $40 |
| Furbearer (application only) | $275 |
| Shooting Preserve (annual) | $121 |
| Shooting Preserve (5-day) | $76 |
| Shooting Preserve (1-day) | $46 |
| Federal Waterfowl E-Stamp (Online Only) | $25 |
🔔Note:
- Each hunter must have a Habitat Stamp and the correct license for their species and activity. Hunters may also need to buy required Waterfowl Stamps or a State Migratory Bird Certification.
- Youth hunters under 16 years old do not require a hunting license if accompanied by a licensed mentor.
- Resident landowners and their immediate family members are allowed to trap furbearers and hunt small game on their land without a license.
- Non-resident landowners need to buy a landowner-own-land license for West River deer season and firearm antelope hunting season. But some license for non-resident landowners can only be issued via lottery drawing only.
- Nonresidents who are at least 12years old are allowed to hunt and will need to purchase a license.
Conclusion
There it is! With the South Dakota hunting season schedule in hand, you’re already halfway there. You can be well-prepared for a successful hunting experience.
Don’t forget, the excitement of pursuing something is only a part of the hunting— it’s also about creating unforgettable memories and bringing home some great prizes. If you have any inquiries about the hunting season in this state, please leave a comment and we will answer them all.
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