For specific elk season information, select a season:

 

Prairie Firearms Elk

The prairie elk season gives elk hunters a chance at harvesting an elk outside of Custer State Park and the regular Black Hills elk units. This season covers Gregory and Bennett counties.

South Dakota residents who have not received a prairie firearms elk license in the preceding nine years are eligible to apply. Preference can be switched within season units, but not between different seasons. In other words, preference for a Black Hills unit cannot be used for a prairie elk unit or a Custer State Park unit.

  • Season Dates:
    Prairie "Any Elk" - Varies by unit -
    Prairie "Antlerless Elk" - Varies by unit -
    Please refer to the Black Hills Elk Application at right for specific dates in their respective units.

NOTE: Most of the land within this unit is privately owned. It is recommended you secure permission from several landowners to hunt before applying for a license.

application Information

Additional Information

Prairie Firearms Elk Unit Map


HuntSafe courses

South Dakota's HuntSAFE program takes the responsibility of teaching hunter ethics seriously. The HuntSAFE program is a required course for young hunters in South Dakota before youth can enter the field and hunt game. With participation in this course, the young hunter learns about respect for our state's natural resources, respect for other hunter's and perhaps most importantly, respect for landowners.

Volunteer Hunter Program

The Volunteer Hunter Program was developed to provide a list of hunters willing to harvest antelope, deer, turkey or Canada geese on private land and to enable landowners to contact those hunters directly.