Hunt

Big Game Regulations

All elk, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, mountain goat, and Custer State Park seasons are resident only. 

Tag Definitions

  • Any Deer: Whitetail or mule deer buck, doe, or fawn.
  • Any Buck: Whitetail or mule deer with visible antler.
  • Any Whitetail Deer: Whitetail only buck, doe, or fawn.
  • Any Whitetail Buck: Whitetail with visible antler.
  • Any Elk: Elk bull, cow, or calf.
  • Antlerless Deer/Elk: Deer/elk of either sex without visible antler.
  • Antlerless Whitetail: Whitetail only of either sex without visible antler.
  • Buck Antelope: Antelope with visible horns three inches or more in length.
  • Doe/Kid Antelope: Antelope of either sex without horns or with horns less than three inches in length.
  • Any Mountain Lion: Solitary mountain lion of either sex without a spotted coat.
  • Any Turkey: Wild turkey of either sex.
  • Male Turkey: Wild turkey with a visible beard/spurs.
  • Hen Turkey: Wild turkey without a visible beard/spurs.

Archery Equipment Restrictions 

A person hunting with bow and arrow may not use or possess any of the following:

  • Explosive, poisonous, hydraulic, or pneumatic points; 
  • Crossbows and draw-lock devices that hold the bow at partial or full draw except for persons with qualifying disabilities;
  • Electronic devices mounted to the bow that aid in the taking of game. However, cameras, video cameras and cell phones used exclusively for photographic purposes, lighted sight pins, and illuminated arrow nocks may be used;
  • Electronic arrow or electronic string releases;
  • Telescopic sights;
  • An arrow without a broadhead (fixed or mechanical) that has at least two metal cutting edges when hunting big game animals. However, an arrow tipped with any point may be possessed when used for practice;
  • A bow measuring less than 40 pounds pull when hunting an elk; 
  • A bow measuring less than 30 pounds pull when hunting big game animals other than elk.

Concealed Pistol

No firearm restrictions in place for any hunting season prohibit a licensee from otherwise lawfully carrying a concealed pistol while hunting.

Decoys

Decoys may be used for big game hunting.

Dog Use While Hunting Big Game

No one may use a dog for hunting big game, except for the following:

  • A dog that is leashed and under the control of a handler may be used to track and retrieve any big game animal that is wounded or presumed dead.
  • The use of dogs to hunt mountain lions is only allowed with a permit within the Black Hills Fire Protection District during specified hunting intervals and units. Outside the Black Hills Fire Protection District, the use of dogs to hunt mountain lions is allowed year round.

Fluorescent Orange or Pink

Any person hunting any big game animal, except turkey or mountain lion, with a firearm shall wear in a visible manner one or more fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink exterior garments. The exterior garment shall be a hat, cap, shirt, jacket, vest, coverall, or poncho worn above the waist. 

Legal Firearms/Equipment

No self-loading or auto-loading firearm that holds more than six cartridges may be used to hunt, pursue, shoot at, shoot, kill, or wound any big game animal. No firearm that is capable of being operated as a full automatic may be used to hunt, shoot, shoot at, wound, kill, or pursue any big game or small game animal. Shotguns must discharge a single ball or rifled slug weighing at least one-half ounce. Buckshot is prohibited.

Deer, Antelope, Mountain Lion:

Shoulder-held firearms using ammunition rated to produce at least 1,000 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and handguns using ammunition that is rated to produce at least 500 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, may be used to hunt deer, antelope, and mountain lion.

Only soft-point or expanding bullets are permitted. Shotguns must discharge a single ball or rifled slug weighing at least one-half ounce. Buckshot is prohibited. 

Elk:

It is illegal to use firearms that produce less than 1,700 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and that are smaller than .243 caliber to hunt elk. Only soft point or expanding bullets are permitted. Buckshot is prohibited. 

Turkey:

A person may not use a rimfire, centerfire, or muzzleloading rifle during the spring turkey season. In fall, shoulder-held firearms using ammunition that is factory-rated to produce at least 700 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and handguns using ammunition which is factory-rated to produce at least 500 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle may be used in the hunting of wild turkeys. Buckshot is prohibited. 

Muzzleloading Firearms:

In seasons restricted to muzzleloading firearms, telescopic sights are not allowed. 

Telescopic sights are those sights that utilize magnification. No person may hunt, shoot, shoot at, wound, kill, or  pursue any big game animal with any muzzle loading rifle which is less than .44 caliber. Muzzleloading handguns must discharge a projectile of .50 caliber or larger. 

Note: Hunters filling big game tags that are not restricted to archery or muzzleloaders may use any of the weapons described under “Legal Firearms” or “Archery” or any combination of weapons. Additionally, a person who holds a big game license to take a big game animal during the firearm season may take the animal by using a crossbow instead of a firearm. The crossbow shall have at least 125 pounds pull and have a working mechanical safety. Scopes may be used on crossbows. 

Nonlicensees/Accompaniment All Big Game Licensees

No person possessing a firearm, including a muzzleloading firearm or a bow and arrow may accompany a big game hunter in the field or cooperate as part of a big game hunting group unless the accompanying person possesses a big game license that is valid for the same geographic area and time of year as the licensee. The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who is legally licensed to hunt small game or exempt from license requirements and hunting only with a shotgun using shot shells.

No person hunting small game and accompanying a licensed firearm big game hunter in the field may use dogs while accompanying the big game hunter. 

Archery-Only Big Game Licensee

No person who is licensed in a season restricted to archery only may possess a firearm in the field while hunting big game with bow and arrow, except:

  • A person who possesses a firearm big game license that is valid for the same geographic area and time of year as the archery license, OR 
  • A person who is lawfully carrying a pistol.

Personal Property on Public Land

A person may not leave any property after 11 p.m. on public lands owned, leased, or controlled by GFP or in the water adjoining such an area, or within the right-of-way of the George S. Mickelson Trail unless that person is legally camped, lodged, or fishing or the property is located in a leased space designated for the specified use of that property. Unless otherwise posted as such, these restrictions do not apply to legally placed tree stands, elevated platforms, portable blinds, trail cameras, or trapping equipment on GFP lands. 

Except for legal tree stands, portable blinds, trail cameras, and trapping equipment all personal property must be removed from lands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the end of each day. 

Prohibited Felons

An individual who has a felony conviction might be prohibited from possessing a firearm by state or federal law. According to state law the term “firearm” includes any antique firearm and any muzzleloading rifle, muzzleloading shotgun, or muzzleloading pistol, including muzzleloading weapons that are designed to use black powder or a black powder substitute and cannot use fixed ammunition.

Restrictions

No one may discharge a firearm, muzzleloader, crossbow, or bow and arrow at any big game animal, except turkey may be taken with a shotgun using shot shells or with a bow and arrow, from within the rights-of-way of an improved highway including gravel township roads.

No one may discharge a firearm or other weapon across or from a National Forest Service road. 

No person may place any salt or salt lick or construct, occupy, or use any screen, blind, scaffold, or other device at or near any salt or salt lick for the purpose of enticing or baiting big game animals to the same for the purpose of hunting, watching for, or killing big game. 

No one may establish, utilize, or maintain a bait station from Aug.1 - Feb. 1, inclusive and from March 15 - May 31, inclusive, to attract any big game animal (including turkey). A bait station is a location where grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, hay, minerals (including salt), or any other natural food materials, commercial products containing natural food materials or by-products of such materials are placed or maintained as an attractant to big game animals for the purpose of hunting. The use of scents alone does not constitute a bait station. 

The bait station restriction does not apply to foods that have not been placed or gathered by an individual and result from normal environmental conditions or accepted farming, forest management, wildlife food plantings, orchard management, or similar land management activities. Individuals are exempt from the bait station requirements while participating in any research or depredation management activities directed by GFP. 

No person may establish, utilize, or maintain a bait station on lands leased for public hunting by the GFP or owned by the GFP.  

Additionally, the distribution of bait and hunting over bait is prohibited on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA). 

No one may use an electronic call when hunting big game (including turkey). Electronic calls are allowed for mountain lion hunting. 

No one may kill a big game animal not in season or kill a big game animal in season and not tag and claim the animal. 

Shooting Hours

All firearms and archery big game shooting hours (except turkey) are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Shooting hours for turkey season are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. 

Tagging and Transportation

The tag you receive with your license must be signed, dated, and securely attached to the big game animal at the time it is brought to a road or into any hunting camp, farmyard, or residence or before it is placed in or on a vehicle.

The locking seal issued with each big game license is an adhesive tag. The licensee shall sign the tag and date it by cutting out completely the month and date of kill only. The licensee shall attach the tag securely around one leg of a mountain lion, turkey, or swan. The licensee shall attach the tag securely to all hoofed big game animals:

  • Around one hind leg between the hoof and ankle joint;
  • Around the hock tendon directly above the ankle joint on one hind leg; or
  • Around the base of the antler or horn.

Tagging allows a big game animal to be transported and stored by the hunter or another person for the hunter.

No one may lend a license or tag to another or knowingly issue or aid in securing a license or preference point for any person not legally entitled to it.

No person may possess in the field or transport a big game animal (including boned out meat), except turkey, unless it is accompanied by the animal’s lawfully tagged leg or antler along with either the animal’s head or a hind quarter with the visible external sex organs left naturally attached to it. Any person licensed to take any deer, any elk, or any antelope is exempt from transporting the animal’s head or hind quarter with attached sex organs if the lawfully tagged leg accompanies the animal for such license. However, the provisions of this section do not apply to a big game licensee who transports big game parts (including boned out meat) from the licensee’s domicile to another location if the licensee possesses the big game tag or big game license entitling the licensee to the animal or to big game that has been cooked or cured, by means other than freezing, for personal consumption. If a person other than licensee transports big game animal parts (including boned meat) from the licensee’s domicile to another location, the tagged leg or a transportation permit must accompany the items being transported.

Any person who lawfully takes a wild turkey may remove edible portions from the turkey while in the field and transport providing the person also has in their possession the beard, leg and foot with the attached tag until the bird has arrived at the domicile of the processor. Any person licensed to take “any turkey” is exempt from transporting the beard.

Big game taken in another state or with a tribal license must be properly tagged when transported within South Dakota. If no tag was issued, the person in possession of the animal must provide proof the animal was lawfully taken. 

Disposal of Deer and Elk Carcasses

If any portion of the deer or elk carcass is transported from the county of harvest, hunters must dispose all carcass remains with a waste management provider, if an allowable trash item, or with a permitted landfill. Game processors and taxidermists, regardless of the location of harvest, are required to dispose of all carcass remains with a waste management provider, if an allowable trash item, or with a permitted landfill. 

If you are not moving a deer or elk carcass from the county of harvest, the regulations do not apply unless the carcass is delivered to a game processor or a taxidermist. Returning carcass remains to public lands and using road ditches to dispose of carcass remains is illegal. Make sure permission is granted if disposing on private land. 

Deer or elk carcasses from another state brought back into South Dakota must be disposed of with a waste management provider or landfill that accepts carcass parts. 

Deer or elk carcasses passing through South Dakota are exempt from any carcass disposal regulations. 

See Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations.

Trail Cameras on GFP Lands

Any trail camera placed on public lands owned, leased, or controlled by GFP may be attached to a tree, post, or other structure by utilizing no more than one nail, bolt, or screw. The use of trail cameras on private lands leased for public hunting by GFP is prohibited without the permission of the landowner. The name and address of the owner or user OR Customer Identification Number of the owner or user must be on the exterior of an unattended trail camera. A trail camera is a remotely activated device set to capture photos, video, sound, or other evidence of activity while the user is absent from the location.

Tree Stands/Portable Blinds on Public Land

Construction or use of permanent tree stands, permanent blinds, and climbing devices are prohibited on lands owned, leased, or controlled by GFP and on all private lands leased for public hunting by GFP. Portable tree stands, portable blinds, and climbing devices that do not utilize nails, wire, or bolts for attachment are allowed from August 1 - March 31, inclusive. Portable blinds may also be used during the spring turkey seasons by licensed spring turkey hunters. One screw-in “T” bolt may be used to stabilize a tree stand.

Removable screw-in steps may be used to access a tree stand. The name and address OR Customer Identification Number of the owner or user must be on the exterior of an unoccupied portable blind and legible from the ground on a tree stand. Other elevated platform devices that are not attached to a tree must meet the requirements of this rule for permitted dates and for labeling if left overnight or unattended. A properly labeled tree stand or portable blind on GFP land is privately owned property.

The use of nails, wires, screws, bolts, or screw-in steps is prohibited on National Wildlife Refuges and Waterfowl Production Areas, both managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Contact Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge for specifics on placement of deer stands within the Refuge. Call 605.546.8157 or visit fws.gov/sandlake.

Turkey Hunting Restriction

No turkey may be shot while roosting in a tree. Lead shot is legal for turkey hunting on all public lands.