Limited Issue Licenses
Including Big Game, Nonresident Waterfowl, and Paddlefish
Limited issue licenses, as the name implies, are restricted to a certain number of hunters, or a certain number of animals to be harvested by an individual. All of these licenses require an application. Here's the process:
Check Application Forms and Deadlines
Season Information & Application FormsSubmit any of these applications ONLINE |
Application Available (tentative) |
First Deadline Date | Season Start Date |
Season End Date |
| Pronghorn Antelope | ||||
| Archery Antelope | July | No deadline | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Firearms Antelope | July | Aug. 10 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Custer State Park Antelope | July | Aug. 10 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Deer | ||||
| Special Buck (East River) | late March | April 20 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Special Buck (West River) | late March | April 20 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Custer State Park Deer (resident only) | mid April | May 18 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Youth Deer | late May | No deadline | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Archery Deer | July | No deadline | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Adams Nature Preserve Archery Antlerless Deer Application |
July | No deadline | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Black Hills Deer | late June | July 20 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| West River Deer & West River Landowner Deer |
late June | July 20 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| East River Deer (resident) & East River Landowner Deer |
late June | Aug. 31 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| East River Deer (nonresident) | Oct. 19 | 2012 Season Pending | ||
| Muzzleloader Deer | mid July | Aug. 31 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| National Wildlife Refuge Deer | late July | Aug. 31 | Varies by refuge | |
| Resident-only Elk, Bighorn Sheep & Mt. Goat | ||||
| All Resident-only Elk | May | May 18 | Varies by unit | |
| Archery Elk | early May | May 18 | Varies by unit | |
| Custer State Park Elk | May | May 18 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Prairie Elk | May | May 18 | Varies by unit | |
| Resident-only Black Hills Bighorn Sheep | May | May 18 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Resident-only Custer State Park Bighorn Sheep | No season | |||
| All Resident-only Mt. Goat | No season | |||
| Turkey | ||||
| Spring Turkey (Black Hills) | February | No deadline | Apr. 14, 2012 | May 20, 2012 |
| Spring Turkey (Prairie and Custer State Park) | January | Feb. 17 | Apr. 14, 2012 | May 20, 2012 |
| Spring Turkey (Archery) | February | No deadline | Apr. 7, 2012 | May 20, 2012 |
| All Fall Prairie Turkey | late June | July 20 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Waterfowl | ||||
| Nonresident Fall Waterfowl | June | July 6 | See Duck and Goose season information | |
| Tundra Swan | June | Aug. 10 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Special Canada Goose | July 6 | 2012 Season Pending | ||
| Other | ||||
| Mountain Lion | November | No deadline | Jan. 1, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2012, or ends with quota |
| Mentored Hunts (resident only) | February | No deadline | Varies by unit | |
| Gavins Point Dam Paddlefish (archery & snagging) | May | May 18 | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Lake Francis Case Paddlefish (snagging) | January | Feb. 17 | May 1, 2012 | May 31, 2012 |
| Resident Big Game Depredation | No deadline | If needed | ||
Friday dates listed above represent paper application deadlines. Online applications are accepted until 8 a.m. Central Time the following Tuesday.
For 2nd and 3rd application deadlines (if available), see the respective application via the above links.
For "No Deadilne" license, spplicants may purchase a license throughout the season by applying to the License Office in Pierre either online or through the mail. Please allow ample time (7-10 business days) for the license to be processed and mailed to you before you leave for your hunt. These licenses are not sold at any other GFP office.
Next Steps
- You can check License Draw Statistics to see how many people drew a tag in your unit last year.
- If you are ready to apply, you can submit your application online
- After you've applied, you can check your application status to see what you have applied for, and if you were successful in the drawing.
- If you aren't drawn, you may still have a shot. Just check for Leftover Licenses.
- If you are worried about missing a deadline, sign up to receive notices of when applications are being taken, and when deadlines are approaching.