Deer Hunting Seasons
Deer
In the 1900s hunting seasons established by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks Commission allowed deer populations to recover from historic lows. Deer hunting seasons have occurred regularly since the 1950s, with deer hunters harvesting approximately 95,000 deer during the recent record year of 2010.
White-tailed deer and mule deer are the most highly sought after big game species in South Dakota and throughout North America. Hunting remains the number one tool for managing deer populations across South Dakota and harvest strategies are intended to ensure the well-being of the species and its habitat while maintaining populations at levels compatible with human activity and land use.
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal brain disease of deer, elk and moose. In South Dakota, CWD has been detected in Lawrence, Pennington, Custer and Fall River Counties, Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park. More information about CWD can be found here and a map of approved big game carcass disposal sites is also available at the bottom of the page under "Related Maps".
All applications close at 8 a.m. Central Time on date of deadline.
Key Dates
Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|
Deer Season - Apprentice and Mentored | 2024 | Season Dates Start: Sep 14, 2024 End: Jan 1, 2025 | |
Deer Season - Refuge Lacreek 1 | 2024 | Date Range Start: Oct 16, 2024 End: Oct 22, 2024 | |
Deer Season - Custer State Park | 2024 | See application for season dates specifics. Start: Nov 1, 2024 End: Nov 30, 2024 | |
Deer Season - Black Hills | 2024 | Season Dates Start: Nov 1, 2024 End: Nov 30, 2024 | |
Deer Season - Refuge Sand Lake 1 | 2024 | Date Range Start: Nov 9, 2024 End: Nov 13, 2024 | |
Deer Season - West River 30A | 2024 | Season Dates Start: Nov 9, 2024 End: Nov 12, 2024 | |
Deer Season - Refuge Sand Lake 2 | 2024 | Date Range Start: Nov 14, 2024 End: Nov 18, 2024 | |
Deer Season - West River | 2024 | Season Dates Start: Nov 16, 2024 End: Dec 1, 2024 | |
Deer Season - West River Special Buck | 2024 | Season Dates Start: Nov 16, 2024 End: Dec 1, 2024 | Online Application Dates Start: Apr 30, 2024 End: May 14, 2024 |
Deer Season - Refuge Waubay 1 | 2024 | Date Range Start: Nov 16, 2024 End: Nov 24, 2024 | |
Deer Season - Refuge Sand Lake 3 | 2024 | Date Range Start: Nov 19, 2024 End: Nov 24, 2024 | |
Deer Season - East River | 2024 | Season Dates Start: Nov 23, 2024 End: Dec 8, 2024 | |
Deer - West River 30A, Second Season | 2024 | Season Dates Start: Nov 25, 2024 End: Dec 1, 2024 | |
Deer Season - Refuge Waubay 2 | 2024 | Date Range Start: Nov 25, 2024 End: Nov 29, 2024 | |
Deer Season - Refuge Sand Lake 4 | 2024 | Date Range Start: Nov 25, 2024 End: Dec 1, 2024 | |
Deer Season - Refuge Waubay 3 | 2024 | Date Range Start: Nov 30, 2024 End: Dec 8, 2024 | |
Deer Season - Muzzleloader | 2024 | Season Dates Start: Dec 1, 2024 End: Jan 1, 2025 | |
Deer Season - Refuge Sand Lake 5 | 2024 | Date Range Start: Dec 2, 2024 End: Dec 8, 2024 | |
Deer Season - East & West River Antlerless | 2024 | Season Dates Start: Dec 14, 2024 End: Dec 22, 2024 |