Bounty Program

On March 6, 2026, the GFP Commission passed a resolution to conduct the Youth Trapping Recruitment Program and Coyote Bounty Program for 2026.

Youth Trapping Recruitment Program Details

The Youth Trapping Recruitment Program begins on March 1 for youth under the age of 18. The program is open until July 1, or until the maximum payout of $200,000 is reached.

Species Included: Raccoons, striped skunks, badgers, opossums, and red fox. 

(Coyotes are not eligible to be taken during the month of March and are not included in the Youth Trapping Recruitment Program)

Time Period: To be eligible for the program, the species listed above must be harvested during the program timeframe and by respective age group.  The program is open from March 1-July 1 for resident youth under 18, or until the maximum payout of $200,000 is reached.

Price Per Tail: $10

• Youth Trapping Recruitment Program Terms and Conditions
• Youth Trapping Recruitment Program FAQs

Coyote Bounty Program Details

The Coyote Bounty Program begins on April 1 for all South Dakota residents. The program is open until July 1, or until the maximum payout of $300,000 is reached.

Species Included: Coyotes

Time Period: The program is open from April 1-July 1 for South Dakota residents, or until the maximum payout of $300,000 is reached.

Price Per Tail: $30

• Coyote Bounty Program Terms and Conditions
• Coyote Bounty Program FAQs

2026 Tail Turn in Opportunities

Live Tail Tracker

Details

Participants must submit the tail bone and entire tail of these species to receive payment. Participants can submit up to $590 worth of tails per household per program.

Participants may receive an email confirmation of the transaction if they so choose. 

License Requirements:

• Participants under the age of 18 and landowners harvesting predators from their own land are not required to have a license. 
• Participants 18 years of age and older must have one of the following licenses in order to hunt or trap coyotes: a resident predator/varmint license, a resident small game license, a resident youth small game license, a resident big game license, a license to take fur-bearing animals, or a resident turkey license.
• Participants must comply with South Dakota trapping and hunting rules and regulations, which can be found in the current hunting and trapping handbook or online.

Additional information and requirements:

• All animals submitted for this program must have been harvested (i.e. trapped or shot) in South Dakota in the program timeframe.
• During warmer weather, participants are asked to freeze all eligible tails prior to submission or bring them in within three days of being harvested.
• Road kill animals are not eligible.
• Payment will not be received upon submission of the tail(s). GFP will process payments and send a check in the mail approximately every 30 days.
• Upon tail submission, participants are required to sign a legal affidavit indicating the tails were obtained during the time period outlined above and that they came from an animal they harvested. Participants under the age of 18 will need their parent/legal guardian to sign a legal affidavit on their behalf.

Benton Howe Weekly Giveaway Winners

Each week, winners from four regions will be drawn for the Benton Howe Youth Trap Giveaway. Winners will receive one live trap, the National Trappers Association Trapping Handbook, a flyer about Benton's love for the outdoors, and a letter.

Week One	Wellington, Lodgepole Asher, Platte Zach, Montrose
Week Two
Week Three