Trapping Furbearers
South Dakota is home to many species of furbearing animals. Large numbers of coyote, raccoon, beaver and muskrat occur in South Dakota as well as good numbers of bobcats, mink and red fox. Trapping furbearers not only serves as a recreational pastime and valuable tool for wildlife management, but also allows sportsmen/women another opportunity to experience the outdoors. Furbearers are a valuable, renewable natural resource with most species occuring across South Dakota.
Nonresident Furbearer Application
South Dakota Furbearer Season Dates |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Species (1) |
Dates (2) |
Open Areas |
|
Mink, Weasel |
Nov. 3 - Jan. 31 |
Statewide |
|
Muskrat |
West River |
Year-round |
West River except Black Hills area described below |
Black Hills |
Nov. 3 - Apr. 30 |
Black Hills Fire Protection District south of I-90 and west of SD Hwy 79 |
|
East River |
Nov. 3 - Apr. 30 |
East River (3) |
|
Shooting |
Apr. 1 - Aug. 31 |
Statewide (3) |
|
West River (4) |
Year-round |
West River except Black Hills area described below |
|
Beaver |
Black Hills |
Jan. 1 - Mar. 31 |
U.S. Forest Service land within the Black Hills Fire Protection District south of I-90 and west of SD Hwy 79 |
East River |
Nov. 3 - Apr. 30 |
East River |
|
Bobcat (5) |
West River |
Dec. 8 - Feb. 15 |
West River |
East River |
Dec. 8 - Dec. 30 |
Buffalo, Brule, Charles Mix, Bon Homme and Yankton counties |
|
Fox, Badger, Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Jackrabbit, Coyote |
Year-round |
Statewide |
|
(1) - Nonresidents make take only raccoon, beaver and muskrat from Dec. 1 - March 15, and bobcats from Jan. 12-Feb. 15. Mink and weasel may be trapped from Dec. 1-Jan. 31. Nonresidents may not use dogs to aid in taking raccoon.
(2) - Seasons begin at sunrise of opening day and end at sunset of closing day.
(3) -Muskrat Restrictions:
- No trapping on or in muskrat houses of any size after Mar. 15.
- Only landowners and lessees, including School and Public land surface lease holders, on land they own or operate and state, county or township highway officials wihin public road right-of-ways are allowed to shoot muskrats, statewide. Only rimfire cartridges of .22 caliber or smaller, muzzleloaders of .45 caliber or smaller, legal archery equipment, or shotguns with nontoxic shot are allowed.
(4) - Body grip traps may be used as water sets, with all of the bottom surface of these traps below the water's edge, for beaver year-round West River, except in the Black hills Fire Protection District.
(5) - Bobcat restrictions:
- Bobcat hunters/trappers are restricted to one bobcat per hunter/trapper in the east river unit.
- Any person taking a bobcat must present the whole carcass and pelt to GFP personnel for registration and tagging of the pelt within 5 days of harvest. Once the season has closed, an individual has 24 hours to notify a Conservation Officer or Wildlife Damage Specialist of any untagged bobcats harvested during the season.
- No person may possess, purchase, or sell raw bobcat pelts that are not legally tagged.
License Requirements for Trapping Furbearers |
||
|---|---|---|
Species |
Resident |
Nonresident |
| Coyote, Red/Gray Fox, Skunk | Furbearer License. |
Nonresident Furbearer License |
| Raccoon, Badger | Furbearer License. No license required for youth under age 16 |
Nonresident Furbearer License |
| Bobcat, Opossum, Mink, Weasel, Beaver, Muskrat | Furbearer license. |
Nonresident Furbearer License |
| Jackrabbit | One of the following: Predator/Varmint license, or any resident hunting license, or furbearer license. No license required for youth under age 16 |
Nonresident Furbearer License |
Wildlife Damage Management
GFP employs 24 Wildlife Damage Specialists (WDS) within its Wildlife Damage Management Program. Some of the WDS's time is spent conducting educational programs on sport trapping as a form of recreation and its importance in the management of furbearers. Programs can be given in classrooms, meeting halls, summer camps, or any other group meeting place. Please contact your local WDS or call your local GFP office for assistance.