New for 2023

State Information

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The South Dakota Draw System

South Dakota's Archery Deer Breakdown

South Dakota's Antelope Breakdown

South Dakota's 2023 Nonresident Archery Deer and Archery Antelope Application Overview

Not only is it the first time that GOHUNT has offered South Dakota to its Insiders, but it’s also the first time that South Dakota has offered limited public land archery draw licenses to nonresidents. This is a way for a nonresident to get a public land archery license for either deer or antelope. You actually will have the ability to hunt both private and public land with these licenses, but public land hunting dates will differ. South Dakota will also be offering an over-the-counter (OTC) private land only license for both species, but there are limitations that come with those as well. We will cover what you need to know with these licenses throughout this article.

Note: The application deadline for public/private land archery deer is May 11, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. CDT and the deadline for public/private land archery antelope is May 25, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. CDT. All applications must be submitted online.

NONRESIDENT ARCHERY DEER

NONRESIDENT ARCHERY ANTELOPE

Insider features

HUNT PLANNER

To aid in your research and planning efforts, we created a brand new tool for Insiders called Hunt Planner. This tool will help you be more efficient at planning for hunts and also keeps all your research data organized. No more notepads getting lost or headaches when trying to remember what units caught your eye during your research! Everything you need is always in one place at GOHUNT.

What can you do in Hunt Planner?

POINT TRACKER

Point Tracker allows you to enter the number of points you have for each state and species and, as you research through Filtering 2.0 and Draw Odds, your point total will automatically be highlighted.

To view more important information, including a state overview of South Dakota’s rules/regulations, the draw system, draw odds and license fee, go to the South Dakota state profile. It also includes an interactive map where you can research unit boundaries and data on a unit by unit basis.

Note: South Dakota does use a weighted preference point system for all species.

Important Dates and Information

* Tag fees only required if you are successful in the draw.

Drought status

Compared to last year, the state has shown great improvements. The western and central parts of the state have gone from severe to either moderate or abnormal. The northeast part of the state has seen the only decrease in moisture since 2022. Overall, most of the state is in pretty good shape. Going into 2023, it will likely be an average to above-average antler growth year.

2023

2022

South Dakota uses a weighted preference point system for all big game species and is used for your first choice only. They run a cubed point system unlike most states that run a squared system, but with the same concept. For example, if you have four preference points, they then cube those points and add one for the current year. (4 x 4 x 4 + 1 = 65). So you would have 65 applications in the bucket for the specific hunt unit you wish to draw. From there, each application is assigned a random draw number and they start the drawing process. They will start at the lowest draw number and work their way down the list.

If you are unsuccessful in drawing your first choice, you will be awarded a preference point. Only one preference point can be earned each year. If you do not wish to apply for a license or enter the draw, there is a separate preference point purchase period where you can buy a point for the following year. Preference points will be available for purchase from Sept. 15 through Dec. 15. These can be purchased through your Go Outdoors South Dakota profile.

For deer and antelope, they conduct the drawing and tag allocations a little differently than the other big game species. South Dakota uses a tiered preference pool system when conducting the draw. There is a 2+ point pool, a 1+ point pool and a 0+ point pool. All licenses allocated for that hunt unit are available to everyone who is in the 2+ preference pool. This means that everyone who has 2+ preference points has the first shot at all those tags. If there are any licenses leftover after that draw, then anyone who has 1+ preference point now has a shot. Any remaining licenses will then be made available to those in the 0+ preference pool. Here is an example below:

For more information on how the draw is conducted, you can check out the preference point page.

Party applications

Group applications are accepted and you can have up to six people in a group. All must have the same first choice on the application and must all be in the same designated group. One thing to keep in mind is that South Dakota does not average your preference points. They go with the lowest number in the group. So if one person has six points and someone else only has two points, then the group application goes into the draw with only two preference points.

South Dakota offers a couple options for nonresidents when it comes to an archery deer tag. For the first time, they are offering a limited public/private land any deer draw license, which is valid statewide. The hunting season on private land runs from Sept. 1 through Jan. 1, 2024. The public land season starts Oct. 1 and runs through Jan. 1, 2024, but you can hunt both with the same license. Custer State Park is closed to all archery hunting.

The second opportunity for nonresidents is the OTC private land only licenses, which are also valid for any deer. You still need to apply for this license, but they are unlimited to nonresidents. This season also runs from Sept. 1 through Jan. 1, 2024. This license is private land only, which excludes all public lands and private lands leased for public hunting by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) in Walk-In Areas, Conservation Reserve Enhancement (CREP) and Controlled Hunting Access (CHAP) programs.

The last opportunity for nonresidents is the OTC archery antlerless whitetail license, which is valid on both public and private lands. This license is not valid statewide, but it does cover most of the state, so be sure to check the regulations on boundaries. The private land season dates run from Sept. 1 through Jan. 1, 2024, and the public land season dates run from Oct. 1 through Jan. 1, 2024. You can hunt both season dates with the same license.

With South Dakota being primarily private land, it’s important to do your research ahead of time for places to hunt as well as access points. Landowner permission is required to hunt private lands in South Dakota. Do not apply just because licenses are available. Have permission to hunt before you apply. If you don’t have permission before you apply, you may not be able to obtain it during the season.

Managing expectations for deer in South Dakota

South Dakota holds good mature bucks for both species, but whitetails definitely take the cake. There are big whitetail bucks taken from this state every year. These archery licenses are pretty darn easy to draw with just a handful of points. The biggest setback is the abundance of private land, but with permission, mixed with public lands and access, many hunters find great success. Getting landowner permission prior to applying is key and sometimes that is the best ticket to finding big mature bucks.

South Dakota offers a couple of opportunities for nonresident archery antelope. The first is a limited draw license that is valid on both public and private land and is issued through the state draw. This is an any buck antelope license that is valid in all units where a firearm antelope season is open, which is most of the western half of the state. The season runs from Aug. 19 through Oct. 31, yet is closed during the rifle antelope season.

The second opportunity is an OTC archery antelope license that is valid on private land only. You have to apply for this license, but they are unlimited for nonresidents. It’s valid for one buck antelope on private land only (excluding all public lands and private lands leased for public hunting by SDGFP in Walk-In Areas, CREP and CHAP programs). Season dates are the same and are also closed during the rifle season.

Managing Antelope Points and Expectations

South Dakota holds a lot of good mature bucks and many are taken each year. Your biggest obstacle with South Dakota will be private land. The draw license is open to public lands, which are found primarily in the western units. If you plan to hunt private lands, then be sure to do your research and obtain permission prior to applying.