This is one of the more popular units in South Dakota. Miles of BLM and walk-in access areas with scattered state land across the unit offers great opportunities for public land hunters. The terrain is mild with countless creek bottoms separated by large tracts of CRP making for fantastic habitat and great hunting conditions.

There are good populations of mule deer and whitetail in this unit, and with very limited driving in and around the BLM and walk-in property spread across the unit, this is a great fit for hunters looking to put a few miles a day on their boots.

There is just over a thousand feet of elevation change in this large unit located on the west side of the state. The bulk of this unit consists of CRP, which is broken up by countless small creek bottoms lined with vegetation and a mix of trees. The Belle Fourche River and the many tributaries cut their way across the south-central part of the unit has the bulk of the agriculture that you will find in this unit.

A mix of short and tall prairie grass and countless species of wildflowers cover most areas of the unit that haven’t been turned for agricultural purposes. Very sparse timber, which is primarily a mix of Cottonwood, American Elm, Green Ash, and Bur Oak, can be found along the edges of the Belle Fourche River, Owl Creek, and other small creek beds scattered across the unit.

At first glance, this unit does not appear to have much public land opportunity, but there is actually an extensive amount of walk-in access property scattered through the unit with multiple sections reaching up to 4,000 plus acres. Additionally, there are some places where state and federal land could be touching on one side or the other, which makes for plenty of room to move around when hunting this unit. There are very few drivable roads in the BLM land across this unit, so plan on putting some miles on your boots to really cover the available ground. The town of Belle Fourche is located just outside of the unit boundaries on the southwestern side along US Highway 212. As you move to the east, you will eventually run into State Highway 79 which will run south. Once there you will follow the Butte County line as it continues east, then north, eventually wrapping around to the west where it connects to the Montana State line. There are a number of state and US highways found throughout, with the most notable being US Highway 212, which actually twists and turns through the unit. State Highway 79 is located in the center of the unit and primarily travels north and south with a slight jog to the east as it leaves the unit on the northern border. Further to the west and heading north out of Belle Fourche is US Highway 85, which swoops north and slightly east as it exits the unit on the northern border.

The town of Belle Fourche is located mostly on the southwestern side of the unit, just across the southern border in the neighboring unit. Belle Fourche is a town of approximately 6,000 residents, and is considered the main hub for many miles in all directions. You will be able to find most anything you would need for last minute supplies, even sporting good supplies. Outside of Belle Fourche there are very limited supplies and locations to plan your hunt out of other than remote camping. The one exception to this, which is not all that far from Belle Fourche but is an option to consider, is Newell. Newell is a little more centrally located on the southern border and has a couple of locally owned hotels, a gas station, a grocery store, and a couple of locally owned cafes and restaurants.