It’s pheasant hunting season in South Dakota: What you need to know

Dominik Dausch and Elisa Sand, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·6 min read
Q McEntee carries pheasant he helped guide a group of about twenty hunters to on opening day of the hunting season, October 16, 2021, in western South Dakota.
Q McEntee carries pheasant he helped guide a group of about twenty hunters to on opening day of the hunting season, October 16, 2021, in western South Dakota.

The whistle of the wind, the slow crunch of grass as hunters trudge across prairieland, anticipation building in tandem with the rise of a shotgun barrel, the blast of a gun, and, hopefully, a bird on the receiving end of the payload: South Dakota's pheasant fields are where memories are made.

And it's that time of year where tens of thousands of hunters will flock to the Mount Rushmore state to take part in the 2022 traditional pheasant hunting season.

Whether you're on your first hunt or your 50th, this guide has what you need to know about fees, regulations and license dealers in Sioux Falls and abroad.

More:All you need to know about South Dakota's pheasant season and opener

Welcome to South Dakota, good luck and, most of all, enjoy the hunt!

How much are small game licenses and where can I get them?

Small game licenses that include pheasants are $33 for residents. A residential one-day small game license is $12. A resident youth small game license for hunters 12 to 17 is $5. A $10 habitat stamp is also required for hunters who are 18 and older if this is the first hunting license purchased in 2022.

Nonresident small game licenses are $121 and are good for two five-day periods. The two periods can be consecutive. A nonresident youth license is $10. The habitat stamp is $25.

Combination small game and fishing licenses for residents, which can also be used for pheasants, are $55 for adults and $40 for senior citizens 65 or older.

Licenses can be purchased online. A $6 surcharge is assessed for each license. For more information, visit gfp.sd.gov/hunt-fish-license/.

There are 280 registered license dealers across South Dakota. Licenses can be purchased at the following businesses in or just beyond the borders of Brown County:

Aberdeen

  • Dunham’s, 3315 Sixth Ave. S.E., Suite 300

  • Ken’s SuperFair Foods, 2201 Sixth Ave. S.E.

  • Kessler’s, 621 Sixth Ave. S.E.

  • Runnings, 1815 Sixth Ave. S.E.

  • Sodak Sport and Bait, 850 S. U.S. Highway 281.

  • Walmart, 3820 Seventh Ave. S.E.

Brandon

  • Ace Hardware, 304 S. Splitrock Blvd.

Harrisburg

  • Ace Hardware, 200 W. Willow St.

Sioux Falls

  • Dakota Angler, 1120 E. Benson Rd.

  • Fiverstar General Agent, (605) 978-2100

  • Fleet Farm, 3035 W. Fleet St.

  • Get N Go, 6201 W. 12th St.

  • Holiday Gas Station, 5000 N. Cliff Ave.

  • Northview Bait & Tackle, 1400 N. Kiwanis Ave.

  • Nyberg's Ace

    • 200 E. 12th St.

    • 607 S. Sycamore Ave.

    • 2500 W. 12th St.

    • 330 W. 41st St.

  • Runnings

    • 3709 E. 10th St.

    • 3835 S. Western Ave.

  • Scheels

    • 2101 W. 41st St.

  • Walmart

    • 3209 S. Louise Ave.

    • 7821 S. Minnesota Ave.

    • 5521 E. Arrowhead Pkwy.

    • 5200 W. 60th St. N.

Tea

  • Ace Hardware, 701 N. Heritage Pkwy.

Electronic small game licenses are accepted. To use one, log in to the GFP licensing account and take a screenshot.

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When can hunting start, and what's the bird limit?

The pheasant season opens on Saturday and runs until Jan. 31, 2023. Shooting is allowed from 10 a.m. CST until sunset for the entire season.

Three rooster pheasants are allowed each day, with a possession limit of 15 roosters total, according to the GFP.

All public lands in South Dakota are open for hunting, with the following exceptions where pheasant hunting is only allowed in December and January:

  • Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Brown County): Dec. 12, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023

  • Renziehausen Game Production Area and Game Bird Refuge (Brown and Marshall Counties): Dec. 1. 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023

  • Gerken Game Bird Refuge (Faulkton County): Dec. 1. 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023

  • White Lake Game Bird Refuge (Marshall County): Dec. 1. 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023

The state’s Turn In Poachers hotline is 1-888-683-7224. Reports can be made anonymously. Informants are eligible for rewards.

What's the weather outlook for pheasant season in South Dakota?

The weather has been drier and warmer than normal, and the National Weather Service's Aberdeen office says that will likely be the case for the first weekend of the pheasant season.

NWS' Climate Prediction Center is projecting a slight chance for above average temperatures and will likely see below average precipitation Oct. 14-16.

The average high temperature is forecast to be 61 degrees on Friday and 59 degrees on Sunday, with average low temperatures around 34 both days.

The normal high temperature in Aberdeen for this time of the year is between 55 and 60 degrees, according to NWS information.

What's the season outlook?

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks stopped conducting brood surveys in 2020.

Generally speaking, though, spring and summer rains across much of the primary pheasant range has provided lush and green habitat for nesting and brood rearing, according to an Upland Outlook compiled by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department. With those spring conditions and mild winter conditions, pheasant populations have traditionally responded positively.

Thousands are expected to arrive in the coming weeks for pheasant hunting. Tourism is one of the leading industries in South Dakota, and in the northeast part of the state, pheasant hunting is a big draw. Last year, 126,961 resident and nonresident hunters harvested 1,067,423 pheasants statewide, according to GFP information.

The five counties with the highest reported harvests were Beadle, Brown, Brule, Lyman and Tripp. In all, resident and non-resident hunters spent an estimated $246.8 million.

Maps and apps show public access areas

Maps showing public access hunting areas are available on the GFP website at gfp.sd.gov/maps. Smartphone apps are also available for both Androids and iPhones. Search for “SD GFP Outdoors” in the respective stores to download the app.

Blaze orange recommended, but not required

Wearing bright orange in the field is not required by law. However, it is strongly recommended so hunters can be easily spotted by others.

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Trespassing on private land not allowed

It is illegal to hunt on private land without permission. Violators could be charged with trespassing. Hunters are allowed to shoot pheasants in most road rights of way. Right-of-way hunters must be on foot. Birds must have taken flight from within or be flying over the right of way. A pheasant shot in a right of way that lands on private land may be retrieved on foot. Hunters are not allowed to discharge firearms from vehicles.

Aberdeen Pheasant Coalition provides incentives for walk-in program enrollment

A group of local businesses and organizations, spearheaded by Northern South Dakota Pheasants Forever Chapter No. 77, provides financial incentives to property owners to enroll land in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program and the GFP public walk-in program. Land enrolled in both programs is added to public walk-in maps.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: What to know about South Dakota's 2022 pheasant hunting season