Goose hunting
The hunting season structure for the fall goose seasons are set in late summer. Nonresident licenses are limited in number and issued through an application process and lottery drawing. The application deadline for this drawing is early July.
Waterfowl License Information
Nonresident September Canada Goose Information
Lower Oahe Waterfowl Access Program
Hunting Regulations
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
GOOSE HUNTING TOOLS
- Waterfowl population index / hunting opportunity thunderstorm map.
This map will be updated on a weekly basis by area GFP field staff and should provide an indicator of hunting opportunity. - Missouri River Fall Waterfowl Counts: Aerial surveys conducted throughout fall to estimate goose and duck numbers staging on Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe.
- Public Hunting Areas
- Hunter Harvest Survey Reports
Canada Goose
The Canada goose season includes brants.
Daily Limit: 15 - from 2013 Season Dates Pending - ; 3 - for remainder of season
Possession Limit: Twice the daily limit
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Unit 1
- Season Dates: 2013 Season Dates Pending -
- This unit covers most of the state, except those areas described in Units 2 and 3
- From Sept. 1-30 nonresidents may not hunt in Beadle, Brookings, Hanson, Kingsbury, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Sanborn, Turner and Union counties. More information on the NR September Canada Goose season.
- Feed the Hungry: Help feed the hungry with Sportsmen Against Hungers' goose donation program. Geese taken from September 1-21 may be donated to these participating processors. FREE - it does not cost you to donate your geese! View participating processors.
Unit 2
- Season Dates: 2013 Season Dates Pending -
- The counties of Perkins, Gregory, Lyman, Stanley, Hughes, that portion of Potter County west of US Hwy 83, that portion of Sully County west of US Hwy 83, portions of Hyde, Buffalo, Brule, Charles Mix, and Bon Homme counties south and west of a line beginning at the Hughes-Hyde county line on SD Hwy 34, east to Lees Blvd., southeast to SD Hwy 34, east 7 miles to 350th Ave, south to I-90 on 350th Ave, south and east on SD Hwy 50 to Geddes, east on 285 St. to US Hwy 281, south on US Hwy 281 to SD Hwy 50, east and south on SD Hwy 50 to the Bon Homme-Yankton county boundary, that portion of Fall River County east of SD Hwy 71 and US Hwy 385, that portion of Custer County east of SD Hwy 79 and south of French Creek, and that portion of Dewey County south of BIA Road 8, BIA Road 9 and the section of US Hwy 212 east of the BIA Road 8 junction.
Unit 3
- Season Dates: 2013 Season Dates Pending -
- Resident Bennett County Canada Goose Information
- Also open to resident Canada goose hunting by special permit from Oct. 20 - Dec. 23. Canada geese must be tagged immediately upon taking possession, and daily and possession limits apply.
- Open to all residents possessing a state small game license with state and federal waterfowl stamps.
White-Fronted Goose
- Season Dates:
2013 Season Dates Pending - - Daily Limit: 1
- Possession Limit: 2
Light Goose (Fall)
Includes snows, blues, Ross', and all other geese except Canada, brants, and white-fronted geese.
- Season Dates:
2013 Season Dates Pending - - Daily Limit: 20
- Possession Limit: Unlimited
Light Goose (Spring)
This Conservation Order is issued annually for a spring hunt to control an overabundance of these geese. Light geese generally migrate into the eastern one-third of South Dakota in late February to early March.
aUGUST GOOSE MANAGEMENT TAKE
This is a resident only August Management Take for Canada Geese.