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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Hunting the Polar Vortex
The first half of the 2014 Upland Season is over and it’s been a whirlwind of travel all across the country. But this last trip to South Dakota hunting in brutally cold conditions was a great reminder that some of the best memories afield come from facing adversity and overcoming.
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Inroads
We’ve been coming to this area of the grain belt for over 20 years. It took the locals at least seven of those to warm beyond a passing nod or the requisite finger waive to oncoming trucks. We now know many by name though most likely still recognize us only as familiar faces. Every year…
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Making Kansas Memories
Opening day in Kansas occupies a sacred place for me since this is the territory where my upland obsession really took hold years ago. The bulk of the state has a dismal bird forecast like much of the rest of the Midwest this year. There are some bright spots which have been deemed the north…
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Kansas Bird Hunting in Perspective
I make the annual pilgrimage to Kansas to reunite with old friends and family. It reminds me of where my passion for bird hunting was first kindled. Because this year was no exception to the rule, Kansas seemed like the right place to bring together our young Jornada Llewellin Rio with our veteran flusher Wyatt…
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Grilled Pheasant + Mojo Sauce
This spatchcocked, grilled pheasant is probably one of the more satisfying meals I have made with wild game to date. The crispy skin is full of flavor from a homemade dry rub, the meat is tender and juicy, and the citrus-garlic Mojo sauce is so delicious. Cuban Mojo Sauce This Mojo sauce has it all:…
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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…
