South Dakota

Sub-species: Merriam’s, Rio Grande, Eastern

Tags: Limited quota

Application Period: No deadline for Archery;  No deadline for Resident Black Hills; Non Resident Black Hills Feb 11 deadline; Resident / Non Resident  Prairie Feb 11 deadline; Resident Custer State Park Feb 11 deadline.

Electronic or Print at Home Fulfillment: NO

Hunter Education Requirement: Yes for ages 12-15

Bag Limit: 1 per license.  Number of licenses available varies by unit.

2026 Spring Season Dates:

Prairie Archery: April 11 – May 31

Prairie April 11 – May 31 Black Hills: April 25 – May 31

Custer State Park (resident only): April 25 – May 23

2026 Fall Season Dates:

Prairie – Nov 1 – Jan 31

Special Youth Hunt: April 11 – May 31 Mentored 

Special Disabled Hunt: No

Decoys Allowed: Yes

Tagging Instructions: The tag received with your license must be signed, dated and securely attached to the big game animal at the time it is brought to a road or into any hunting camp, farmyard, residence, or before it is placed in or on a vehicle.  The locking seal issued with each big game license is an adhesive tag. The licensee shall sign the tag and date it by cutting out completely the month and day of the date of kill only. The licensee shall attach the tag securely around one leg of a mountain lion or turkey. Tagging allows a big game animal to be transported and stored by the hunter or another person for the hunter.  Wild turkeys, unless processed at a wildlife processing facility and accompanied by the receipt, or at the domicile of the possessor, shall include the beard, leg and foot bearing the tag issued with the license. Any person licensed to take “any turkey” is exempt from transporting the beard.  If someone other than the licensed hunter is transporting big game parts (antlers, hide, etc.) to a taxidermist, the parts must be accompanied by the tagged leg or appropriate documentation that would allow a conservation officer to determine that the items in transport were lawfully possessed.  Big game taken in another state or on a Tribal license must be properly tagged when transported within South Dakota. If no tag was issued, the person in possession of the animal must provide proof the animal was lawfully taken.

Noteworthy Restrictions: Shoulder-held firearms using ammunition which is factory-rated to produce at least 700 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and handguns using ammunition which is factory-rated to produce at least 500 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle may be used in the hunting of wild turkeys. Muzzleloading firearms of at least .44 caliber and muzzleloading shotguns may also be used for this purpose.   No self loading or auto loading firearm capable of holding more than 6 cartridges may be used to hunt.  No one may send or receive a message by cellular phone or other electronic form of communication while in or on a motor vehicle for the purpose of hunting big game.  Legal hunting hours for turkey end at sunset.

South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks

605-223-7660 

Purchase License Online 

Licenses Needed to Hunt Turkeys