South Dakota Deer Hunting 2025

Application Deadlines Non-Resident Fees Resident Fees Big Game Season Dates Draw Result Dates State Contact Information

West River Special Buck: April 15, 2025
Archery Deer: April 22, 2025
Archery Antelope: April 23, 2025
Sheep, Mtn Goat, Elk (Residents Only): May 20, 2025
Firearm Deer: June 17, 2025
Archery Limited Access Permits: July 1, 2025
Bison: August 7, 2025
Firearm Antelope: August 12, 2025
Points Only: December 15, 2025

FEES
Habitat Stamp Fee	$25.00
Trophy Bison	$6,506.00
Non-Trophy Bison	$3,256.00
Deer (West River, Black Hills, Refuge, Archery)	$375.00
Deer (West River Special Buck)	$650.00
Deer (Youth Only Antlerless)	$10.00
Antelope	$375.00
Antelope (Special Buck)	$650.00
Preference Point Only (Per Species)	$20.00

FEES
Habitat Stamp Fee	$10.00
Trophy Bison	$6,506.00
Non-Trophy Bison	$3,256.00
Deer (West River, Black Hills, Refuge, Archery)	$45.00
Deer (West River Special Buck)	$200.00
Deer (Youth Only Antlerless)	$5.00
Antelope	$45.00
Antelope (Special Buck)	$200.00
Preference Point Only (Per Species)	$5.00

SOUTH DAKOTA BISON SEASON DATES
Trophy Bull Hunts (Custer State Park)	Nov 17, 2025 – Jan 16, 026 (assigned dates)
Non-Trophy Hunts (Custer State Park)	Oct 6 – Nov 14 2025 (assigned dates)
SOUTH DAKOTA DEER SEASON DATES
Archery (All Areas)	Sep 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Firearm – West River	Nov 15 – Nov 30, 2025
Firearm – East River	Nov 22 – Dec 7, 2025
Firearm – Black Hills	Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2025
Firearm – Custer State Park	Nov 1 – Dec 15, 2025
Muzzleloader (All Zones)	Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
SOUTH DAKOTA ANTELOPE SEASON DATES
Archery	Aug 16 – Oct 31, 2025 (closed during firearm season)
Firearm & Special Draws	Oct 4 – Oct 19, 2025
SOUTH DAKOTA ELK SEASON DATES
Archery – Black Hills	Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2025
Firearm – Custer State Park	Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2025
SOUTH DAKOTA SHEEP SEASON DATES
Black Hills & Custer State Park Bighorn	Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2025

Disclaimer: Season dates vary by species and unit. Emergency orders may adjust dates. Verify with South Dakota GFP: https://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/

2025:
Archery Deer : April 22
Bighorn Sheep, Goat, Elk : Late May
Archery Antelope : April 23
Black Hills Deer : June 20
Firearm Deer : June 20
Firearm Antelope : Late August
Bison : Mid September

South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks

523 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
ph. 605-223-7660

APPLY

Unit	Unit Description
Black Hills Rifle Deer	Southwest corner of the state. The Black Hills unit has one of the highest deer densities in the state. There is plenty of accessible public land on this rut hunt, but hunters should try to get away from the roads to find better success. Hunters should have an enjoyable hunt and see a good number of bucks on this hunt. Hunters with any deer licenses are typically focused on targeting mule deer. 55% of the successful any deer license hunters took mule deer in 2023.
West River Rifle Deer, 02A	Westcentral portion of the state. This is one of the better mule deer areas in the state. Located in the middle of Pennington and Meade counties. With the majority of this unit being private land, hunting with an outfitter or getting access to private land can greatly increase your odds of a bigger buck. With that being said, about 7% of the unit is public land with access in the northeast corner of the unit. 74% of the successful any deer license hunters took mule deer in 2023.
West River Rifle Deer, 15A	Northwest corner of the state along the Montana and Wyoming borders. There are some mule deer, but the majority of the deer found in this unit are whitetails, and there is decent trophy potential. Located in Butte County. This is a large unit with over 350,000 acres of public access throughout. Notably, the northeast corner has a lot of BLM land. 64% of the successful any deer license hunters took mule deer in 2023.
West River Rifle Deer, 27A	Southwest corner of the state along the Wyoming border. Hunters can expect to see more mule deer than whitetail in this unit. This unit takes in portions of Custer and Fall River counties but excludes unit 27L. There are over 100,000 acres of ground with public walk-in access, but much of the unit is private land. However, there are some Forest Service, BLM, and state lands. 80% of the successful any deer license hunters took mule deer in 2023.
West River Rifle Deer, 27L	Southwest corner of the state in Fall River County. Decent trophy potential with whitetail and mule deer. This is the smallest West River unit and is limited to the Hill Ranch Game Production Area that is about 10,000 acres. Mule deer and whitetail inhabit this unit. 20% of the successful any deer license hunters took mule deer in 2023.
West River Rifle Deer, 35A	Northwest corner of the state located along the Montana and North Dakota borders. Decent trophy potential with whitetail and mule deer throughout. West side of Harding County. This is mostly grassland and breaks with around 225,000 acres of public access spread out over state and BLM land. There are also various pieces of private land with walk-in access, and Huntin’ Fool Endorsed Outfitters are available. 77% of the successful any deer license hunters took mule deer in 2023.
West River Rifle Deer, 35C	Northwest corner of the state along the North Dakota border. Decent trophy potential with whitetail and mule deer throughout. East side of Harding County. About 30% of the unit is made up of accessible public land and walk-in hunting areas. Custer National Forest Service land is excluded from this unit and is only available to 35L license holders. 83% of the successful any deer license hunters took mule deer in 2023.
West River Rifle Deer, 35L	Northwest corner of the state along the North Dakota border. Decent trophy potential with whitetail and mule deer throughout. East side of Harding County. About 30% of the unit is made up of accessible public land and walk-in hunting areas. Custer National Forest Service land is excluded from this unit and is only available to 35L license holders. 83% of the successful any deer license hunters took mule deer in 2023.
West River Rifle Deer, 49A	Westcentral portion of the state that borders the Black Hills just north of Rapid City. Good mule deer and whitetail hunting unit wide, especially on private land. This unit is comprised of 94% private farmland, but there are some small public sections throughout. Hiring an outfitter or finding private land access is recommended. We have recommended outfitters that have ranches in this unit. 44% of the successful any deer license hunters took mule deer in 2023.
West River Rifle Deer, 49B	Westcentral portion of the state sitting on the western edge of the Cheyenne River Reservation. Located in Meade County. This unit is mostly private farm ground with public ground scattered throughout. The eastern portion of the unit has some large walk-in areas with public access. This area holds some great deer, but most will be taken on private land. Hiring an outfitter greatly helps your odds of success.
West River Rifle Deer, 53A	Northwest corner of the state along the North Dakota border in North Perkins County. This unit has some large portions of public access in state land and the Buffalo Gap grassland, which are made up of rolling hills. This unit offers a great opportunity for success on whitetail and mule deer. Getting away from roads can drastically increase your odds of success.
West River Rifle Deer, 53C	Westcentral portion of the state located in Perkins and Meade counties on the western edge of the Cheyenne River Reservation. Hunters will need to be aware of private land boundaries as they access the larger sections of public ground. There is a decent amount of walk-in access in this unit. Good unit for mature mule deer and whitetail.

HFA002-5

Alaska Peninsula Coast

Species: Brown Bear

Cost: $ 29,500.00

Location: Alaska, United States

HFA091-1

New Mexico Unit 36

Species: Rocky Mountain Elk

Cost: $ 8,000.00

Location: New Mexico, United States

HFA396-3

All-Inclusive Guided Stone

Species: Stone Sheep

Cost: $ 89,250.00

Location: British Columbia, Canada

HFA038-5

Trophy Canadian Moose

Species: Canadian Moose

Cost: $ 9,800.00

Location: British Columbia, Canada

HFA127-2

Wyoming Antelope Hunt

Species: Pronghorn Antelope

Cost: $ 4,500.00

Location: Wyoming, United States

HFA245-8

Montana Mountain Lion

Species: Mountain Lion

Cost: $ 6,800.00

Location: Montana, United States

HFA392-4

Idaho Trophy Mule Deer

Species: Mule Deer

Cost: $ 5,900.00

Location: Idaho, United States

SOUTH DAKOTA DEER HUNTS	2025–2026 SEASON DATES
Archery (All Areas)	Sep 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Firearm – West River	Nov 15 – Nov 30, 2025
Firearm – East River	Nov 22 – Dec 7, 2025
Firearm – Black Hills	Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2025
Firearm – Custer State Park	Nov 1 – Dec 15, 2025
Muzzleloader (All Zones)	Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026

Disclaimer: Dates vary by zone and draw. Verify with South Dakota GFP: https://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/

PRO

$16.58

Per Month

$199 BILLED ANNUALLY

Unlimited One-On-One hunt consultations and everything you need to prep like a pro and hunt like a fool.

JOIN TODAY

STARTER

$4.00

Per Month

$48 BILLED ANNUALLY

Access our digital research tools, draw more tags, and hunt with better information.

JOIN TODAY

West River rifle deer units include a lot of options for any deer and whitetail-only hunts. Most of the units are similar to Eastern Montana and are made of breaks to rolling prairie, wooded drainages, and agricultural fields, all of which are good habitat for both mule deer and whitetail. The West River units averaged four days of hunting in 2023. The unit has had good hunter satisfaction on this hunt. Hunter success has averaged 52% over the last 10 years.

National Wildlife Refuges offer muzzleloader-only hunts on the Lacreek Refuge and Waubay Refuge. The Sand Lake Refuge offers rifle and muzzleloader hunts. All of these refuges offer licenses available to non-residents through the draw, and Sand Lake is the largest and provides the best hunting.

Non-resident archery deer hunting participation is limited with a quota of 2,200 licenses being available in the draw with an April application deadline. These statewide archery licenses are valid on public and private lands. Private land-only archery deer licenses are still unlimited.

One thing to remember about South Dakota deer hunting is that trophy deer are typically harvested by guided hunters on private lands or by residents on private land. Public lands and walk-in access areas provide a fun hunt with a reasonable chance of taking a nice buck. If that is something you are interested in, you may want to start building points so you can draw a tag in the future.

Staff Articles

South Dakota Deer

Scroll right to see more ›

Dates & Fees | South Dakota Deer Hunting