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South Dakota Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against SD Game, Fish and Parks before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $32 · nonresident $140. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

Deer (White-tailed and Mule Deer) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery Deer - statewideSep 1, 2026Jan 1, 2027Archery Deer License
Apprentice and Mentored Deer - statewideSep 12, 2026Jan 1, 2027Apprentice or Mentored Big Game License
Black Hills DeerNov 1, 2026Nov 30, 2026Black Hills Deer License (draw)
Custer State Park DeerNov 1, 2026Nov 30, 2026Custer State Park Deer License (draw)
West River DeerNov 14, 2026Nov 29, 2026West River Deer License (draw)
East River DeerNov 21, 2026Dec 6, 2026East River Deer License (draw)
East and West River Antlerless DeerDec 12, 2026Dec 20, 2026East/West River Antlerless Deer License (draw)
Muzzleloader Deer - statewideDec 1, 2026Jan 1, 2027Muzzleloader Deer License (draw)

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall Prairie TurkeyNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Fall Prairie Turkey License (draw; application Aug. 18 - Sept. 2, 2026)
Fall Mentored TurkeyNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Fall Mentored Turkey License (draw; application Aug. 18 - Sept. 2, 2026)

Elk Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Black Hills Archery Elk: Black Hills Elk unitsSep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026Black Hills Archery Elk License (draw, resident only)
Prairie Firearms Elk - all units: Prairie Elk unitsSep 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Prairie Firearms Elk License (draw, resident only; East River unit PRE-ERA over the counter)
Black Hills Firearms Elk - units H1A, H2A, H3A, H4A, H5A, H7A, H9A: Black Hills Elk unitsOct 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Black Hills Firearms Elk License, type 21 any elk (draw, resident only)
Black Hills Firearms Elk - units H1B, H4B, H7B, H9B (first segment): Black Hills Elk unitsOct 15, 2026Oct 31, 2026Black Hills Firearms Elk License, type 23 antlerless (draw, resident only)
Black Hills Firearms Elk - units H1B, H4B, H7B, H9B (second segment): Black Hills Elk unitsDec 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026Black Hills Firearms Elk License, type 23 antlerless (draw, resident only)
Black Hills Firearms Elk - units H2B, H2E, H2H, H3B, H3E: Black Hills Elk unitsOct 15, 2026Oct 31, 2026Black Hills Firearms Elk License, type 23 antlerless (draw, resident only)
Black Hills Firearms Elk - units H2C, H2F, H2I, H3C, H3F: Black Hills Elk unitsDec 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026Black Hills Firearms Elk License, type 23 antlerless (draw, resident only)
Black Hills Firearms Elk - units H2G, H2J, H3D, H3G: Black Hills Elk unitsDec 17, 2026Dec 31, 2026Black Hills Firearms Elk License, type 23 antlerless (draw, resident only)
Custer State Park Early Archery Elk (CEE): Custer State Park ElkSep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026Custer State Park Early Archery Elk License (draw, resident only)
Custer State Park Firearms Elk (CUE): Custer State Park ElkOct 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Custer State Park Firearms Elk License (draw, resident only)
Custer State Park Special Antlerless Elk - subunit CU1: Custer State Park ElkOct 15, 2026Oct 31, 2026Custer State Park Special Antlerless Elk License (draw, resident only)
Custer State Park Special Antlerless Elk - subunit CU2: Custer State Park ElkDec 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026Custer State Park Special Antlerless Elk License (draw, resident only)

Bighorn Sheep Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Black Hills Bighorn Sheep: Black Hills Fire Protection DistrictSep 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Bighorn Sheep License (once-in-a-lifetime draw, resident only)

Bobcat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
StatewideDec 26, 2026Feb 15, 2027Furbearer/Trapping License
NonresidentJan 9, 2027Feb 15, 2027Nonresident Furbearer/Trapping License

Crow Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
FallSep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Small Game or Combination License
SpringMar 1, 2027Apr 30, 2027Small Game or Combination License

Mourning Dove Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Small Game or Combination License + State Migratory Bird Certificate + HIP

Furbearers (Mink, Weasel, Muskrat, Beaver, River Otter, Raccoon and others) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Mink and Weasel - statewide, residentNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Furbearer/Trapping License
Mink and Weasel - nonresidentDec 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Nonresident Furbearer/Trapping License
Muskrat - Black Hills Fire Protection District and East RiverNov 1, 2026Apr 30, 2027Furbearer/Trapping License
River Otter - East River, resident onlyNov 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Furbearer/Trapping License
Raccoon, Beaver and Muskrat - nonresidentDec 1, 2026Mar 15, 2027Nonresident Furbearer/Trapping License
Coyote in Custer State Park: Custer State Park DeerNov 1, 2026Apr 30, 2027Small Game or Big Game License

Sharp-tailed Grouse and Ruffed Grouse Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Prairie grouse - statewideSep 19, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game or Combination License

Mountain Lion Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Statewide - land outside the Black Hills Fire Protection District: Mountain Lion - statewide outside the Black Hills Fire Protection DistrictDec 26, 2025Dec 25, 2026License type 76, one any mountain lion, $30, unlimited resident licenses

Mule Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery Deer - statewideSep 1, 2026Jan 1, 2027Archery Deer License
Black Hills DeerNov 1, 2026Nov 30, 2026Black Hills Deer License (draw)
West River DeerNov 14, 2026Nov 29, 2026West River Deer License (draw)
East River DeerNov 21, 2026Dec 6, 2026East River Deer License (draw)
Muzzleloader Deer - statewideDec 1, 2026Jan 1, 2027Muzzleloader Deer License (draw)

Gray Partridge and Chukar Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 19, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game or Combination License

Ring-necked Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth PheasantSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026Youth or Mentored Youth Small Game License
Resident-Only Pheasant, public landsOct 10, 2026Oct 12, 2026Resident Small Game, Combination, Senior Combination, Youth, Mentored or 1-Day Small Game License
Traditional Pheasant - statewideOct 17, 2026Jan 31, 2027Resident Small Game/Combination or Nonresident Small Game License

Greater Prairie Chicken Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Prairie grouse - statewideSep 19, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game or Combination License

Pronghorn Antelope Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery AntelopeAug 15, 2026Oct 31, 2026Archery Antelope License
Firearms AntelopeOct 3, 2026Oct 18, 2026Firearms Antelope License (draw)
Custer State Park Antelope: Custer State Park DeerOct 3, 2026Oct 18, 2026Custer State Park Antelope License (draw)

Quail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideOct 17, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game or Combination License

Cottontail Rabbit Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Small Game or Combination License

Sandhill Crane Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Open unitSep 26, 2026Nov 22, 2026Small Game or Combination License + State Migratory Bird Certificate + crane permit

Wilson's Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Small Game or Combination License + State Migratory Bird Certificate + HIP

Tree Squirrel Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular - statewideSep 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Small Game or Combination License

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Geese and Swan Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth Waterfowl - statewideSep 12, 2026Sep 13, 2026Youth or Mentored Youth license + State Migratory Bird Certificate
Duck, Coot and Merganser - High Plains: Duck High PlainsOct 10, 2026Jan 14, 2027Small Game/Combination or Nonresident Waterfowl License + Federal Duck Stamp + State Migratory Bird Certificate
Duck, Coot and Merganser - Low Plains North Zone: Duck Low Plains North ZoneSep 26, 2026Dec 8, 2026Small Game/Combination or Nonresident Waterfowl License + Federal Duck Stamp + State Migratory Bird Certificate
Duck, Coot and Merganser - Low Plains Middle Zone: Duck Low Plains Middle ZoneSep 26, 2026Dec 8, 2026Small Game/Combination or Nonresident Waterfowl License + Federal Duck Stamp + State Migratory Bird Certificate
Duck, Coot and Merganser - Low Plains South Zone: Duck Low Plains South ZoneOct 24, 2026Jan 5, 2027Small Game/Combination or Nonresident Waterfowl License + Federal Duck Stamp + State Migratory Bird Certificate
Canada Goose - August Management Take, resident only: August Goose Management Take areaAug 15, 2026Aug 31, 2026Resident license + Federal Duck Stamp + State Migratory Bird Certificate
Canada Goose - Unit 1: Canada Goose Unit 1Sep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026Small Game/Combination or Nonresident Waterfowl License + Federal Duck Stamp + State Migratory Bird Certificate
Canada Goose - Unit 2: Canada Goose Unit 2Nov 2, 2026Feb 14, 2027Small Game/Combination or Nonresident Waterfowl License + Federal Duck Stamp + State Migratory Bird Certificate
White-fronted Goose - statewideSep 26, 2026Dec 8, 2026Small Game/Combination or Nonresident Waterfowl License + Federal Duck Stamp + State Migratory Bird Certificate
Light Goose - statewideSep 26, 2026Jan 8, 2027Small Game/Combination or Nonresident Waterfowl License + Federal Duck Stamp + State Migratory Bird Certificate
Tundra Swan - open unit, by applicationOct 3, 2026Jan 8, 2027Tundra Swan License (application only, one bird per licence)
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with SD Game, Fish and Parks before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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