Deer

For specific deer season information, select a season:

 

* 2012 E.H.D. Information >Deer

South Dakota is host to both Whitetail and Mule Deer, with Mule deer inhabiting mostly the central and western regions of the state and Whitetails abundant throughout. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply for all deer seasons except Custer State Park and East River Deer. Nonresidents may apply for an East River Deer license if there are leftovers available after the drawing.

General Information

Surveys/reports

Deer Harvest Maps

Statewide Deer Harvest Summary - summary of harvest statistics by season, based on hunter surveys.

2010 East & West River Deer Hunter Survey Report

2010 Black Hills Deer Hunter Survey Report

South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger

South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger encourages and facilitates donation of wild game meat to needy people in South Dakota. You can make a tax-deductible cash donation to help offset costs of processing game animals donated through SDSAH.

Volunteer Hunter Program

Each year, the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks is contacted by landowners looking to host antlerless deer hunters, as well as hunters looking for landowners interested in allowing them to hunt on their land. In an effort to strengthen hunter-landowner relationships, we have developed the Volunteer Antlerless Deer Hunter Program.

Big Game Depredation Hunts

Resident only big game depredation hunts are generally conducted in response to severe crop and livestock feed losses that cannot be resolved using traditional non-lethal forms of depredation control. They may involve turkey, deer, or antelope. In the past, these hunts have most often been organized during severe winters when both the weather and road conditions have deteriorated.