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 - National Wildlife Refuge Deer | 2023 | See application for season dates. | Online Application Dates Start: May 30, 2023 End: Jun 14, 2023 |
Deer Season - Nonresident Archery Private Land Only | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Sep 1, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 | Application Dates Start: Jun 1, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 |
Deer Season - Archery Antlerless Only Whitetail | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Sep 1, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 | Online Application Dates Start: Jun 1, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 |
Deer Season - Resident Archery | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Sep 1, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 | Online Application Dates Start: Jun 1, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 |
Deer Season - Apprentice and Mentored | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Sep 9, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 | Online Application Dates Start: May 30, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 |
Deer Season - Nonresident Archery Public Land | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Oct 1, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 | Application Dates Start: Apr 18, 2023 End: May 11, 2023 |
Deer Season - Custer State Park | 2023 | See application for season dates specifics. Start: Nov 1, 2023 End: Nov 30, 2023 | Online Application Dates Start: May 30, 2023 End: Jun 14, 2023 |
Deer Season - Black Hills | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Nov 1, 2023 End: Nov 30, 2023 | Online Application Dates Start: May 30, 2023 End: Jun 14, 2023 |
Deer Season - West River | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Nov 11, 2023 End: Nov 26, 2023 | Online Application Dates Start: May 30, 2023 End: Jun 14, 2023 |
Deer Season - West River Special Buck | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Nov 11, 2023 End: Nov 26, 2023 | Online Application Dates Start: Mar 21, 2023 End: Apr 14, 2023 |
Deer Season - West River Landowner | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Nov 11, 2023 End: Nov 26, 2023 | Online Application Dates Start: Sep 13, 2023 End: Nov 26, 2023 |
Deer Season - East River Landowner | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Nov 18, 2023 End: Dec 3, 2023 | Online Application Dates Start: Sep 13, 2023 End: Dec 3, 2023 |
Deer Season - East River Special Buck | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Nov 18, 2023 End: Dec 3, 2023 | Online Application Dates Start: Mar 21, 2023 End: Apr 14, 2023 |
Deer Season - East River | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Nov 18, 2023 End: Dec 3, 2023 | Online Application Dates Start: May 30, 2023 End: Jun 14, 2023 |
Deer Season - Muzzleloader | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Dec 1, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 | Online Application Dates Start: May 30, 2023 End: Jun 14, 2023 |
Deer Season - Muzzleloader Antlerless Only Whitetail | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Dec 1, 2023 End: Jan 1, 2024 | |
Deer Season - East & West River Antlerless | 2023 | Season Dates Start: Dec 9, 2023 End: Dec 17, 2023 | Online Application Dates Start: May 30, 2023 End: Jun 14, 2023 |