Municipal Deer Licenses
City of Rapid City Archery Antlerless Deer License
A limited public archery hunt has been set up to provide an opportunity in certain areas within the city limits of Rapid City. This antlerless deer hunting opportunity will be administered cooperatively by the Rapid City Police Department and South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. People interested must apply on-line for a municipal deer license. The application period will open on June 27 and close on July 18 at 8 a.m. Central time.
This hunting opportunity will have 7 designated regular hunting zones (see maps below). There will be 8 hunt periods each lasting 28 days. Hunt periods will overlap but no more than 2 hunters will be allowed on any hunt zone at any time. When applying for the municipal license, hunters will be able to choose which time period they wish to hunt. Applicants will be able to make a first and second choice as to which sessions they would like to apply for. Hunt units will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis at the mandatory orientation following the notification of successful applicants.
Dates for 2023 Rapid City Municipal Archery Antlerless Hunt include:
Sept 1-Sept 28
Sept 15-Oct 12
Sept 29-Oct 26
Oct 13-Nov 9
Oct 27-Nov 23
Nov 10-Dec 7
Nov 24-Dec 21
Dec 8, 2023-Jan 1, 2024
The following criteria and rules will apply to this Rapid City limits archery hunting opportunity:
• A hunter must be a resident of South Dakota.
• A hunter must be 18 years of age to hunt alone. A hunter under the age of 18 must be accompanied (within arm’s reach) by a qualified adult supervisor.
• A hunter must possess a hunter safety education certificate.
• Individuals interested in this archery hunt must apply online for the opportunity to draw a municipal license. If a person draws a municipal license, that person can only hunt in the zone and session dates identified on the municipal license.
• If successful in drawing a municipal license, the license holder must attend a mandatory hunter briefing meeting prior to hunting. The dates and times of the briefing will be supplied in the email to successful applicants.
• Hunters must pass a proficiency test prior to applying for a municipal license. The proficiency test will require a hunter to place 3 of 4 arrows in an 8” diameter circle at 30 yards with a broadhead tipped arrow and the archery equipment to be used while hunting with the municipal license.
• Only legal archery equipment can be used during this hunt.
• A hunter must obtain and display a Parking Permit distributed by GFP in his or her vehicle while the hunter is hunting pursuant to the terms of the municipal license.
• All participants must complete and send in their hunter survey even if they do not harvest a deer.
• Preference points will be issued for unsuccessful municipal license applicants.
• A person must have their municipal license in their immediate possession while hunting.
• Temporary hunting blinds or trees stands will be allowed, but blinds may not be placed prior to a particular hunter’s license period and must be removed by the last day of their 28-day window. Temporary tree stands may be used but the use of nails, screws, bolts, or anything that will cause lasting damage to the tree is prohibited.
• At no time will a hunter be allowed to drive a motor vehicle on the hunting property, except in designated parking zones (vehicle parking identification will be provided). You are allowed in your hunt zone only during your specified hunt dates.
• A person’s municipal license will be revoked if the hunter is found to be in violation of any of these rules.
• If other restrictions are implemented, hunters will be notified of those restrictions at the mandatory hunter briefing meeting or through e-mail correspondence with successful applicants.
If you have additional questions about this season, please call the GFP Rapid City Regional Office at 605.394.2391.
Blessed Sacrament Church Hunting Zone
Outdoor Campus West Archery Complex Hunting Zone
Park Drive Property Hunting Zone
Bailey Property Hunting Zone
Creek Drive Hunting Zone
W Minnesota
Mount Rushmore Rd
Sioux Falls Archery Antlerless Deer License ARD-MP3
Application Period: June 27 - July 19
Dates: September 1 - January 1
Archery is allowed only in designated areas within the City of Sioux Falls in an effort to reduce the white-tailed deer population within the city. Hunting is allowed either on privately owned land within a designated area on the northeast side of the city, or on properties owned by the City which are designated for archery.
Privately Owned Property
Landowners or operators in areas designated by the City (see map below) may archery hunt for deer or allow archery hunting for deer on their properties. Hunters must have written permission from the landowner/operator and then provide that written permission to the GFP Sioux Falls office (4500 S. Oxbow Ave.) in order to be granted a Sioux Falls Hunting Access Permit and parking pass. The Access Permit must be in the hunter’s possession while they are hunting and the parking pass must be hung in the window of the hunter’s vehicle. Hunters may purchase a ARD-MP3 Municipal Archery “antlerless” license to use in City limits, or they can use a ARD-ST1 Statewide Any deer license, a ARD-ER1 East river Any deer license, or an ARD-LM1 Antlerless whitetail deer license.
City Owned Property
The City allows hunting on certain City-owned properties. These hunts are managed by the Sioux Falls GFP office. Hunters apply online and designate their preferred hunting timeframes (see below) from June 27 – July 18. Access Permits are then randomly selected and successful applicants will be notified by email. All hunters must attend a mandatory pre-hunt safety meeting on August 21, 2023 at the Sioux Falls GFP office 4500 S. Oxbow Ave. Hunters will have a unit to themselves for two weeks, and units will be randomly assigned to hunters. One unit is reserved for disabled hunters. Permanent bale blinds will be set up in several units. Hunters must purchase an ARD-MP3 Municipal Antlerless Archery Deer license before the pre-hunt meeting and bring the license with them to the meeting. Hunters will receive their unit location and timeframe, Access Permit and parking permit at the meeting.
Dates for 2023 Sioux Falls Municipal Archery Deer Hunt include:
Sept 1-Sept 14
Sept 15-Sept 28
Sept 29-Oct 12
Oct 13-Oct 26
Oct 27-Nov 9
Nov 10-Nov 23
Nov 24-Dec 7
Dec 8-Dec 21
The following criteria and rules will apply to archery hunting upon City of Sioux Falls owned properties:
• A hunter must be a resident of South Dakota.
• A hunter must be 18 years of age to hunt alone. A hunter under the age of 18 must be accompanied (within arm’s reach) by a qualified adult supervisor.
• A hunter must possess a hunter safety education certificate.
• Only legal archery equipment can be used during this hunt.
• All participants must complete and send in their hunter survey even if they do not harvest a deer.
• Preference points will be issued for unsuccessful municipal license applicants.
• A person must have their municipal license in their immediate possession while hunting.
• Temporary hunting blinds or trees stands will be allowed, but blinds may not be placed prior to a particular hunter’s license period and must be removed by the last day of their hunting window. Temporary tree stands may be used but the use of nails, screws, bolts, or anything that will cause lasting damage to the tree is prohibited.
• At no time will a hunter be allowed to drive a motor vehicle on the hunting property, except in designated parking zones (vehicle parking identification will be provided). You are allowed in your hunt zone only during your specified hunt dates.
• A person’s municipal license will be revoked if the hunter is found to be in violation of any of these rules.
• If other restrictions are implemented, hunters will be notified of those restrictions at the mandatory hunter briefing meeting or through e-mail correspondence with successful applicants.
If you have additional questions about this season, please call the GFP Sioux Falls Regional Office at 605.362.2700
City of Custer Archery Municipal Deer License
A limited public archery hunt has been set up to provide an opportunity in certain areas within the city limits of Custer. This deer hunting opportunity will be administered cooperatively by the City of Custer and South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks in conjunction with the Custer County Sheriff’s Office. People interested must apply on-line for a municipal deer license. The application period will open on June 27 and close on July 18 at 8 a.m. Central Time.
This hunting opportunity will have 3 designated regular hunting zones (see maps below). There will be 5 hunt periods each lasting 14 days. When applying for the municipal license, hunters will be able to choose which time period they wish to hunt. Applicants will be able to make a first and second choice as to which sessions they would like to apply for. Hunt areas will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis at the orientation meeting.
Dates for 2023 Custer Municipal Archery Deer Hunt include:
Oct 16 – Oct 29
Oct 30 – Nov 12
Nov 13 – Nov 26
Nov 27 – Dec 10
Dec 11 – Dec 24
The following criteria and rules will apply to this Custer City limits archery hunting opportunity:
• A hunter must be a resident of South Dakota.
• A hunter must be 18 years of age to hunt alone. A hunter under the age of 18 must be accompanied (within arm’s reach) by a qualified adult supervisor.
• A hunter must possess a hunter safety education certificate.
• Individuals interested in this archery hunt must apply online for the opportunity to draw a municipal license. If a person draws a municipal license, that person can only hunt in the zone and session dates identified on the municipal license.
• If successful in drawing a municipal license, the license holder must attend a mandatory hunter briefing meeting prior to hunting. The dates and times of the briefing will be supplied in the email to successful applicants.
• A hunter is encouraged to fill their municipal license first. However, a hunter may utilize a valid and applicable archery license(s) from the SDGFP within their hunting zone and hunting period.
• Hunters must pass a proficiency test prior to applying for a municipal license. The proficiency test will require a hunter to place 3 of 4 arrows in an 8” diameter circle at 30 yards with a broadhead tipped arrow and the archery equipment to be used while hunting with the municipal license.
• A hunter must mark his or her arrows with his or her SD archery license number that is printed on his or her municipal archery license or their printed first and last name. The license number typically starts with the 2-digit year followed by 8 digits (ex. 22-0000000).
• Only legal archery equipment can be used during this hunt.
• A hunter must obtain and display a Parking Permit distributed by SDGFP in his or her vehicle while the hunter is hunting pursuant to the terms of the municipal license.
• All participants must complete and send in their hunter survey even if they do not harvest a deer.
• Preference points will be issued for unsuccessful municipal license applicants.
• A person must have their municipal license in their immediate possession while hunting.
• Temporary hunting blinds or trees stands will be allowed, but blinds may not be placed prior to a particular hunter’s license period and must be removed by the last day of their 28-day license window. Temporary tree stands may be used but the use of nails, screws, bolts, or anything that will cause lasting damage to the tree is prohibited.
• At no time will a hunter be allowed to drive a motor vehicle on the hunting property, except in designated parking zones (vehicle parking identification will be provided). You are allowed in your hunt zone only during your specified hunt dates.
• A person’s municipal license will be revoked if the hunter is found to be in violation of any of these rules.
• If other restrictions are implemented, hunters will be notified of those restrictions at the mandatory hunter briefing meeting or through e-mail correspondence with successful applicants.
If you have additional questions about this season, please call the GFP Rapid City Regional Office at 605.394.2391.
Golf Course Hunting Zones West and East
Big Rock Park Hunting Zone
