About Hunting in South Dakota
South Dakota is renowned worldwide for its pheasant hunting, did you know about 1..2 million Roberts also are there as well!
Not only that, there’s Pheasants, they are also part of the package. There’s a variety of setting, river bottom, grasslands, and vast Missouri river reservoir system. In the 1900s hunting season established by SD game of fish and parks allowed deer to be recovered. With Well care everything was delivered back to a near perfect state!
South Dakota Hunting Seasons
Big Game: Antelope, Bighorn sheep, deer, elk, mountain goat, mountain lion, buffalo
Small Game: rabbit, squirrel
Birds: Crow, snipe, dove, partridge, pheasant, grouse, quail, grouse
| Season | Dates | Application Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Season – National Wildlife Refuge Deer | See application for season dates. | Start: May 24, 2021 End: Jun 16, 2021 |
| Deer Season – National Wildlife Refuge Deer | 2022 | See application for season dates. | |
| Deer Season – Archery | Start: Sep 1, 2021 End: Jan 1, 2022 | Start: Mar 1, 2021 End: Apr 1, 2021 |
| Deer Season – Archery Antlerless Only Whitetail | Start: Sep 1, 2021 End: Jan 1, 2022 | |
| Deer Season – Apprentice and Mentored | Start: Sep 11, 2021 End: Jan 1, 2022 | |
| Deer Season – Black Hills | Start: Nov 1, 2021 End: Nov 30, 2021 | Start: May 24, 2021 End: Jun 16, 2021 |
| Deer Season – Custer State Park | See application for season dates specifics. Start: Nov 1, 2021 End: Dec 15, 2021 | Start: May 24, 2021 End: Jun 16, 2021 |
| Deer Season – West River Landowner | Start: Nov 13, 2021 End: Nov 28, 2021 | Start: Sep 10, 2021 End: |
| Deer Season – West River | Start: Nov 13, 2021 End: Nov 28, 2021 | Start: May 24, 2021 End: Jun 16, 2021 |
| Deer Season – West River Special Buck | Start: Nov 13, 2021 End: Nov 28, 2021 | Start: Mar 22, 2021 End: Apr 16, 2021 |
| Deer Season – East River Special Buck | Start: Nov 20, 2021 End: Dec 5, 2021 | Start: Mar 22, 2021 End: Apr 16, 2021 |
| Deer Season – East River | Start: Nov 20, 2021 End: Dec 5, 2021 | Start: May 24, 2021 End: Jun 16, 2021 |
| Deer Season – East River Landowner | Start: Nov 20, 2021 End: Dec 5, 2021 | Start: Sep 10, 2021 End: |
| Deer Season – Muzzleloader Antlerless Only Whitetail | Start: Dec 1, 2021 End: Jan 1, 2022 | |
| Deer Season – Muzzleloader | Start: Dec 1, 2021 End: Jan 1, 2022 | Start: May 24, 2021 End: Jun 16, 2021 |
| Deer Season – East & West River Antlerless | Start: Dec 11, 2021 End: Dec 19, 2021 | |
| Deer Season – Archery | 2022 | Start: Sep 1, 2022 End: Jan 1, 2023 | |
| Deer Season – Archery Antlerless Only Whitetail | 2022 | Start: Sep 1, 2022 End: Jan 1, 2023 | |
| Deer Season – Apprentice and Mentored | 2022 | Start: Sep 10, 2022 End: Jan 1, 2023 | |
| Deer Season – Black Hills | 2022 | Start: Nov 1, 2022 End: Nov 30, 2022 | |
| Deer Season – Custer State Park | 2022 | See application for season dates specifics. Start: Nov 1, 2022 End: Dec 15, 2022 | |
| Deer Season – West River Landowner | 2022 | Start: Nov 12, 2022 End: Nov 27, 2022 | |
| Deer Season – West River | 2022 | Start: Nov 12, 2022 End: Nov 27, 2022 | |
| Deer Season – East River | 2022 | Start: Nov 19, 2022 End: Dec 4, 2022 | |
| Deer Season – East River Landowner | 2022 | Start: Nov 19, 2022 End: Dec 4, 2022 | |
| Deer Season – Muzzleloader Antlerless Only Whitetail | 2022 | Start: Dec 1, 2022 End: Jan 1, 2023 | |
| Deer Season – Muzzleloader | 2022 | Start: Dec 1, 2022 End: Jan 1, 2023 | |
| Deer Season – East & West River Antlerless | 2022 | Start: Dec 10, 2022 End: Dec 18, 2022 |
Deer / Elk License Types & Costs 2021
| Season | Resident Fee | Non Resident Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | 1 Any Deer $40 1 Doe Tag $20 | 1 Any Deer $286 1 Doe Tag $80 |
| Deer | Black Hills | 1 Any Deer $40 1 Any Whitetail $40 1 Doe Tag $20 | 1 Any Deer $286 1 Any Whitetail $286 1 Doe Tag $80 |
| Deer | Custer State Park | Any Deer $156 Antlerless Whitetail $31 | N/A |
| Deer | East River | 1 Any Deer $40 1 Any Deer + 1 Doe Tag $50 1 Doe Tag $20 2 Doe Tags $30 | 1 Any Deer $286 1 Any Deer + 1 Doe Tag $336 1 Doe Tag $80 2 Doe Tags $120 |
| Deer | West River | 1 Any Deer $40 1 Any Deer + 1 Doe Tag $50 1 Doe Tag $20 2 Doe Tags $30 | 1 Any Deer $286 1 Any Deer + 1 Doe Tag $336 1 Doe Tag $80 2 Doe Tags $120 |
| Deer | Mentored | $5 | N/A |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | 1 Any Deer $40 1 Doe Tag $20 | 1 Doe Tag $80 |
| Deer | National Wildlife Refuge | 1 Any Deer $40 1 Doe Tag $20 | 1 Any Deer $286 1 Doe Tag $80 |
| Deer | Special Buck East River | $175 | N/A |
| Deer | Special Buck West River | $175 | $560 |
| Deer | Apprentice | $5 | $10 |
| Elk | Archery | Any Elk $185 | N/A |
| Elk | Black Hills | Any Elk $185 | N/A |
| Elk | Custer State Park | Any Elk $316 | N/A |
| Elk | Prairie | Any Elk $185 | N/A |
Turkey License Types & Costs 2021
| Season | Resident Fee | Nonresident Fee |
| Turkey | Archery | $25 | $100 |
| Turkey | Black Hills Spring | $25 | $100 |
| Turkey | Custer State Park Spring | $25 | N/A |
| Turkey | Prairie Spring | 1 Male Turkey $25 2 Male Turkeys $35 | 1 Male Turkey $100 2 Male Turkeys $125 |
| Turkey | Prairie Fall | 1 Any Turkey $15 2 Any Turkey $20 | 1 Any Turkey $90 2 Any Turkey $100 |
| Turkey | Mentored Spring | $5 | N/A |
| Turkey | Mentored Fall | $5 | N/A |
Links to Official Sites
South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks