South Dakota Bird Hunting
Seasons Span September 20 – January 31, 2026
State Drought Monitor – Upland hunting conditions are often highly dependent upon moisture for both habitat production and bird survival.
Season Dates by Species
- Ring-Necked Pheasant:
- Youth Season: September 27 – October 5, 2025 (statewide on public and private land).
- Resident-Only Season: October 11 – 13, 2025 (public lands only).
- General Season: October 18, 2025 – January 31, 2026 (statewide, with delayed openings on certain refuges: e.g., Renziehausen GPA and refuges open December 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026; Sand Lake NWR open December 8, 2025 – January 31, 2026).
- Sharp-Tailed Grouse, Greater Prairie-Chicken, and Ruffed Grouse (combined):
- September 20, 2025 – January 31, 2026 (statewide).
- Gray (Hungarian) Partridge and Chukar:
- September 20, 2025 – January 31, 2026 (statewide).
- Quail:
- October 18, 2025 – January 31, 2026 (statewide).
- Greater Sage Grouse:
- Closed.
Required Licenses and Costs
Hunters aged 12 and older need a valid license. Youth under 12 can hunt under mentorship without a license but must be accompanied. All hunters 18 and older require a Habitat Stamp (except for certain exemptions like 1-day licenses or landowner privileges). A State Migratory Bird Certificate is required for hunting pheasant, grouse, partridge, and quail (valid July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). Licenses can be purchased online via the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP) website. Costs include a $6 surcharge where noted.
| License Type | Resident Cost | Non-Resident Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Game License | $36 (includes surcharge) | $142 (two 5-day periods) | Required for all upland birds; includes predator/varmint hunting. |
| One-Day Small Game License | $15 | N/A | Residents only; limited use. |
| Youth Small Game License (ages 12-17) | $5 | $10 (two 5-day periods) | – |
| Mentored Small Game License (under 16) | $5 | $10 | For youth hunting with a mentor. |
| Habitat Stamp (18+) | $10 | $25 | Required for most hunting licenses; funds habitat/access programs. |
| State Migratory Bird Certificate | $5 | $5 | Required for upland birds classified under migratory regulations. |
Federal Waterfowl Stamp ($29, ages 16+) is not required for upland birds but may apply if combining with waterfowl hunts.
Daily Bag Limits and Possession Limits
Limits apply statewide unless otherwise noted. Possession limits accrue based on daily bags (e.g., for pheasant, 15 birds cannot be possessed until after the fifth day of hunting).
| Species | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Ring-Necked Pheasant (roosters only) | 3 | 15 (Youth/General); 9 (Resident-Only) |
| Sharp-Tailed Grouse, Greater Prairie-Chicken, and Ruffed Grouse (combined) | 3 | 15 |
| Gray (Hungarian) Partridge and Chukar | 5 | 15 |
| Quail | 5 | 15 |
For more details or updates, consult the official South Dakota GFP Hunting and Trapping Handbook.
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Depths of Cold
There seems no bottom to the depths of cold. It’s one of the few solace for hunting in frigid condition: could be colder, windier, at least it’s not…more miserable. I’m assured by medical science that freezing does have a lower limit in terms of the human body. Paradoxical undressing: the point at which humans experiencing…
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The Top 3 Wild Pheasant Hunting Tips
There are tons of variables involved when pheasant hunting: weather, dogs, number of hunters, blockers, terrain, time of day….. the list is almost endless. But regardless of these elements, there are 3 things you can always use that will improve your success against the wily wild rooster. The bird hunters’ opening day is also most…
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Tough Old Rooster Cakes
How do you know when you’ve harvested a three-year-old rooster? When you have to chew it until the next season to swallow it. Tough old birds are challenging and fun to chase. But part of that challenge is making them fit for the table. On principle, most hunters will choke down just about anything they shoot —…
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Pheasant Defying Drought….. For Now
There has been a lot of news about the terribly dry conditions across the bulk of the country this year. This news sparked many early negative predictions for the upland populations. If you read much about the lifecycle of upland birds though, most don’t require much water when they are young. So unlike harsh winters…
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Hunting in the Shadow of Roosevelt
When I hunt in North Dakota, my thoughts often drift to Teddy Roosevelt’s days at Elkhorn Ranch — He named his Dakota home for a pair of locked elk skulls he found at the site. Today, centrally located within the million acres of the Little Missouri National Grasslands, Elkhorn is a great place to visit…
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Buffalo Phez Mac N Cheez
Came up with this recipe while we were hunting in the late season and pulled it together for a camp dinner. That initial round was a hit with the Kansas crew after a long, cold day afield. Hence, I jotted down a few notes and tried it again indoors. Late season roosters can be tough…
