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Turkey Regulations

Name: eRegulations
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2025 Spring Turkey

Application Deadline

Resident/Nonresident Prairie Turkey - Feb. 12, 2025, 8 a.m. CST

Resident/Nonresident Archery Turkey - No Deadline

Resident Black Hills Turkey - No Deadline

Nonresident Black Hills Turkey - Feb. 12, 2025, 8 a.m. CST

Resident Custer State Park Turkey - Feb. 12, 2025, 8 a.m. CST

*New for 2025, Nonresidents will have to apply in a limited draw to hunt the Black Hills.

Landowner Permission Required

Permission is required to hunt private land in South Dakota. Every year Game, Fish and Parks receives comments from hunters who drew a license but couldn’t obtain permission to hunt private land once the season opened. Do not apply for a license until you receive permission to hunt. You may not be able to obtain it during the season.

Apply Online: gfp.sd.gov

Click the “Licenses” link on the GFP homepage, then “Purchase License.” From there, the system walks you through step by step. If you do not have an account, you will be required to create one. Begin by selecting a season and your first-choice hunting unit. Please note that a credit or debit card number is required to finish the transaction. Upon completion and submission of your application, you are placed directly into the drawing for the unit you selected. Preference points are automatically included if you possess preference points from previous years.

Note: All applications must be submitted online

Application Requirements

Drawing Statistics Now Available:

Applicants may access past drawing results online. Past drawing information will be available from the 2024 seasons and 2025 information will be available once the drawing is complete.

Residency

To apply for a resident license, a person must:

Have a domicile (person’s established, fixed and permanent home in which the person physically lives and, whenever absent, has the present intention of returning) within South Dakota 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; and
Make no claim of residency in any other state or foreign country for any purpose; and
Claim no resident hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges in any other state or foreign country; and
Prior to applying for any license, transfer to SD 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 no sufficient by itself to prove that a person has a domicile in or is a resident of this state.

Exception: The following persons are eligible for resident licenses:

Any person who previously had a domicile in SD who is absent due to business of the United States or SD, is serving in the armed forces of the US, or is 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 in a medical or dental residency program;
Any person in the active military of the US or that person’s spouse who is continuously stationed in SD;
Any person who is a patient in any war veterans’ hospital within SD;
Any person who is an employee of the veterans’ administration or any veterans’ hospital in SD;
Any person residing on restricted military reservations in SD;
Any person attending regularly a post-high school institution in SD as a full-time student for 30 days or more immediately preceding the application;
Any foreign exchange student over 16 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 foreign exchange student who is between the ages of 12 and 16, has completed GFP’s hunter safety course and has been issued a certificate of competency upon completion of instruction, and has resided in SD for 30 days or more preceding application for a license;
Any person who is a minor dependent of a resident of SD.

Termination of Residency

A person (other than a person who fits into one of the previous 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;
Moves to any other state or foreign country and makes it their 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.

Social Security Number

The last four digits of your Social Security Number are required. The Social Security Number information is required from all U.S. residents before this application will be processed [SDCL 25-7A-56.2]. The information is required to be in compliance with state law on collection of delinquent child support payments. This information will be kept confidential.

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 Dept. of Social Services for payment of the delinquent child support [SDCL 25-7A-56; 25-7A-1(28)]. There is a requirement to enter into a repayment agreement with the Dept. 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 Dept. of Social Services, Division of Child Support, 700 Governor’s Drive - Kneip Building, Pierre SD 57501, or call 605-773-6456.

Age Eligibility

Residents and nonresidents must be 12 years old to hunt.
Residents under age 16 must successfully complete a HuntSAFE course.
Nonresidents under age 16 must include the certificate number from their hunter safety card, or a current or previous hunting license issued to them from any state.
Residents and nonresidents who have not completed the HuntSAFE course at the time of application must leave that information blank on their online profile. If successfully drawn, their license will be withheld until their HuntSAFE card number once the course has been successfully completed, is entered in their
online profile.
Information on the “Mentored Hunt” program is found in the Mentor Hunting information sheet.

Fees

Online payment for applications must be made with a valid credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover). Your credit/debit card will not be charged the license fee unless you are successful in the drawing or unsuccessful and selected to purchase a preference point. Nonpayment in the form of a cancelled/invalid credit card will result in your license being withheld and the blocking of any future license purchases until the unpaid fee, along with any penalties, is paid in full.

Habitat Stamp

A Habitat Stamp is required for anyone 18 years of age or older who applies for or purchases a hunting or fishing license ($10 for Residents and $25 for Nonresidents). Only one Habitat Stamp is required per calendar year.

Application Rules

You may submit only one application per season for the first drawing and receive no more than one license per season. See “Application Deadlines” for rules allowing additional licenses.
Licenses may not be transferred to another person.

Group Applications

Applications must have matching first and second choices.
No more than six applications may be submitted in the same group.
Applicants with preference points should be aware that when applying with applicants with fewer preference points, the lowest preference point balance is then represented within the entire group.
Residents and nonresidents may apply together in the same group. Either all in the group will be drawn successful or all will be unsuccessful. If successful, residents will be charged the resident fees, and nonresidents will be charged the nonresident fees. This is valid only in seasons and units where both resident and nonresident licenses are available for a specific drawing. It should be noted that in most instances, residents who apply with nonresidents will have a diminished chance of drawing a first-choice license.

Submitting Applications

Applications must be submitted online. In the case where an online application is not possible, applicants can visit a GFP Wildlife Division office or call 605-223-7660. Mailed paper applications are NOT accepted.

Successful Applicants

Successful applicants for limited licenses are selected at random by computer lottery.

Unsuccessful Applicants

Unsuccessful applicants’ credit/debit card will only be charged for a preference point if the customer selected the option to purchase a preference point or if a Habitat Stamp purchase is required.

Resident Landowner Preference

One-half of the resident permits for Prairie Spring Turkey are set aside for the first choice in the first drawing for residents who qualify for landowner preference.
Nonresident landowners do not qualify for this preference.
To be eligible for landowner preference, a resident landowner or tenant must operate at least 160 acres of private land within the unit applied for as first choice and complete the online declaration, including the legal description of the qualifying property.
“Operate” means: to lease or hold fee title to farm or ranch real property and be directly involved in the management decisions made for agricultural purposes on the farm or ranch.
“Agricultural purposes” includes the producing, raising, growing, or harvesting of food or fiber upon agricultural land, including dairy products, livestock, crops, timber, and grasslands.
Land leased solely for hunting, fishing or trapping does not qualify for landowner preference.
A landowner or tenant, but not both, may claim landowner preference for the same qualifying property.
Immediate family members are eligible and include the applicant’s spouse and the applicant’s children residing with the applicant.
Employment on a farm or ranch alone does not qualify an individual for landowner preference.
Shareholders of a corporation, members of a limited liability company holding a membership interest in the company, partners in a partnership, and beneficiaries of a trust entitled to the current income and assets held in trust; all organized and in good standing under the laws of South Dakota are eligible for landowner preference if:

The entity holds title to 160 acres or more of private land located within the hunting unit applied for;
The shareholder, member, partner, or trust beneficiary applying for landowner preference is a resident; and
The shareholder, member, partner, or trust beneficiary has responsibility for making the day-to-day management decisions for agricultural purposes on the farm or ranch.

Preference Points

A fee ($5 resident, $20 nonresident) is required for all preference points. Purchasing a preference point is optional. Unsuccessful first choice applicants will not receive a preference point unless they selected the option to purchase a preference point during the online application process.

Seasons with a limited number of licenses have a preference point system for applicants who are unsuccessful on their first choice in the first drawing. One preference point may be purchased each year the applicant is unsuccessful. Preference point use is required on all first choices in the first drawing. Preference point use in subsequent drawings is optional. Preference points cannot be transferred to another person. If you have any questions about your preference points, please contact GFP’s Licensing Office at 605-223-7660.

Season Application Information

When applying online, an applicant must select the season, unit, and license type. These designations apply to both resident and nonresident licenses.

The license fee includes a $6 surcharge established by the South Dakota Legislature. Surcharge monies are divided between programs for wildlife damage management and public hunting land access, programs that benefit both landowners and hunters.

State licenses are valid on private, deeded lands within the exterior boundaries of an Indian reservation. Persons applying to hunt on tribal lands should contact the appropriate tribal office concerning tribal lands and licenses.

Legal Firearms/Muzzleloaders for Spring Wild Turkey

A person may not use a rimfire, centerfire, or muzzleloading rifle during any spring turkey season. No self-loading or auto-loading firearm that holds more than six cartridges may be used to hunt, pursue, shoot at, shoot, kill, or wound a wild turkey. No firearm that is capable of being operated as a full automatic may be used to hunt, pursue, shoot at, shoot, kill, or wound a wild turkey. No buckshot may be used, and no single ball or rifled slug weighing less than one-half ounce may be used in hunting wild turkey. Shotguns using ammunition which is factory-rated to produce at least 700 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and handguns using ammunition which is factory-rated to produce at least 500 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle may be used for hunting wild turkey. Muzzleloading handguns that discharge a projectile of at least .50 caliber and muzzleloading shotguns may also be used for hunting wild turkey. Any person who holds a license to take a wild turkey during the firearm season may take the wild turkey by using a crossbow in lieu of a firearm. Crossbow means a device for propelling a bolt by means of traverse limbs mounted on a stock and a string. The crossbow may be drawn, held, and released by a mechanical device and shall have at least 125 pounds pull and have a working mechanical safety.

Legal Archery Equipment for Wild Turkey

Any person who holds a license to take a wild turkey during the archery season may not use or possess any of the following: (1) Explosive, poisonous, hydraulic, or pneumatic points; (2) Crossbows. and draw-lock devices that hold the bow at partial or full draw except for persons with qualifying disabilities; (3) Electronic devices mounted to the bow that aid in the taking of game. However, cameras, video cameras, cell phones used exclusively for photographic purposes, lighted sight pins, and illuminated arrow nocks may be used; (4) Electronic arrow or electronic string releases; (5) Telescopic sights; (6) An arrow without a broadhead (fixed or mechanical) that has at least two metal cutting edges when hunting a wild turkey. However, an arrow tipped with any point may be possessed when used for practice; or (7) A bow that measures less than 30 pounds pull when hunting wild turkey.

Spring Prairie Turkey Season

Season Dates: Apr. 12-May 31, 2025, for all units except Davison/Hanson (Units 08A and 08B), Lincoln (Units 44A and 44B), and Stanley (Unit 58B) counties.

State parks and recreation areas are closed to hunting after Apr. 30, unless specified otherwise in unit descriptions below.

License Eligibility: Residents are eligible to apply for all units. Nonresidents are eligible to apply for all units west of the Missouri River, and licenses east of the Missouri River remaining after the second drawing.

Individual License Quota: Applicants may have one license from the first or second drawing and one prairie turkey license from the third drawing, and an unlimited number after the third drawing as described under the application deadline section below.

Application Deadlines:

First Deadline - Applications must be submitted online by 8 a.m. CST, Wednesday, Feb. 12. Results available online by Tuesday, Feb. 18. One application may be submitted per applicant.

Second Deadline - Applications must submitted online by 8 a.m. CST Thursday, Mar. 6. Results available online by Tuesday, Mar. 11. Those who do not already have a license may submit one application.

Third Deadline - After the second deadline drawing, licenses remaining are pooled and available to both residents and nonresidents. Applications must be submitted online by 8 a.m. CDT, Tuesday, Mar. 25. Results available online by Thursday, Mar. 27. Residents and nonresidents may apply for one additional license in this drawing, even if they already possess a license from the first or second drawings.

Leftover Licenses - An individual may have an unlimited number of licenses for this season in any unit or any combination of units. They will be issued first-come, first-served by online application only. This process will begin on Thursday, Mar. 27, at 2 p.m. CDT.

Season/Unit/Type Choices:

Prairie units bordering the Cheyenne and White Rivers also include an adjacent area one mile wide on the opposite side of the rivers. EXCEPT the portion of Fall River County within unit PST-27A

PST-01A-32: Minnehaha Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
100 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-02A-32: Pennington Co. east of the Cheyenne River.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
250 resident licenses ($28); 20 nonresident ($121)

PST-06A-32: Brookings Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
60 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-07A-32: Yankton Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
300 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-08A-32: Davison and Hanson Counties.

Season dates April 12-30.
Valid for one male wild turkey.
100 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-08B-32: Same area as Unit PST-08A.

Season dates May 1-31.
Valid for one male wild turkey.
100 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-10A-32: Aurora and Douglas Counties.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
50 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-11A-32: Bennett Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
10 resident licenses ($28); 1 nonresident ($121)

PST-12A-32: Bon Homme Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
300 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-13A-32: Brule and Buffalo Counties.

Valid for one male wild turkey.

175 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-15A-32: Butte and Lawrence Counties north of I-90.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
400 resident licenses ($28); 32 nonresident ($121)

PST-16A-32: Campbell and Walworth Counties.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
20 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-17A-32: Charles Mix Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
350 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-19A-32: Clay Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
120 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-20A-32: Corson Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
100 resident licenses ($28); 8 nonresident ($121)

PST-21A-32: Custer Co. east of SD 79 and Pennington Co. south of I-90, west of the Cheyenne River and east of SD Hwy 79.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
125 resident licenses ($28); 10 nonresident ($121)

PST-22A-32: Day and Codington Counties.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
175 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-23A-32: Deuel Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
200 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-24A-32: Dewey and Ziebach Counties.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
150 resident licenses ($28); 12 nonresident ($121)

PST-27A-32: Fall River Co. south and east of a line beginning at the junction of the Wyoming border and US Hwy 18, east on US 18 to the Cheyenne River near Edgemont, east on the Cheyenne River to US Hwy 18/385, then north on US 18/385 to SD Hwy 79 at Maverick Junction, north on SD 79 to the Custer County line.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
100 resident licenses ($28); 8 nonresident ($121)

PST-29A-32: Grant Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
375 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-30A-32: Gregory Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
650 resident licenses ($28); 52 nonresident ($121)

PST-31A-35: Haakon Co.

Valid for two male wild turkeys.
250 resident licenses ($40); 20 nonresident ($151)

PST-32A-32: Hamlin and Clark Counties.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
30 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-35A-32: Harding Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
150 resident licenses ($28); 12 nonresident ($121)

PST-36A-32: Hughes Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
30 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-37A-32: Hutchinson Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
70 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-39A-32: Jackson Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
200 resident licenses ($28); 16 nonresident ($121)

PST-40A-32: Jerauld, Beadle and Hand Counties.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
20 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-41A-32: Jones Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
75 resident licenses ($28); 6 nonresident ($121)

PST-44A-32: Lincoln Co., including Newton Hills State Park and Lake Alvin Lakeside Use Area. Season dates Apr. 12-30.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
50 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-44B-32: Lincoln Co., excluding Newton Hills State Park and Lake Alvin Lakeside Use Area. Season dates May 1-31.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
50 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-45A-32: Lyman Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
150 resident licenses ($28); 12 nonresident licenses ($121)

PST-48A-32: Marshall and Roberts Counties, including Sica Hollow State Park, open Apr 12-May 31.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
450 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-49A-35: Those portions of Meade Co. not included in Units BST-BH1 and PST-53A, and that portion of Pennington Co. north of Interstate 90 and west of the Cheyenne River.

Valid for two male wild turkeys.
400 resident licenses ($40); 32 nonresident ($151)

PST-50A-32: Mellette Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
300 resident licenses ($28); 24 nonresident ($121)

PST-52A-32: Moody Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
60 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-53A-35: Perkins Co., including Shadehill Recreation Area, and the portion of Meade Co. north of U.S. Highway 212.

Valid for two male wild turkeys.
100 resident licenses ($40); 8 nonresident ($151)

PST-56A-32: Sanborn Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
10 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-58A-32: Stanley Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
40 resident licenses ($28); 4 nonresident ($121)

PST-58B-32: Stanley Co. Limited to persons who use a wheelchair for mobility. Licenses are valid for the area including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Land and the GFP campground below Oahe Dam, south and east of Power House Road. Successful applicants will be allowed to take part in a special hunt April. 12-30.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
2 resident licenses ($28); 1 nonresident ($121)

PST-60A-32: Tripp Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
400 resident licenses ($28); 32 nonresident licenses ($121)

PST-61A-32: Turner Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
30 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-62A-32: Union Co., including Union Grove State Park.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
120 resident licenses ($28); 0 nonresident

PST-65A-32: Oglala Lakota Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
40 resident licenses ($28); 4 nonresident ($121)

PST-67A-32: Todd Co.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
50 resident licenses ($28); 4 nonresident ($121)

Preference points: People can purchase preference points from September 15 – December 15, 2025, through GFP’s online licensing system at license.gooutdoorssouthdakota.com.

Spring Archery Turkey Season

Season Dates: Statewide (see exceptions below) April 12-May 31, 2025. *Archery hunters cannot start hunting in the Black Hills unit until April 26.

License Eligibility: Residents and nonresidents are eligible. Licenses are available by application online or at any GFP Wildlife Division office through the end of the season. There is no application deadline, but please allow a minimum of 7-10 days for delivery of your license.

Individual License Quota: Applicants may have one Archery Turkey license.

Access Permits: A free Resident-Only Access Permit is required to hunt archery turkey in Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in Union County and Good Earth State Park near Sioux Falls. All access permits are valid from April 12-30.

Apply for these free Access Permits online only.
Five resident archery license holders will be selected through a random drawing to hunt at Good Earth State Park and 30 resident archery license holders to hunt at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve.
In addition, 20 mentored spring turkey access permits are available for archery only in Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve. For information on obtaining a mentored turkey access permit contact the GFP Regional Office in Sioux Falls 605-362-2700. There is no online application for mentor turkey access permits for Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve.
The deadline to apply for the Access Permits is February 13, 2025, at 8 a.m. CST. For more information, visit online.

Season/Unit/Type Choices:

AST-ST1-32: Statewide, except Custer State Park. Special rules apply to all other state park, recreation and lakeside use areas. Valid for one male wild turkey.

Unlimited resident licenses ($28);
Unlimited nonresident licenses ($121)

*Archery hunters cannot start hunting in the Black Hills unit until April 26.

Resident Spring Black Hills Turkey Season

Season Dates: April 26-May 31, 2025

License Eligibility: Residents are eligible to apply.

Individual License Quota: Residents may purchase one BH1 license.

Season/Unit/Type Choices:

BST-BH1-32: That portion of Lawrence County south of Interstate 90; that portion of Meade County west and south of Interstate 90; those portions of Pennington and Custer Counties west of State Highway 79; that portion of Fall River County north and west of a line beginning at the junction of the South Dakota-Wyoming border and U.S. Highway 18, then east along U.S. Highway 18 to its junction with the Cheyenne River, then east along the Cheyenne River to its junction with State Highway 79; then north along State Highway 79 to its junction with the Custer County line. Closed to hunting: Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Jewel Cave National Monument.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
Unlimited resident licenses ($28)

Nonresident Spring Black Hills Turkey Season

Season Dates: April 26-May 31, 2025

*New for 2025, Nonresident Black Hills Spring Turkey will be a limited draw.

License Eligibility: Nonresidents are eligible to apply.

Individual License Quota: Applicants may possess one license from the drawing.

Application Deadlines:

First Deadline - Applications must be submitted online by 8 a.m. CST, Wednesday, Feb. 12. Results available online by Tuesday, Feb. 18. One application may be submitted per applicant.

Season/Unit/Type Choices:

Valid for one male wild turkey.
2,225 Nonresident licenses ($121)

Spring Custer State Park Turkey Season

Season Dates: April 26 - May 18, 2025

License Eligibility: South Dakota residents only.

Individual License Quota: Applicants may possess one Custer State Park turkey license.

Application Deadlines:

First Deadline - Applications must be submitted online by 8 a.m. CST, Wednesday, Feb. 12. Results available online by Tuesday, Feb. 18. One application may be submitted per applicant.

Season/Unit/Type Choices:

CST-CU1-32: Custer State Park. Restricted to shotguns using shotshells, muzzleloading shotguns, crossbows and archery equipment only.

Valid for one male wild turkey.
100 resident licenses ($28)

Preference points: People can purchase preference points from September 15 – December 15, 2025, through GFP’s online licensing system at license.gooutdoorssouthdakota.com.

Now Your Wild Turkey

Spring Turkey Units

(Archery licenses are valid statewide, EXCEPT in Custer State Park.)