Hunting
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From the shores of Lake Oahe to the prairies of the Fort Pierre National Grassland, the area surrounding Pierre and Fort Pierre boasts a rich diversity of big and small game. Hunting in the Pierre area is a sport nearly year-round, as it is throughout the state.
Waterfowl |
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Mallards
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Pintails
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Gadwall and Teal ducks
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Wood Ducks
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Canada, snow and blue geese
February through May
brings a second season, specifically for light
geese.
Pheasant and grouse
The Fort Pierre National Grassland supports
premier grouse hunting as well as maintaining an
excellent population of pheasants. The
territories of these game birds also overlap
along the Missouri River, and recent surveys
show healthy populations of both in the Pierre
area, where the hunting season on public lands
runs from mid-October through December. Numerous
commercially operated preserves in the Pierre
area offer pheasant hunting until early spring.
Look for pheasants in farmed fields, tree strips
and wetlands; grouse prefer native prairie grass
and brushy areas.
Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Antelope and Turkey
Central South Dakota offers a good assortment of
big game, including
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whitetail deer
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Mule deer
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Antelope
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Turkey
These are hunted in separate firearm and archery seasons occurring in August–December, with a second turkey season from April to mid-May.
Antelope, whitetails and mule deer inhabit areas
west of the Missouri River, including the Fort
Pierre National Grassland. East of the river,
look for whitetails in farmed areas. Wild
turkeys are found in wooded and brushy areas
along the river.
Each November through early January the Triple U
Ranch, located 35 miles northwest of Fort
Pierre, offers guided trophy buffalo hunts and
meat hunts.
Prairie dogs and Coyotes
Year-round hunting and few restrictions make
coyotes and prairie dogs popular off-season
game. Found throughout South Dakota’s prairies
and rolling hills, prairie dogs may be hunted
all year on private lands with the owner’s
permission and on public lands, such as the Fort
Pierre National Grassland, from mid-June through
February.
Scattered throughout the state, coyotes may be
hunted year-round.
Sporting clays
The fastest growing shotgun sport in the nation,
sporting clays gives hunters a chance to sharpen
their skills during the season as well as off
season. Two courses, Willow Creek and Cheyenne
Ridge, are located within a 20-minute drive.
Hunting licenses
A license is always required for hunting big or
small game. South Dakota issues resident and
nonresident hunting licenses in game-specific
categories; application deadlines typically fall
two to four months before the season opens.
Nonresident licenses are available for all kinds
of game, though some are available only via
lottery. Visit www.sdgpf.info for season
dates and license application deadlines, and
avoid disappointment by planning your trip well
ahead of hunting season.
U.S. and Canadian citizens who are over 16 and
have valid Social Security numbers (not required
of Canadian citizens) can purchase
over-the-counter licenses online at
www.sdgfp.info;
a credit card and a printer are needed to buy
the license and print it for use. Parents may
purchase youth permits for their children.
Those who need to present some other form of
physical documentation (e.g., nonresident
students attending school in South Dakota and
nonresidents serving in the military stationed
in South Dakota) must purchase their licenses
from a storefront agent.
Non-U.S./Canadian citizens who need to purchase
hunting licenses in advance of entering the
United States should call Game, Fish and Parks,
(605) 773-3485, to make special arrangements.
Boat ramps
More than three dozen boat ramps dot the shores
of Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe; access to Lake
Oahe sites depends on the reservoir’s water
levels. Clink on the area map link for the
locations of area boat ramps. For updated
information on possible ramp closings, visit
http://gfp.sd.gov/fishing-boating/boating/default.aspx
