3-day 2-bird Merriam's turkey hunt
About this hunt
| Hunting season: | Apr 5, 2025 - Jun 1, 2027 |
| Best time for hunting: | Apr 12, 2025 - May 23, 2027 |
Where you will hunt
Territory
| Fence type: | Not fenced |
| Territory size: | 4,000,000 acres |
| Languages spoken by staff: | English |
| Operating since: | 2018 year |
Structure by elevation
Plains: 30%, Hills: 70%Structure by landscape
Fields/Bush: 50%, Forest: 20%, Agricultural lands: 30%Entertainment services
Where you will stay
No accommodation providedHow to get there
Navigation guidelines
| Nearest airport: | Rapid City (RAP) Sioux Falls (FSD) and Bismarck (BIS) |
| Distance from airport: | 120 miles average |
| Transfer from airport: | No |
| Transfer from railway: | No |
Other information
| Gun rental: | No |
| Vaccination required: | No |
Terms
Price includes
- Transport on territory
- Guiding by PH
Price does NOT include
- Transfer from/to airport
- Hunting license
- Alcoholic drinks
- Gratuities
Cancellation
- Deposit and Payment Structure
- 1. Deposit Requirement: A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking. Hunt dates and specific ranches are booked in order of receipt of deposit. This deposit can range from $1000 to 50% of the total cost of the hunt depending on hunt.
- 2. Final Payment: The remaining balance is due 14 days before the hunt begins.
- Cancellation Policies
- 1. Transfer of Deposit: Deposits may be transferred to another hunter or a different hunt if notice is given 90 days before the hunt is scheduled.
- 2. Rescheduling: Hunts may be rescheduled for a later date, especially if you cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. This is subject to availability and may incur additional fees.
- 3. Refunds: A refund of the deposit (minus fees) will be available if the hunt hasn’t been scheduled or is cancelled no less than 90 days before the scheduled date.
- Force Majeure
- 1. Acts of God: Cancellations due to extreme weather, natural disasters, or other uncontrollable events may be treated differently. Clients will be offered rescheduling options or partial refunds in these situations.
- 2. Health Issues: If you need to cancel due to medical reasons, providing a doctor’s note may allow for rescheduling or partial refund.
- Specific Terms and Conditions
- 1. Documentation: Requirements for any supporting documents (e.g., medical certificates) for claims.
- 2. Administrative Fees: Any additional fees that may apply for processing cancellations or rescheduling.
Wounding
If an animal is wounded and not immediately retrieved, your guide and landowner will decide on how to proceed based on the circumstances and situation. It is likely that a wounded animal will be treated as if the tag is filled and all efforts by the hunter for the remainder of the hunt will be focused on finding and harvesting that specific animal.Payment
Deposit
Final payment
Paid 14 days before huntPayment notes
TAGs & licenses
Big Game
Most big game hunting in South Dakota is allocated through a drawing (lottery) system. Residents have the majority of tags, while non-residents have limited opportunities (no more than 8% of most firearm deer and antelope tags) mostly with leftover tags and archery hunts.
Deer: South Dakota offers multiple deer seasons by region, weapon and various controlled unit hunts. Residents apply in lotteries for each season/tag type and can generally get at least one deer tag per year. Non-residents are not eligible for drawing in some firearms areas and have limited opportunities in others. Non-resident Archery Deer licenses for public land are available via a draw and private land licenses via OTC.
Pronghorn: All pronghorn licenses are allocated by draw. Non-residents are capped at 8% of firearm antelope tags as well. There is a separate Archery Antelope license through a draw for public-land access (private-land archery antelope is unlimited).
Elk, Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Goat tags are extremely limited and resident-only.
Mountain Lion hunting is open-entry – residents can simply buy a Mountain Lion license OTC and hunt during the season (harvest is limited by a quota). Non-residents are not allowed to hunt mountain lions in South Dakota.
Wild Turkey: Spring Turkey tags are allocated by draw for residents first, with usually some leftover tags that non-residents can then purchase OTC with certain areas restrictions applied. There is also a separate Archery Spring Turkey license that is unrestricted (available OTC to residents, and to non-residents after April 1 in limited numbers). In Fall, a limited number of turkey licenses are available by draw mostly for residents. Overall, non-residents have opportunities mainly for Turkeys on private land with leftover tags or the statewide archery Turkey license.
Small Game
South Dakota is famous for Pheasant hunting, other small game includes Grouse, Partridge, Quail, Rabbits, Squirrels, and waterfowl (Ducks, Geese, Cranes) as well as fur-bearing animals. Hunters need a Small Game License or a Combination License to hunt small game.
Waterfowl for non-residents is restricted: they must apply for a limited number of Non-Resident Waterfowl Licenses (for Duck / Goose) by lottery. Residents can buy waterfowl privileges with their license OTC.
All hunters pursuing migratory birds need a free HIP registration. South Dakota also requires a State Migratory Bird Certification for hunting waterfowl together with a Federal Duck Stamp.
Coyotes, skunks, prairie dogs are unprotected and can be hunted year-round with just a basic license, trapping requires a separate license.
Documents Needed
- Small Game or Combination Hunting License
- Big Game License + Tag
- Habitat Stamp
- Migratory Bird Certification (HIP), State Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Duck Stamp
- Hunter Education Certificate
Minimum Hunter Age
South Dakota’s minimum age for firearm big game hunting is 12 years old. Youth ages 12–15 can take hunter safety courses and can obtain Youth Deer and Youth Antelope licenses (must be accompanied by an adult while hunting big game). For small game, youth as young as 10 can hunt under the Mentored Youth program
South Dakota also has an Apprentice Hunter License for those over 16 who haven’t taken hunter ed – allowing them to hunt small game under supervision of a licensed adult (this is for one year only).
More Information
- https://gfp.sd.gov/ (South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks)
This price includes:
trips worldwide
with no booking fees
from other hunters