Details below from SDGFP Website

About South Dakota Deer Hunting

South Dakota is host to both Whitetail and Mule Deer, with Mule deer inhabiting mostly the central and western regions of the state and Whitetails abundant throughout. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply for all deer seasons except Custer State Park and East River Deer.

• Nonresidents may apply for an East River Deer license if there are leftovers available after the drawing.

SD Archery Deer Hunting

The archery deer season is set in May and is open to residents and nonresidents. The application process opens in July . There is no deadline for submitting an application and licenses are sold throughout the season. Licenses must be purchased by application through the GFP License Office.

The primary archery deer season traditionally runs from late September through the end of January. The January season is open to antlerless deer harvest only.

• All first time archery deer hunters, resident or nonresident, are required to pass the National Bowhunter Education course.

Season Dates:

• Archery Deer - Sept. 24 - Dec. 31
• 2011 
Archery Antlerless Deer - Sept. 24, 2011 - Jan. 15, 2012

SD East River Deer Hunting

South Dakota east of the Missouri River comprises the East River Deer area. This is rolling farmland divided by two major river drainages, the James and the Big Sioux. Whitetails abound throughout the area, with mule deer mixed in near the central part of the state.

• Nonresidents may apply beginning in early October for unsold licenses.

Season Dates:

• East River Deer - Nov. 19, 2011 - Dec. 4, 2011

SD West River Deer Hunting

The West River Deer season includes most of South Dakota west of the Missouri River and outside of the Black Hills. The short grass prairie is home to mule deer, with whitetails scattered along drainages and the rare wooded areas.

• Both residents and nonresidents may apply for limited licenses available in specific units (usually by county).

Season Dates:

• West River Deer - Nov. 12, 2011 - Nov. 27, 2011   

SD Special Buck Deer Hunting

A deer hunting license option that hunters have is the Special Buck license which allows you to hunt in all West River Deer and East River Deer units on private land only. The license is valid for one "any deer" for the dates of each respective hunting season.

• Both residents and nonresidents are eligible for West River Special Buck licenses. East River Special Buck licenses are available to South Dakota residents only.
• The West River Deer traditionally opens the second Saturday in November. East River Deer traditionally opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Landowner Permission Required

• Landowner permission is REQUIRED as a prerequisite to applying

• On the application form, you will find a blank for the name and telephone number of a landowner (West River landowner if you are applying for the West River season; East River landowner if you are applying for the East River season) where you have received permission to hunt

Season Dates:

• Special Buck West River - Nov. 12, 2011 - Nov. 27, 2011
• Special Buck East River - Nov. 19, 2011 - Dec. 4, 2011

SD Black Hills Deer Hunting

Deer in the Black Hills were abundant when explorers arrived in the mid 1870s. A decade later few were found. Managing the deer herd in the beautiful hills is a challenge for GFP, and details of that challenge can be seen in our management plan.

The Black Hills is mountainous area that can reach 7,000 feet. The area is covered by beautiful stands of Black Hills spruce, ponderosa pine, aspen and bur oak. The area encompasses 2.3 million acres, of which over three-fourths is open to public hunting.

Whitetails dominate the hills, making up 75% of the deer herd. Mule deer can be found in the north, the area west of Custer, and in the foothills surrounding the Black Hills.

Season Dates:

• Black Hills Deer - Nov. 1 - Nov. 30, 2011

Hunting Custer State Park

• RESIDENTS ONLY 

At 71,000 acres, Custer State Park is one of the largest state parks in the United States. A vast array of wildlife inhabits the Park, and special hunting seasons are established to help meet management objectives.  Deer within the Park are mainly whitetails with some mule deer.

Season Dates:

• CSP Deer - Nov. 5 - Nov. 18, 2011

SD Muzzleloader Deer Hunting

A statewide deer hunting season specifically for the use of primitive muzzleloader firearms is held traditionally from the second Saturday in December through January 31.

• A limited number of "any deer" licenses are available to residents only.
• "Antlerless deer" permits are available to both residents and nonresidents and sold through the end of the season.

Season Dates:

• Muzzleloader Deer - Dec. 1, 2011 - Jan 15, 2012

SD Refuge Deer Hunting

GFP assists the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the deer management on South Dakota's National Wildlife Refuges by facilitating the drawing process and issuance of hunting licenses.

Separate deer seasons are held at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge (Bennett County), Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Brown County), and Waubay National Wildlife Refuge (Day County). Sept. 2

South Dakota big game regulations apply to hunting the refuges, along with provisions that may be put in place by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a specific refuge.

Season Dates:

• Refuge Deer - Season dates depend on the refuge

SD Youth Deer Hunting

South Dakota hunters take pride in providing helping with guidance and mentorship for youth hunters.  The efforts of our hunters today ensre our youth are ready to become the next generation of hunters.

GFP offers a statewide resident and nonresident Youth Antlerless Deer season, traditionally opening the second Saturday of September and running through January for ages 12-18.

• Licenses must be purchased by application through the GFP License Office, and are sold throughout the season.

Season Dates:

• Youth Antlerless Deer - Sept. 10, 2011 - Jan. 15, 2012

Special Requirements:

• Youth hunter must have successfully completed the HuntSAFE program and possess a HuntSafe card, and must be accompanied by an unarmed adult unless the adult has a firearm big game license valid for the same geographic area and time of year as the youth hunter or the adult is carrying a pistol and possesses a valid concealed pistol permit.
• Big game hunters using a firearm must wear the required fluorescent orange.