Application Strategy 2025: South Dakota archery deer and archery antelope - insights for success

South Dakota's 2025 Nonresident Archery Deer and Archery Antelope Application Overview

The nonresident archery deer and antelope licenses are an excellent way to secure public land archery tags for the 2025 season. With either one of these licenses, you actually have the ability to hunt both private and public land with differing season dates. South Dakota also offers an over-the-counter (OTC) private land only license for both species, but there are limitations that come with those as well. The OTC licenses are available for purchase throughout the season, beginning in June. 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 April 22, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. CDT, and the deadline for public/private land archery antelope is April 23, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. CDT. All applications must be submitted online.

New Or Noteworthy For This Year

Not much has changed for the 2025 nonresident archery deer and antelope licenses. The draw for these specific licenses is now two years old and there’s still a good chance to acquire these tags with no points whatsoever. Below you will find the draw odds tables that show the specifics.

Insider features

Hunt Planner

To aid in your research and planning efforts, we have a 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 and Draw Odds, your point total will automatically be highlighted.

State Information

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 looks like it needs a little moisture and, hopefully, it comes before summer hits. Winter has seemed to hit most of the West a lot later than normal, so maybe things will improve as this spring tries to get here. As shown, the southwestern portion looks to be in the worst shape.

2025

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2024

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2023

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2022

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The South Dakota Draw System

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 h/content/gohunt/us/en/as 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's Archery Deer Breakdown

South Dakota offers a couple of options for nonresidents when it comes to an archery deer tag. They have 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, 2026. The public land season starts Oct. 1 and runs through Jan. 1, 2026, 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, 2026. 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, 2026, and the public land season dates run from Oct. 1 through Jan. 1, 2026. You can hunt both season dates with the same license. 

Since much of South Dakota is private land, it’s crucial to do your research beforehand to identify hunting locations and access points. Landowner permission is required to hunt private land in the state. Don’t apply for a license just because it’s available — make sure you have permission to hunt before you apply. If you don’t secure permission before applying, you may not be able to obtain it later in the season.

Managing expectations for deer in South Dakota

South Dakota is home to an abundance of mature bucks for both species, though whitetails certainly take center stage. Each year, impressive whitetail bucks are harvested from the state. Securing archery licenses is generally easy, often requiring just a few accumulated points. The primary challenge is the large amount of private land, but with the right permission and access to public lands, many hunters find great success. Securing landowner permission before applying is crucial — and in many cases, it’s the best way to find those big, mature bucks.

South Dakota's Antelope Breakdown

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. 16 through Oct. 31, yet is closed during the rifle antelope season (Oct 4 to 19). 

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

In South Dakota, you'll find plenty of mature antelope bucks, and many are harvested each year. The primary challenge, however, is gaining access to private land. Draw licenses are valid for public lands, mostly located in the western units. If you're targeting private land hunting, it’s essential to do thorough research and secure permission ahead of time before applying.