Welcome to the South Dakota Hunting Seasons page. Updated US Hunting Seasons for 2024-2023.
As part of our comprehensive guide to US Hunting Seasons By State on this page you will find out “When Is Hunting Season?” for South Dakota
There is also general information on the different hunting seasons for a wide range of wild game species. You will find links to the relevant State Authority so you can make sure you have all the correct legal obligations in place before you start your hunt.
South Dakota provides the hunter with a wide range of game animals during hunting season including:-
Antelope, Deer, Bighorn sheep, Elk, Mountain Goat, Mountain Lion, Turkey and even Buffalo. There is also a wide range of small game and game bird hunting on offer.
The South Dakota hunting season website describes the Pheasant hunting in this State as follows:
“South Dakota is renowned world-wide for its pheasant hunting, and rightfully so. Did you know that only three times in the past 20 years has the annual pheasant harvest been under 1 million roosters, and those “down” years had well over 900,000 harvested birds.”
IMPORTANT. All care has been taking in preparing this hunting season information for you. Please check the relevant State Authority’s Website for further information and any changes to current US Hunting Season Regulations. We have provided a link to each States hunting season website for your convenience.
South Dakota Deer and Elk Hunting Season
Hunting Category |
Hunting Season 2024-2023* |
|---|---|
| Deer (Firearms) | Nov 1 – Dec 15 |
| Deer (Muzzleloader) | Dec 1-Jan 1 |
| Deer (Bow) | Dec 1-Jan 1 |
| Deer (Youth) | Sept 14-Jan 1 |
| Elk (Firearms) | Sept 1-Dec 31 |
| Elk (Bow) | Sept 1-Sept 30 |
* Season dates may vary by zone. Please check the relevant State Authority Website.
South Dakota Turkey Hunting Season
The South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks makes the following comments about the state’s Turkey hunting season.
“Wild turkeys are found in the Black Hills, riparian drainages with suitable woodland habitat, and in established woodland areas across the state. East of the Missouri River most of the suitable habitat has eastern wild turkeys whereas west of the Missouri river most suitable habitat will have Merriam’s subspecies. On the South Dakota prairie, wild turkeys will utilize landscapes with minimal forested habitat as long as sufficient grasslands and foraging resources are available.”
Hunting Category |
Hunting Season 2024-2023* |
|---|---|
| Spring (Firearms) | Apr 13 – May 31 |
| Spring (Bow) | Apr 6 – May 31 |
| Fall (Firearms) | Nov 1 – Jan 31 |
* Season dates may vary by zone. Please check the relevant State Authority Website.
South Dakota Small Game Hunting Season
Hunting Category |
Hunting Season 2024-2023* |
|---|---|
| Rabbit | Sept 1-Feb 29 |
| Tree Squirrel | Sept 1-Feb 29 |
| Bobcat | Dec 26 – Feb 15 |
| Coyote | Open all Year |
| Raccoon | Open All Year |
* Season dates may vary by zone. Please check the relevant State Authority Website.
Game Bird Hunting Season
The South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks makes the following comments about the states Duck hunting season.
“Eastern South Dakota is located within the important waterfowl breeding grounds known as the “Prairie Pothole” region. The area was scarred by glaciers at the end of the last ice age resulting in landscape dotted with lakes, wetlands and streams where ducks abound. Areas west of the Missouri River can be important waterfowl production areas as well, with vast areas of intact grassland, rivers and stock ponds.
These wetland resources are what make South Dakota a duck hunter’s paradise. From small pothole hunting with a dozen decoys, layout blinds in corn fields for feeding ducks, or hunting big water on the Missouri River or glacial lakes, South Dakota provides many duck hunting opportunities.”
Hunting Category |
Hunting Season 2024-2023* |
|---|---|
| Ducks | Sept 28 – Jan 16 |
| Canada Goose | Sept 7 – Feb 16 |
| Quail | Oct 19 – Jan 5 |
| Ruffed Grouse | Sept 21 – Jan 5 |
| Pheasant | Oct 12-14 & Oct 19-5 |
* Season dates may vary by zone. Please check the relevant State Authority Website.
South Dakota Game Hunting Season
South Dakota has a wide range of other game animals that can be hunted during hunting season.
Hunting Category |
Hunting Season 2024-2023* |
|---|---|
| Mountain Lion | Open All Year (Dec 26-31 some zones) |
| Antelope (Firearms) | Sept 28 – Oct 13 |
| Antelope (Bow) | Aug 17 – Sept 19 & Oct 14-31 |
| Mountain goat | Sept 1 – Dec 31 |
| Bighorn sheep | Sept 1 – Dec 31 |
| Buffalo (Non trophy) | Oct 15 – Nov 15 |
| Buffalo (Trophy) | Nov 15 – Jan 17 |
* Season dates may vary by zone. Please check the relevant State Authority Website. Trophy and non-trophy buffalo hunts take place in the Custer State Park
I hope you have found this State hunting season information helpful in planning your next great hunting adventure. Please feel free to share this page with your hunting buddies. In addition to these US Hunting Seasons by State pages, you may be interested in these posts.
Good Luck!!