Hunting & Fishing in South Dakota
South Dakota is the undisputed pheasant capital of America, and that reputation alone draws upland hunters from every state each fall. Hunting guides in South Dakota run wild pheasant hunts across the corn and grassland country of the central and eastern parts of the state, while the Black Hills and western prairie add elk, mule deer, whitetail, and pronghorn. The fall waterfowl migration through the prairie potholes is excellent.
Fishing in South Dakota centers on the Missouri River reservoirs, the great walleye factories of the Plains. Lakes Oahe, Sharpe, and Francis Case produce trophy walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike, with a strong guide presence on each. Glacial lakes in the northeast add perch and walleye. Between the world-class bird hunting and the big-water walleye, South Dakota is a Plains sportsman's dream.
Top Hunting & Fishing Regions
James River Valley
The corn and grassland country of central South Dakota around Mitchell and Huron is the heart of the nation's best wild pheasant hunting.
Lake Oahe
A massive Missouri River reservoir producing trophy walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike along its endless shoreline.
Black Hills
Forested mountains in the west offer elk, mule deer, and whitetail hunting plus trout fishing in cold streams like Spearfish Creek.
Glacial Lakes Region
The pothole-dotted northeast offers walleye and perch fishing along with prime waterfowl hunting on the prairie wetlands.
Tips for Hunting in South Dakota
- ✓Book a pheasant hunt for the October opener, when bird numbers peak before winter weather and hunting pressure thin the population.
- ✓Fish Lake Oahe for walleye through the open-water season, working the points and creek arms with a guide.
- ✓Apply early for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks draws for Black Hills elk and prairie deer units.
- ✓Combine a bird hunt with a waterfowl morning; the prairie potholes hold ducks right alongside pheasant country.
Did you know? South Dakota's pheasant population can swell past 10 million birds in a good year, and the ring-necked pheasant, though originally from Asia, is the official state bird.
Application Deadlines
South Dakota Special Buck & Antelope Deadline
Deadline for SD special buck deer and special antelope draw.
South Dakota Archery Deer Draw Deadline
Deadline for SD statewide archery deer draw.
South Dakota Sheep & Elk Deadline (Residents)
Deadline for SD Rocky Mountain sheep and elk draw (residents only).
South Dakota Deer (West River/Black Hills) Deadline
Deadline for SD whitetail/mule deer Black Hills and West River draw.
South Dakota Bison Application Deadline
Deadline for SD bison (trophy and non-trophy) draw.
South Dakota Firearm Antelope Deadline
Deadline for SD firearm antelope draw.
South Dakota Preference Points Deadline
Last day to purchase SD preference points only.
Events & Expos
South Dakota HuntSAFE Course
Three online options: hunter-ed.com, ilearntohunt.com, NRA free course. Under 16 must complete field day after online.
South Dakota Trapper Education (ETHICS SD)
Trapper education through ETHICS SD program. Collaboration between GFP, 4-H, and SD Trappers Association.
Species in South Dakota
Top-Rated in South Dakota
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Buffalo County Buffalo
Gann Valley, South Dakota
Deadwood Black Hills Vacation Rentals- Northern Hills Hunting Lodge
Deadwood, South Dakota
River View Lodge
Hereford, South Dakota
Buffalo Wallow Lodge
Bruce, South Dakota
Blue Line Guide Service
Wessington, South Dakota
Rooster Roost Ranch
Mitchell, South Dakota
All Hunting & Fishing Listings in South Dakota
208 guides, outfitters, charters, and outdoor businesses across South Dakota.
Guide & Outfitter listings in South Dakota (148)
- A1 Al's Pheasant Ranch — Emery
- Absolutely Pheasants, LLC — Presho
- Allen's South Dakota Fishing and Hunting Lodge — Chamberlain
- Antler Ridge Lodge — Hamill
- Big Bend Ranch Pheasant Hunting — Harrold
- Big Shot Pheasant Lodge — Cresbard
- Biggins Hunting Service — Gregory
- Black Hills Adventure Lodging — Lead
- Black Hills Vacations — Deadwood
- Brown’s Lodge & Hunting Ranch — Gettysburg
- Buffalo County Buffalo — Gann Valley
- Buffalo Wallow Lodge — Bruce
- Cedar Pass Lodge in Badlands National Park — Interior
- Chasin' Tails Guide Service — Waubay
- Cock Block Hunting Lodge — Dallas
- Cocks Unlimited — Gregory
- Cogan House Lodge — Tabor
- Coteau View Hunts — Conde
- Crooked Creek Outfitters — Camp Crook
- Crow Creek Outfitters — Fort Thompson
- Dakota Blue Lodge — Bonesteel
- Dakota Game Lodge — Onaka
- Dakota Hot Spots — Kennebec
- Dakota Hunts and Labs — Freeman
- Dakota Pheasant Guide — Mellette
- Dakota Prairie Guide Service — Chamberlain
- Dakota Prairie Holidays — Kimball
- Dakota Ridge Inc — Clear Lake
- Dakota Ring Neck Lodge — Estelline
- Dakota Trophy Adventures — Wasta
- Daybreak Ranch — Highmore
- Deadshot Outfitters — Colome
- Deadwood Black Hills Vacation Rentals- Northern Hills Hunting Lodge — Deadwood
- DeBoer's Pheasant Ranch, LLC — Stickney
- Eagle Pass Lodge — Ree Heights
- EPO Lodge - Extreme Pheasant Outfitters, LLC — Wessington Springs
Gun Dog Trainer listings in South Dakota (21)
- Badlands Kennel — Renner
- Big Sioux Kennels, LLC — Hudson
- CK Kennels — Harrisburg
- Coteau View Kennels — Conde
- Countryside Kennels — Madison
- Dakota Country Kennels — Jefferson
- Glenwood Kennels — Mitchell
- High Caliber Labradors — Lennox
- Julson Kennel — Colman
- Marzolf X-Kennel, LLC — Wentworth
- Patriot Retrievers — Hartford
- Poo-Patrol Pet Waste Removal Service — Sioux Falls
- Precious Pets Country Resort — Canton
- SDK South — Harrisburg
- SDK West — Sioux Falls
- Silver Lake Retrievers — Dolton
- SoDak Labradors & Gundog Kennels LLC — Mitchell
- Tails 'n Training — Rapid City
- Top Dog Kennels — Canistota
- vom Ike Kennel — Baltic
- Vom Wiredhaus Kennels — Sioux Falls
Accommodation listings in South Dakota (9)
- Camp Custer Log Cabins — Custer
- Dakota Lodge & Guide — Cresbard
- Heartland RV Park & Cabins — Hermosa
- Lazy J Sporting Club — Ideal
- Pierre South Dakota Pheasant Hunting Lodge | Willow Creek Wildlife — Fort Pierre
- Prairiestorm Outfitters — Willow Lake
- River View Lodge — Hereford
- Rooster Ridge Lodge — Chamberlain
- SD Wild West Outfitters Guided Hunting and Fishing — Langford
Boats & Vehicles listings in South Dakota (8)
- Black Hills Off-Road Rentals — Deadwood
- Black Hills UTV Rentals — Lead
- DJ's Resort & Rentals — Yankton
- Fun Time Rentals — Fort Pierre
- Hillside Resort — Wentworth
- Lewis & Clark Marina — Yankton
- Spearfish Canyon Lodge — Lead
- Trailshead Lodge — Lead
Shooting Range listings in South Dakota (7)
- Big Sioux Rifle & Pistol Club — Valley Springs
- Brookings County Outdoor Adventure Center — Brookings
- Buffalo Chip Shooting Complex — Sturgis
- Double P Ranch — Clark
- Hunters Pointe Shooting Complex — Humboldt
- NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center — Yankton
- The Alliance Gun Range and Armory — Sioux Falls
Retailer listings in South Dakota (6)
- Black Venom LLC — Sioux Falls
- Brock's Big Outdoors — North Sioux City
- Bucks Gun Shop — Alcester
- Rolling Bones Outdoors — Spearfish
- Silencer Central — Sioux Falls
- Young Guns — Aberdeen
Fishing Charter listings in South Dakota (4)
- Blue Line Guide Service — Wessington
- Blue Line Guide Service — Pierre
- Mike Mclellands Fishing Guide Service — Fort Pierre
- Swan Creek Guide Company — Akaska
Taxidermy listings in South Dakota (3)
- Monteith Bird Taxidermy — Wallace
- Monteith Bird Taxidermy — Rapid City
- Pete's Taxidermy — Burke
Game Processor listings in South Dakota (2)
- Crabtree Wild Game Processing — Custer
- Peck's Custom Butchering LLC — Dewey
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