This unit is located in the southeastern portion of the state, north of the Missouri River and just Southwest of Sioux Falls. It encompasses all of Turner County, SD. The unit is primarily dedicated to private farms and agriculture, with almost no public land. One exception is Mud Lake, located centrally in the unit. If you plan on coming to this unit, prior arrangements with a private landowner is recommended. The terrain consists of rolling hills, carved by gullies and drainages and vegetation is typical to a prairie grassland.

With very limited public access there are few hunters headed to this Unit without a plan around hunting some private property.

This unit consists of rolling hills, carved by gullies and drainages. It slopes to the southeast, its highest point along its west boundary line. The elevation of the region ranges from 1,700 ft in the west to a low of 1,200 ft in the southeast. It is primarily devoted to farming and agriculture but also hosts several protected waterfowl production areas and a growing coverage of CRP. The Vermillion River runs north to south through the entire unit, providing river bed frontage and denser vegetation.

Typical grasses and vegetation cover found in a grassland environment can be found in all areas of the unit that haven’t been turned for agricultural purposes. A mix of bluestem prairie, wheatgrass, and needlegrass will be present in natural areas throughout the unit. As you approach the restored wetland near Vermillion river or lake areas, vegetation becomes more dense, providing nesting grounds for migrant birds. Government partnered CRP is growing throughout the unit, with a healthy mix of food plot seed and grassland restorations being implemented across the state.

Access to this unit is mostly from US highway 18 in the south, and County road 44 in the north that runs east to west. State road 19 runs opposite from north to south. To the west of the unit boundary is State road 82 and just to the east of the unit is Interstate 29, both which run the entire north to south stretch of the unit, with entry at many points in the county. In fact, almost the entire county is covered by drive-able roads, allowing near access to the small pockets of walk-in land and quick access to any area of the unit, including the towns where visitors may find resources.

Just to the northeast of Turner County is Sioux Falls, SD. It is a major metropolitan area with a regional airport. It hosts a number of chain and local lodging options, as well as chain and local restaurants. Gas stations are abundant along Interstates 29 and 229 that run to the east and north of the unit. Camping is available at several private campgrounds, such as the KOA along the Interstate as well as the Big Sioux State Recreation area. Check local regulations with regards to rules for public camping. Sioux Falls is the hub for many surrounding units so you should be able to find anything you need within this metropolitan area.

Within the unit itself, hunters may be best served by Parker, Centerville, and Viborg. Parker is located centrally, at the junction of State Routes 44 and 19. It has a population of 1,024 and is the county seat of Turner county. It has a few local restaurants, an AutoZone and a gas station, servicing the most basic needs. Centerville is a city in the southern region of the unit. It hosts a few local eateries as well as a Shell gas station. The nearest lodging to Centerville in this southern region is in nearby Beresford, within a neighboring unit. Viborg, is another small city along State Route 19 to the south, that has local eateries, a Shell gas station, and Pioneer Memorial Hospital in case of emergencies.