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Deer, Antelope, Buffalo, and Turkey
Central South Dakota offers a good assortment of big
game, including whitetail deer, mule deer, antelope and
turkey. These are hunted in separate firearm and archery
seasons occurring in August-December, with a second turkey
season from April to mid-May. Antelope, whitetails and mule
deer inhabit areas west of the Missouri River, including
the Fort Pierre National Grassland. East of the river, look
for whitetails in farmed areas. Wild turkeys are found in
wooded and brushy areas along the river.

Prairie Dogs and
Coyotes
Year-round hunting
and few restrictions
make coyotes and
prairie dogs popular
off-season game.
Waterfowl Found throughout
More than 15 million ducks and 750,000 geese South Dakota’s prairies
travel through South Dakota each October-January as and rolling hills, prairie
they migrate toward warmer climates. Located along dogs may be hunted
the Missouri River - the main corridor for many of these all year on private
waterfowl - Pierre offers excellent hunting of mallards, lands with the owner’s
pintails, gadwall, teal ducks and Canadian snow and permission and on
blue geese. February through May brings a second public lands, such
season, specifically for snow geese. as the Fort Pierre
National Grassland.
Pheasant and Grouse (National Grasslands Phone: 605.224.5517)
The Fort Pierre National Grassland supports premier grouse
hunting as well as maintaining an excellent population of Sporting Clays
pheasants. The territories of these gamebirds also overlap along The fastest growing shotgun sport in the nation, sporting clays
the Missouri River, and recent surveys show healthy populations give hunters a chance to sharpen their skills during the season
of both in the Pierre area, where the hunting season on public as well as off-season. The Willow Creek course is located within
lands runs from mid-October through beginning of January. a 20-minutes drive of Fort Pierre. www.willowcreekwildlife.
Numerous commercially operated preserves in Pierre offer com. The Izaak Walton League Course is located in Pierre -
pheasant hunting until early spring. Look for pheasants in 605.224.9723.
farmed fields, tree strips and wetlands; grouse prefer native
prairie grass and brushy areas. Hunting Licenses
A license is always required for hunting big or small game.
South Dakota issues resident and nonresident hunting licenses
in game-specific categories; application deadlines typically
fall two to four months before the season opens. Nonresident
licenses are available for all kinds of game, though some are
available only via lottery. Visit www.gfp.sd.gov for season dates
and license application deadlines, and avoid disappointment
by planning your trip well ahead of hunting season.
U.S. and Canadian citizens who are over 16 and have valid
Social Security numbers (not required of Canadian citizens) can
purchase over-the-counter licenses online at www.gfp.sd.gov;
a credit card and a printer are needed to buy the license and
print it for use. Parents may purchase youth permits for their
children.

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