Small Game
The pheasant owns bragging rights to South Dakota hunting, but we are also home to some of the most popular small game hunting animals in the nation: mourning dove, cottontail rabbit, squirrel, sharptail grouse, and more.
Don't limit yourself. Your South Dakota small game hunting license is your passport to all of these opportunities.
Small Game Hunting Season Date Table
| Season | Start | End |
| American Crow (fall) | Sept. 1, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2012 |
| American Crow (spring) | March 1, 2012 | April 30, 2012 |
| Bobwhite Quail | Oct. 20, 2012 | Jan. 6, 2013 |
| Common Snipe | Sept. 1, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2012 |
| Cottontail Rabbit | Sept.1, 2012 | Feb. 28, 2013 | Mourning Dove | Sept. 1, 2012 | Jan. 6, 2013 |
| Partridge | Sept. 15, 2012 | Jan. 6, 2013 |
| Pheasant | Oct. 20, 2012 | Jan. 6, 2013 |
| Sharptail, Ruffed Grouse/Prairie Chicken | Sept. 15, 2012 | Jan. 6, 2013 |
| Sage Grouse | 2012 Season Pending | |
| Tree Squirrel | Sept. 1, 2012 | Feb. 28, 2013 |