South Dakota Rifle Mule Deer Hunt

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)