PIERRE The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks held its April Commission meeting at the Matthews Training Center in Pierre.
The commission had several proposals and finalizations for upcoming seasons and regulations.
Wildlife proposals
Closed Area on Lake Francis Case
The Commission accepted a petition to eliminate the closed area, referenced as the Dredge Hole below the I-90 bridge on Lake Francis Case by Chamberlain. This area is closed Dec. 1-April 30 and includes the area between the I-90 Bridge and Railroad Bridge. This would open this area to fishing for the entire season. Removing the Dredge Hole closure is now a commission proposal.
Mentored hunting
The board proposed the following changes to the mentored hunting process:
- The mentored hunter would be issued their respective license and be the holder of their license. The license would be under the mentees name. Previously, mentored hunters hunted under the mentors license. Mentored hunters would need a profile in the South Dakota Go Outdoors system in order to obtain a license.
- There would be no group size restriction for mentored hunting.
- Consent for mentored hunting would now be verbal or written. Previously, written consent was required.
This allows the GFP Commission to establish criteria and conditions for mentored hunting seasons.
Electronic tagging
Commissioners proposed a definition of tagging to accommodate the comprehensive testing the department is conducting regarding electronic tagging. This will not replace the current locking seal tagging rule, but allow the option to switch to an electronic tagging option in the future.
Mentored/youth/apprentice deer
The commission proposed the 2025 and 2026 mentored/youth/apprentice deer hunting seasons. The season dates would be:
- Sept. 13, 2025 – Jan. 1, 2026
- Sept. 12, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027
Archery deer
The board proposed the 2025 and 2026 archery deer hunting seasons. The season dates would be:
- Sept. 1, 2025 – Jan. 1, 2026
- Sept. 1, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027
Nonresidents may not hunt private lands leased by GFP for public hunting access or public lands until Oct. 1.
The proposal also includes the expansion of the municipal deer hunting areas around Sioux Falls and establishment of a municipal deer hunting area in Hot Springs.
Muzzleloader deer
The panel proposed the 2025 and 2026 muzzleloader deer hunting seasons with the following dates:
- Dec. 1, 2025 – Jan. 1, 2026
- Dec. 1, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027
All license numbers were recommended, and final action will occur at the May GFP Commission meeting.
Black Hills deer
The commission proposed the 2025 and 2026 Black Hills deer hunting seasons with the following dates:
- Nov. 1 – 30, 2025
- Nov. 1 – 30, 2026
All license numbers were recommended and final action will occur at the May GFP Commission meeting.
Custer State Park deer
Commissioners proposed the 2025 and 2026 Custer State Park deer hunting seasons with the following dates:
- Nov. 1 – 30, 2025
- Nov. 1 – 30, 2026
The commission proposal includes keeping the antlerless deer season closed in Custer State Park.
All license numbers were recommended, and final action will occur at the May GFP Commission meeting.
West River deer
The commission proposed the 2025 and 2026 west river deer hunting seasons with the following dates:
2025
- Nov. 15 30, 2025
- Antlerless deer tags only: Dec. 13-21, 2025
2026
- November 14 29, 2026
- Antlerless deer tags only: Dec. 12-20, 2026
All license numbers were recommended, and final action will occur at the May GFP Commission meeting.
Refuge deer
The board proposed the 2025 and 2026 National Refuge deer hunting seasons with the following dates:
East River deer
The commission proposed the 2025 and 2026 east river deer hunting seasons with the following dates:
2025
- Nov. 22 Dec. 7, 2025
- Antlerless deer tags only: Dec. 13-21, 2025
2026
- Nov. 21 Dec. 6, 2026
- Antlerless deer tags only: Dec, 12-20, 2026
All license numbers were recommended, and final action will occur at the May GFP Commission meeting.
Black Hills elk
The commission proposed the Black Hills and Custer State Park elk hunting seasons with the following dates:
- Black Hills and CSP Archery: Sept. 1 30
- CSP Firearm: Oct. 1 31
Black Hills firearm
- Any Elk Units: H1A, H2A, H3A, H4A, H5A, H7A, and H9A – Oct. 1 – 31
- Antlerless Elk Units: H1B, H4B, H7B, and H9B – Oct. 15-31 and Dec. 1-16
- Antlerless Elk Units: H2B, H2E, H2H, H3B, and H3E – Oct. 15 – 31
- Antlerless Elk Units: H2C, H2F, H21, H3C and H3F – Dec. 1 – 16
- Antlerless Elk Units: H2D, H2G, H2J, H3D, and H3G – Dec. 17-31.
A total of 897 any elk licenses and 1,335 antlerless elk licenses are recommended for the 2025 Black Hills and Custer State Park elk hunting seasons. This would result in 115 additional any elk licenses and 515 additional antlerless elk licenses compared to 2024.
The following recommendations represent a 15% increase in any elk licenses and a 63% increase in antlerless elk licenses from 2024 to 2025.
Wildlife finalizations
Public lands and waters
The commission adopted two rules to align with the United States Code of Federal Regulations, which was a recommendation made by the US Coast Guard. The first rule clarifies the usage of personal flotation devices be used in accordance with any requirements on the approval label or owners manual. The second rule clarifies required fire extinguishers be in serviceable condition and not expired.
Prairie elk
The commission adopted the Prairie Elk Season with the following dates:
The panel expanded the West River Prairie Elk unit (PRE-WRA) to include all counties west of the Missouri River not currently in an existing Prairie Elk or Black Hills Elk hunting unit and to expand the season dates for Prairie Elk Unit 9A, to expand season dates for Prairie Elk Unit 27A to Sept. 1 Dec. 31, and to allow the use of landowner-own-land, resident-only antlerless elk license for this unit.
The ccmmission approved a tag allocation of 136 any elk and 280 antlerless elk licenses for the Prairie Elk Hunting Season.
Bighorn sheep
The commission approved the 2025 Bighorn Sheep Hunting Season dates from Sept. 1 Dec. 31.
The board also approved a change to the BHS BH4 unit to include those portions of Lawrence and Meade counties south and west of Interstate 90.
A total of 7 ram bighorn sheep licenses will be available for the Bighorn Sheep Hunting Season, which includes one auction license.
Mountain lion
The commission voted to allow the initiation of the pursuit of a mountain lion with dogs outside the Black Hills Fire Protection District to occur anywhere, where permitted by the landowner or managing authority.
Duck hunting season
The commission approved the 2025 duck hunting season dates of:
High Plains Zone
- Oct. 11, 2025 Jan. 15, 2026
Low Plains North & Low Plains Middle Zone
- Sept. 27, 2025 Dec. 9, 2025
Low Plains South Zone
- Oct. 25, 2025 Jan. 6, 2026.
The 2025-25 duck hunting season will allow the take of three pintail ducks in the traditional bag limit and will decrease the bonus blue-winged teal season from 16 to nine days. These changes are in conjunction with changes made to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Federal Register.
Goose hunting season
The commission approved the following dates for the 2025 goose hunting season:
Canada geese (and Brant)
- Unit 1: Oct. 1 Dec. 16, 2025
- Unit 2 (including Bennett County): Nov. 3, 2025 Feb. 15, 2026
Light geese
- Statewide: Sept. 27, 2025 Jan. 9, 2026
White-fronted geese
- Statewide: Sept. 27 – Dec. 9, 2025
The commission also voted to repeal the Special Canada Goose season in Unit 3 and include Bennett County into Unit 2.
Public comment opportunity and upcoming meeting
To hear the discussion on any of the topics on the agenda, audio from the meeting is available through South Dakota Public Broadcasting and will soon be available on the GFP website as part of the meeting archive.
To see these documents in their entirety, go here.
To be included in the public record and to be considered by the commission, public comments must include a full name and city of residence and be submitted by 11:59 p.m. May 4.
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