Hunt
Pierre
Experience the BEST hunting in South Dakota!
Make Pierre your hunting tradition. From the shores of Lake Oahe to the Fort Pierre National Grasslands, Pierre has a rich diversity of game and year-round hunting.
Convenience
Comfort
Find lodging with a variety of amenities, and for every budget. Most options are dog friendly. All are excited to welcome hunters.
Wild
Game
Pheasant Hunting
Residents and visitors alike look forward to opening day of pheasant season like kids awaiting Christmas. Some call it, “pheasant fever.” Feelings of excitement, sleepless nights and an itchy trigger finger are all common symptoms of pheasant fever. Fortunately, we have the cure in Pierre, South Dakota.
Pheasants love our habitat! The mighty Missouri River does not only produce world-class walleye fishing, but also over 2,000 miles of shoreline open to public hunting. You can walk the picturesque shores of Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe in search of wild roosters who will make you earn every shot! Fortunately, we also have landowners in who focus on developing habitat for wildlife. Amazing guides and outfitters (link to chamber master) can make a traditional pheasant hunting adventure into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is especially beneficial to novice or youth hunters who just want to SEE a bird or fifty! These options coupled with a variety of public hunting access points and the Fort Pierre National Grasslands, makes the Pierre area one of the top producing pheasant hotspots in South Dakota.
Prairie Grouse
Birds of the prairie are beautiful and hearty. They have evolved as a species to withstand the harsh South Dakota weather and environmental extremities that constantly push back at them. The Fort Pierre National Grasslands is the epicenter of sharptailed grouse and greater prairie chickens hunters and birding enthusiasts have come to appreciate so much. In the spring, these birds display their talents for anyone dedicated enough to take the time to witness it. Their mating rituals are worthy of a David Attenbourough narrated documentary.
The sounds of these birds, on its own, can give you chills. Seeing it in person is a special experience.
Hunting these critters is a different story. Unlike pheasants, who use habitat for cover and protection from predators, prairie grouse use the openness of the prairie to their advantage. Many sets of eyes keep a keen lookout for anything potential predators. Once they sense danger, they take to the sky…and they aren’t coming down anytime soon. Just watch and enjoy the view. Long walks in the prairie, working your dogs and good shotgunning principles will lead to bagging sharpies and chickens on the prairies around Pierre. These birds can be found in large quantities on the Fort Pierre National Grasslands along with public lands north, east, south or west of Pierre/Fort Pierre, making us the best basecamp for your prairie grouse expedition.
Waterfowl
South Dakota is one of the most important waterfowl production states in the country. As a primary player in the massive Central Flyway, a large percentage of North America’s ducks and geese fly through the Oahe region.
The Lower Oahe Waterfowl Access Area is a great resource for residents and nonresidents alike seeking a waterfowl hunting adventure. This is a large area of public and privately owned lands north of Pierre dedicated to offering waterfowl hunting opportunities throughout the season. Pits and strips are made available on a first-come-first served basis in designated areas, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks offers FREE use of loaner trailers filled with decoys, blinds, flags and ear/eye protection. No need to haul your decoys to Pierre! Go to the LOWAA webpage to find out more.
Waterfowl hunting opportunities also exist just south of Pierre on the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. This is a great opportunity for nonresidents who were not lucky enough in the license lottery to still find amazing hunting opportunities. The hunting can be so good in these areas that many residents even hunt tribal lands.
Prairie Dogs
Nonresident hunters possessing any valid South Dakota hunting or fur bearer license (except for shooting preserve licenses) may shoot jackrabbits, coyotes, fox, gophers, ground squirrels, opossum, skunk, crow, and prairie dogs. Prairie dogs are a favorite of hunters to chase when staying in central South Dakota. The Fort Pierre National Grasslands possesses some great prairie dog hunting opportunities on both public and private land. We get asked a lot about finding these towns and hunting the prairie dogs that live there. Before you do anything, go into the Fort Pierre National Grasslands Office in Fort Pierre and have a chat with forest service staff. They will have maps, and maybe a few specific locations, to get you started on the right foot.
Another great way to find huntable prairie dog towns is by searching online for them. Not by plugging keywords into a search engine, but by looking at your favorite maps program. Prairie dog towns can easily be seen on satellite imaging. Yes, you’ll have to put in a bit of time searching, but once you find them, you’ll know. Have your paper map alongside while searching so you can make a permanent mark for future reference. (Insert screenshot of satellite image)
Ask before you hunt. If a prairie dog town you want to hunt is on private land (or you’re not sure) get permission before you begin shooting. You may even get a few more leads on other potential hunting spots. It is a good idea to offer the landowner a small token of your appreciation, and at the very least keep their land as pristine as you found it.
Deer
There are massive deer roaming the South Dakota prairies around Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe. Rules and regulations vary by region, and change frequently. Check in with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks for up-to-date information, draw statistics and application details.
Archery
This is your best bet as a nonresident hunter to tag a big South Dakota buck. Remember that all archery permits are valid within the Farm Island Recreation Area and LaFramboise Island Nature Areas in Hughes County from Oct. 1 – Jan. 1.
Archery deer season: Sept 1 – Jan. 1
Archery deer online application: Deadline April 1.
Firearms
Nonresident firearm