Nonresident Waterfowl
South Dakota nonresident waterfowl licenses during the fall are limited in number and distributed by a lottery drawing. Hunters must submit an online application and fee.
See application for specific dates.
Season Information
Applicants must be a minimum of age 12, or will turn 12 by December 31, to be eligible for the drawing. Hunters age 16 and older must have a valid Federal Waterfowl Stamp in possession to be legal, as well as the Migratory Bird Certificate.
A separate nonresident small game license is required to hunt small game, such as pheasants and grouse.
- After November 1, there is no limit to the number of Nonresident Waterfowl Licenses a hunter may possess.
TThere are 100 licenses available for youth. Nonresident youth can hunt statewide, during the Youth Waterfowl season. Nonresident hunters who have not reached the age of 16 by September 7, 2024, are eligible for this license.
Nonresidents may hunt within the Unit 1 boundaries.
Unit 1 Only: 15
Three times the daily limit, taken according to the daily limit.
License Requirements
Applicants must be a minimum of age 12, or will turn 12 by December 31, to be eligible for the drawing. Hunters age 16 and older must have a valid, signed Federal Waterfowl Stamp in possession to be legal. Applicants need to purchase their Migratory Bird Certificate prior to hunting in the season. A separate nonresident small game license is required to hunt small game such as pheasants and grouse.
Applicants may receive no more than one Nonresident Waterfowl license before November 1. Beginning November 1, there is no limit to the number of Nonresident Waterfowl Licenses a hunter may possess. Applicants are also eligible for one Nonresident September Canada Goose licenses, which does not count against the harvest limit of regular Nonresident Waterfowl licenses.
Unit Maps
See Waterfowl Hunting Zones map below.
- NRW-00A-86: Charles Mix, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay and Union counties. License valid for entire season.
- NRW-00B-86: Statewide, except area in units NRW-00A and NRW-11A. Effective July 1, 2020: License valid for two 5 day periods.
- NRW-11A-86: Bennett County. Applicants must choose two 5-day periods between (Oct. 16 -Dec. 19, 2021 and Jan. 8-16, 2022) in this unit. Successful applicants will receive two tags for Canada geese that may be taken according to daily and possession limits.
- NRW-00V-86: License valid on private land only in Brown, Campbell, Edmunds, Faulk, McPherson and Walworth counties. License valid for 3 consecutive days.
- NRW-00X-86: License valid on private land only in Hughes, Lyman, Potter, Stanley and Sully counties. License valid for 3 consecutive days.
- NRW-00Y-86: License valid on public and private land in Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Marshall, Roberts and Spink counties. License valid for 3 consecutive days.
- NRW-00Z-86: Statewide, except area in units 00A, 00X, 00V, 00Y and 11A. Valid on private land only. License valid for 3 consecutive days.
