Species You Can Hunt
- Mule Deer
- White-tailed Deer
- Elk
- Pronghorn
- Mountain Bighorn Sheep
- Mountain Goat
- Bison
- Mountain Lion
State Overview
South Dakota divides between the glaciated farmland and prairie-pothole country of the east, split by the Missouri River, and the grasslands, badlands, and forested Black Hills of the west.
It supports white-tailed and mule deer, pronghorn, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat, and is world-famous for its pheasant hunting. Big game is managed through a resident-focused draw, with many premium hunts difficult for nonresidents to access.
Licensing & Draw
How it works
South Dakota's big game hunting is managed by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks (GFP) and covers deer, antelope, elk, turkey, bighorn sheep, and mountain lion. Most big game licenses are awarded through a draw that uses preference points.
The system strongly favors residents: many hunts are resident-only or heavily resident-weighted, and nonresident access to deer, elk, and antelope is limited. The big game license is an all-in-one form combining the license and the carcass tag.
You apply for a specific season/unit license, and preference points accumulate for a given draw until you're successful. Applicants with more points are favored, and drawing typically resets your points for that license.
Because demand is high for the best hunts (and many are resident-only), building points over several years is often necessary for premium tags.
Applying & deadlines
Applications are submitted online through GFP. For most draws you rank first, second, and third choices of season/unit, and groups can apply together.
First choice is the most important, since higher-point applicants are served first; lower choices fill from tags that remain.
South Dakota runs many separate deer and other big game seasons, each with its own application deadline through the spring and summer. Because dates vary by season and shift each year, confirm the exact deadlines and result dates in the current hunting handbook.
Draw mechanics
Tags are awarded in a preference-point draw where first-choice applicants with the most points are drawn first; remaining tags then flow to lower choices. This means popular units can require several accumulated points.
How TAGZ turns these mechanics into projected draw odds is covered separately in the odds methodology.
Fees at a glance
Figures are approximate—see the current fee schedule. Resident big game licenses are relatively inexpensive, while nonresident licenses cost substantially more and are limited in availability.
Elk, bighorn sheep, and other premium licenses carry higher fees. Consult the SD GFP fee schedule for exact license and application amounts.
Good to Know
Many South Dakota hunts are resident-only or nearly so, so nonresidents should check availability carefully before planning. Deer hunting is split across regions (for example West River vs. East River) and multiple season types.
Elk and bighorn sheep are premium, low-quota hunts (bighorn is once-in-a-lifetime), and there are special opportunities such as Custer State Park hunts. Convictions for taking trophy animals can cause loss of accrued preference points.
Regulations
Hunting Regulation Brochures for South Dakota
Official season brochures published by the state wildlife agency.
All Game Units
168 units — Unit details, topography, landcover, and access are open to everyone.