License Types & Costs
General Licensing
No license may be refunded or transferred to another person after being issued. A fishing license is needed to take fish, turtles, bullfrogs or bait. A hoop net/trap or floatline/setline license, in addition to a valid resident fishing license, is required when using these methods. See Hoop Net, Trap, Floatline/ Setline Licenses in the Resident License Section.
Agent Fee
The maximum fee for each fishing license sold or replaced by a license agent or online is $4.
Buying Licenses
Resident and nonresident fishing licenses may be purchased in South Dakota at many retail stores, bait shops and a few County Treasurer offices. When purchasing licenses over the counter you must have your state-issued ID with you.
Licenses may be purchased and printed from home. To purchase licenses online, visit gfp.sd.gov or use GFP’s mobile app.
See Resident Hoop Net, Trap, Floatline/Setline Licenses in the Resident Licensing section for details about purchasing these licenses.
Carrying/Exhibiting Licenses
A licensee shall exhibit the licensee’s license or license authorization issued by GFP upon request by a wildlife conservation officer or other law enforcement officer. A licensee who is 18 years of age or older who holds the license authorization, shall exhibit and provide for inspection a driver’s license, a state-issued identification card or another form of valid identification for the purpose of verifying the identity of the licensee.
Delinquent Child Support
South Dakota law prohibits the issuance or renewal of any hunting or fishing license if an individual owes $1,000 or more in past-due child support, unless the individual enters into a repayment agreement with the Department of Social Services for payment of the delinquent child support. There is a requirement to enter into a repayment agreement with the Department of Social Services even if the individual is presently making child support payments, or if child support is being withheld from wages or income. To enter into the required repayment agreement, individuals must contact the Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support; 700 Governors Drive, Kneip Building; Pierre, SD 57501; or call 605.773.6456.
Lost Licenses
Lost licenses may be replaced by any registered license agent. License agents may charge the standard agent fee ($4) for replacing general fishing licenses. In addition, licenses may be reprinted at home by the licensee at any time.
Revoked Licenses
If a person is convicted of knowingly trespassing or violating a fishing law punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor, or substantially exceeding daily or possession limits, or violating any rule pertaining to fishing or possessing fish without a license or during a closed season, the person’s fishing privileges will be revoked for one or more years and the person is prohibited from purchasing or applying for another fishing license during the period of revocation.
Those whose privileges are revoked in South Dakota may be subject to revocation or suspension in other states, including the home state of non-residents. Any person whose fishing privileges are currently revoked or suspended in any state or country may not apply for or
buy a license or exercise the same privilege in South Dakota during the period of revocation or suspension. No person who has an unpaid and unsatisfied judgment issued for wildlife civil damages may purchase, attempt to purchase or possess any South Dakota hunting, fishing or trapping license.
Tribal Waters
Non-tribal members fishing inland waters that overlay Indian trust property need a tribal fishing license. Non-tribal members fishing on the Missouri River and its impoundments need only the state
license. However, anglers fishing the Missouri River from tribal lands may need to purchase a tribal fishing license or access permit from the tribe to fish from shore.
Angler Assistance Permit
The Department may issue an Angler Assistance permit to a person with a valid fishing license, or who is exempt from licensing requirements, who has a physical or developmental disability that prevents them from being able to perform any of the activities associated with fishing. The permit allows another person to assist the permitted individual while fishing, in accordance with existing regulations, and without the need to possess a valid fishing license. An Angler Assistance permit may be issued on either a temporary or permanent basis, dependent on the type of disability, at the discretion of the Department.
Resident Licensing
2025 Resident Fees
The license period is December 15, 2024 through January 31, 2026
Annual Fishing..............................................................$31
One-Day Fishing.........................................................$10
Combination License*.................................................$60
Senior Combination* (65 and over)........................$43
Senior Annual Fishing (65 and over).......................$17
Habitat Stamp.............................................................$10
*Fee includes a $6 surcharge mandated by state law. Revenue derived from this surcharge is dedicated to hunting access, wildlife damage management, and animal damage control programs.
Residency
To be eligible for a resident license, a person must meet all the following criteria:
- Have a domicile within this state for at least 90 consecutive days immediately preceding the date of application for, purchasing, or attempting to purchase any hunting, fishing, or trapping license/permit. A domicile is a person’s established, fixed, and permanent home in which the person physically lives, and, whenever absent, has the present intention of returning.
- Make no claim of residency in any other state or foreign country for any purpose.
- Claim no resident hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges in any other state or foreign country.
- Have a valid South Dakota driver’s license and motor vehicles registered in South Dakota prior to application/ purchase.
- Prior to any application for any license transfer to this state the person’s driver’s license and motor vehicle registrations.
- Documentation showing a mailing address, ownership of a property or business, or employment in the state is not sufficient by itself to prove that a person has a domicile in or is a resident of this state.
Exceptions: The following persons are deemed to be residents of this state if they continue to meet any of the conditions set forth below:
Any person who previously had a domicile in this state who is absent due to business of the United States or of this state, or is serving in the armed forces of the United States or the spouse of an active duty military person;
Any person who previously had a domicile in this state who is absent due to the person’s regular attendance at a post-high school institution as a full-time student or due to the person’s regular attendance in a medical or dental residency program;
- Any person in the active military of the United States or that person’s spouse who is continuously stationed in this state;
- Any person who is a patient in any war veterans’ hospital within this state;
- Any person who is an employee of the veterans’ administration or any veterans’ hospital in this state;
- Any person residing on restricted military reservations in this state;
- Any person attending regularly a post-high school institution in this state as a full-time student for 30 days or more immediately preceding the application;
- Any foreign exchange student over 18 years of age attending a public or private high school who has resided in the state for 30 days or more preceding the application;
- Any person who is a minor dependent of a resident of this state; and
- For the purpose of acquiring resident small game and fishing licenses, any person who does not reside in South Dakota but who is a member of the South Dakota National Guard or of any other unit of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States that is located in South Dakota.
Termination of Residency
A person (other than a person who fits into one of the above Exceptions) is deemed to have terminated their South Dakota resident hunting, fishing, and trapping status if the person does any of the following:
- Applies for, purchases, or accepts a resident hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by another state or foreign country;
- Registers to vote in another state or foreign country;
- Accepts a driver’s license issued by another state or foreign country; or
- Moves to any other state or foreign country and makes it the person’s domicile or makes any claim of residency for any purpose in the other state or foreign country.
- Resides in any other state, territory or country for an aggregate of 180 or more days in a calendar year.
However, a person who has lawfully acquired a resident hunting, fishing, or trapping license and who leaves the state after acquiring the license to take up residency elsewhere may continue to exercise all the privileges granted by the license until the license expires if the person’s respective privileges are not revoked or suspended.
Military General Fishing and Hunting License
Any resident who is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and who is stationed at a location outside the state may fish and hunt small game without payment of a fee or the applicable hunting and fishing license authorizing the activity. While engaged in the permitted activity, the resident shall possess and display appropriate military orders indicating the resident is on active duty stationed outside of South Dakota and a valid military identification card. This section does not apply to any person who is serving on active duty for training as a member of the armed forces reserve or National Guard.
Proof of Residency
To buy a license, a resident age 18 or older needs a valid South Dakota driver’s license or a state-issued and expiration-dated South Dakota ID card. Either can be obtained at a state driver’s license office.
Disability License
The following residents may apply to the GFP License Office to receive a $10 Disability Card that is equivalent to the Fishing License and Small Game License and is valid for four years:
- Persons who are paraplegic or otherwise permanently physically unable to walk;
- Persons blind or visually impaired;
A person who has a developmental disability (fishing only), contact the GFP License Office at 605.223.7660, or visit gfp.sd.gov
Resident veterans can qualify for a Disability License by one of four ways:
- If they receive a veterans allotment for a 40% or more disability which is deemed a service-connected injury.
- If they have received the Department of Veterans Affairs “K” Award.
- If they have served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or have served as a member of the armed forces reserve or National Guard, and the resident is 40% or more disabled for the purposes of receiving Social Security benefits.
- If they were a Prisoner of War.
A person must apply on forms provided by GFP, and provide proof of South Dakota residency with the application. Information and applications are available from: GFP License Office; 20641 SD Hwy 1806; Fort Pierre SD 5 7532; or call 605.223.7660.
Habitat Stamp
A person 18 years of age or older shall purchase a habitat stamp when applying for or purchasing a hunting or fishing license. The fee for the habitat stamp shall be $10 for residents. A person is not required to purchase more than one habitat stamp in a license year. Any person required to possess a hunting or fishing license may not fish, hunt, or trap without purchasing a habitat stamp. Purchase of the habitat stamp is not required for the One-Day Resident Small Game license, the One-Day Resident Fishing License, any youth hunting license, any landowner hunting license, or any reduced fee disabled license.
Annual Fishing License
Allows residents age 18-64 to fish throughout the license period. Residents age 65 or older must purchase the Senior Fishing License or Senior Combination License to fish throughout the license period.
Combination License
Residents age 18-64 may purchase this license which combines fishing and small game hunting privileges.
Senior Annual Fishing License
Allows residents age 65 or older to fish throughout the license period.
Senior Combination License
Residents age 65 or older may purchase this license which combines fishing and small game hunting privileges.
Youth
Residents under age 18 do not need a license to fish and can take their own limits.
One-Day Fishing License
The license begins at 12:01 a.m. and expires at midnight for the specified date on the license. License holders are allowed one daily limit of fish. No Habitat Stamp is needed.
Landowners
Landowners and immediate family members (spouse and children residing at home or children residing on land owned or leased by the qualifying landowner) who are residents of South Dakota do not need a fishing license to fish
in waters inundating private land owned or leased by the qualifying resident. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a resident is not in violation of any season, daily, or possession limit established for the
species of fish in a man-made water body on land owned by the resident provided the resident owns the bed of the water body in its entirety, and the fish taken remain on the resident’s land, unless said body of water has been stocked or managed by GFP within the past five years.
Hoop Net, Trap, Floatline/ Setline Licenses
Only South Dakota residents with a valid fishing license or are under 18 years of age and exempt from licensing requirements may purchase Hoop Net/Trap ($10 each), Floatline/Setline ($5 each) licenses. Licenses can be purchased online at gfp.sd.gov
Nonresident Licensing
2025 Nonresident Fees
The license period is December 15, 2024 through January 31, 2026
Annual Fishing..............................................................$80
Three-Day Fishing.......................................................$45
One-Day Fishing.........................................................$26
Habitat Stamp.............................................................$25
Annual Fishing License
Allows a nonresident to fish throughout the license period.
Temporary Fishing Licenses
The One-Day Fishing License begins at 12:01 a.m. and ends at midnight for the date stated on the license. The license holder is allowed one daily limit of fish. No habitat stamp is needed.
The Three-Day Fishing License begins at 12:01 a.m. for the date stated on the license and ends at midnight on the third day. The license holder is allowed one daily limit of fish for each day the license is valid, but may not exceed the possession limit as determined by species.
Habitat Stamp
A person 18 years of age or older shall purchase a habitat stamp when applying for or purchasing a hunting or fishing license. The fee for the habitat stamp shall be $25 for nonresidents. A person is not required to purchase more than one habitat stamp within a license year. Any person required to possess a hunting or fishing license may not fish, hunt,
or trap without a habitat stamp. Purchase of the habitat stamp is not required for the One-Day Fishing License, any youth license, any private shooting preserve license, or landowner hunting license.
Youth
Nonresidents under age 18 do not need a license to fish and can take their own limit.
Border Waters
Exceptions are:
Minnesota - Anglers licensed in South Dakota or Minnesota may fish the MN/SD border waters. Residents of states other than South Dakota or Minnesota may fish the MN/SD border waters if in possession of a valid nonresident fishing license issued by either state or if lawfully authorized to fish by either state. Anglers must comply with the laws and rules of the state in which they are licensed. Anglers may launch and/or fish from either shore and must transport their catch to the state in which they are licensed by the most direct route. South Dakota licensed anglers transporting their fish from the Minnesota side must return to South Dakota by the most direct route.
Nebraska - Any person possessing a valid fishing license or permit issued by South Dakota or Nebraska, or who is legally exempted from license or permit requirements, may fish from a boat or the shore with any legal method in the flowing portions of the Missouri River, including backwaters, sloughs, and chutes that connect to the Missouri River proper within the boundary of South Dakota adjacent to Nebraska. These anglers may also fish with any portion of any oxbow lake that contains a common boundary with Nebraska. From Gavins Point Dam to 0.6 miles downstream, a nonresident Nebraska fishing permit is required for anyone who is not a resident of Nebraska or South Dakota when fishing from boat or either bank. Anglers fishing in the South Dakota- Nebraska border waters shall follow the laws and regulations of the state in which they are licensed or the state in which they are fishing, whichever are more restrictive.
Iowa - Any licensed angler may fish from boat or either bank in the South Dakota-Iowa border waters of the Big Sioux River if the angler complies with the laws of the state in which they are licensed or the state in which they are fishing, whichever are more restrictive.
North Dakota - Persons fishing on the Missouri River near the South Dakota-North Dakota border line must conform to all the laws of the state in which they are located or actively fishing. Possession of more than one day’s limit on the water is prohibited in both states.
