all Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide Plan your 2025–26 SD hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to pronghorn to ducks. Whether you’re glassing a rutting buck on the Missouri River breaks, slipping decoys for teal over prairie potholes, or tracking coyote year‑round on private ranchland, South Dakota’s prairie grasslands, badlands, and wetlands deliver premier big game and small game opportunities under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in South Dakota? South Dakota supports a wide array of species: Big Game: Whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain elk, moose (Unit 1 draw), bighorn sheep (draw), mountain lion (quota), wild turkey (limited draw) Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, ring‑necked pheasant, sharp‑tailed grouse, gray partridge, fox & gray squirrels Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, pintail), Canada geese, snow geese, coots, rails, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, bobcat, fox, beaver, muskrat From Black Hills foothills to east‑river marshes, hunters pursue healthy state animal populations year‑round. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in South Dakota? On private lands with landowner permission—and a valid license—nuisance species like coyote, beaver, and muskrat carry no closed season and no bag limits, aiding predator control and fur‑harvest. Public Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and Game Production Areas enforce posted season dates and method restrictions. South Dakota Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail & Mule Deer Archery: Sept 15 – Nov 9, 2025 Youth Firearms: Nov 1–2, 2025 General Firearms: Nov 29 – Dec 7, 2025 (east river); Nov 22 – Nov 30 (west river) Muzzleloader: Dec 8 – Dec 14, 2025 Late Antlerless: Jan 2 – Jan 18, 2026 (remaining tags) Tags over‑the‑counter or draw; bag limit: one buck per license plus antlerless deer with extra tags. Pronghorn Antelope General Firearms & Archery: Sept 15 – Sept 30, 2025 Limited‑Entry (draw): Oct 1 – Oct 15, 2025 Antelope tags manage herd numbers; bag limit one buck per tag. Elk & Moose Elk Archery: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 (Units 1–3 OTC; others draw) Elk Rifle: Oct 10 – Oct 25, 2025 Moose (Unit 1 draw): Sept 15 – Sept 30, 2025 One bull or cow per tag; draw only for high‑demand units. Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Lion Sheep (draw only): Aug 15 – Dec 31, 2025 Cougar (quota): Feb 1 – Mar 31 & Aug 1 – Oct 31, 2025 Trophy hunts require permit; harvest reporting mandatory. Wild Turkey Spring Draw: Apr 1 – May 15, 2026 Fall Archery: Sept 15 – Oct 15, 2025 (WMAs) Turkey permits via draw; one bird per tag. South Dakota Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Game & Small Mammals Rabbit & Hare: Oct 1 – Mar 31, 2026 (8/day) Squirrel: Year‑round; 10/day Pheasant: Oct 10 – Jan 31, 2026 (3/day) Grouse & Partridge: Oct 1 – Jan 31, 2026 (3/day each) Shotguns with non‑toxic shot required; dogs permitted in WPAs under posted rules. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Early Teal: Sept 6 – Sept 27, 2025 Ducks & Geese: Oct 26 – Nov 27 & Dec 16 – Jan 31, 2026 (zones split) Youth Waterfowl Day: Sept 19–20, 2025 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 (25 & 15/day) Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 9; Dec 1 – Jan 15, 2026 (15/day) Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl stamp required National Wildlife Refuges and WPAs host migrations; daily duck limit 6 with species sub‑limits. Bag Limits by Species Whitetail & Mule Deer: 1 buck; antlerless by extra tag Pronghorn Antelope: 1 buck per tag Elk & Moose: 1 per permit Bighorn Sheep & Cougar: 1 per permit Wild Turkey: 1 per tag Ducks: 6/day; sub‑limits apply Geese: 5/day Rails & Coots: 25 & 15/day Pheasant: 3/day; 9 possession Rabbit & Hare: 8/day Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private lands Bag limits support sustainable harvests and population health. License & Tags Information for South Dakota Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid SD GFP license and required permits: Resident Hunting License: $32; Nonresident: $140 Deer Tags: $10; antlerless $5 Antelope Tags: $10; draw zones $15 Elk/Moose Tags: $30–$150; draw only Waterfowl Stamp & HIP: $7; Federal Duck Stamp required Furbearer License: $12; includes coyote, muskrat, beaver Turkey Permit: $15; draw application Licenses fund habitat conservation, wildlife management, and enforcement; draw applications open early spring. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader SD GFP authorizes: Archery: Compound, recurve bows, crossbows (Zones 1–5 archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) in rifle seasons Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms during December season Dogs & Bait: Allowed for waterfowl retrievers; predator control on private lands Ensure compliance with caliber, draw weight, and non‑toxic shot requirements. Regulations & Resources SD GFP regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (small game may extend to legal sunset) Game Management Unit Maps: Online GIS for all big game and waterfowl zones Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for deer, antelope, elk, moose within 48 hrs via Outdoor Campus portal Special Areas: National Wildlife Refuges, WPAs, and CWD monitoring zones Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP): https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/HuntingandTrappingHandbook_2024.pdf With structured seasons, defined bag limits, and accessible license systems, South Dakota delivers exceptional hunts for whitetail deer, pronghorn, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and explore the Mount Rushmore State