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South Dakota Big Game

Licensing ▪ Deposits ▪ Meals and Lodging ▪ SD State Rifle Deer ▪ SD State Archery Deer ▪ Tribal Rifle Deer
SD State/Tribal Archery/Rifle Antelope ▪ Bison Hunts ▪ Prairie Dogs

South Dakota Access Big Game Main

South Dakota’s big game hunting is a well-kept secret! We offer Deer, Bison, Antelope, Turkey, Upland Bird, and more, including opportunities at a trophy with low or no points!

 

We coordinate hunting on 19 private ranches across the State totaling around 200,000+ acres and coordinate tribal hunts with the best Tribal guides on 4 Lakota reservations offering millions of acres of hunting. While we can’t guarantee success, we will work hard to ensure the best experience and as many opportunities as possible to take a nice critter next fall. We had a 90% success rate on deer with a rifle and 100% success on archery whitetail hunts last season. Our upland bird, bison, turkey, and predator hunts are beyond compare.

 

Big game hunts cost vary between $3,500-$6,000 depending on species ranch, guide, and dates and are priced as hunt only. Meal and lodging packages vary depending on preference and location of hunt.

Licensing:

South Dakota is ripe with opportunity to kill a good one for the wall and freezer whether you have preference points or not. There are multiple separate rifle tag lotteries with high success rates available with no points! That doesn’t even include archery applications.

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We can handle all your State and Tribal tag applications for you and save you hours of computer time for $250 for at least one year or until you hunt with us. Click and open this link to authorize your deposit and give us the info necessary to build your profiles and manage your SD points, applications, and tag purchases.

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The State of SD offers 100% draw success on rifle whitetail only and archery tags for “any deer” and antelope on private land, available beginning in March. Your chance of drawing an “any deer” tag jumps to 60% with 1 point and 90% with 2 points. There are 4 Lakota Tribal tag lotteries offering a decent shot to draw an any deer or mule deer rifle tag without any points at all. Each reservation has a separate application and lottery. You can apply for all and choose which tag you want to claim, pay for and hunt and let the others go. The State of South Dakota will allow you to purchase a rifle or archery tag in May and then return it for a full refund of points and money if you draw a tribal tag in August.

Contact us for a hunt consultation, for more information, or to book a hunt.

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We will send an email and/or call deposited hunters and interested parties before and during eligible application periods based on discussed interests.

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Deposits:

Specific hunt dates will be offered in the order that the deposits are received. Booking a spot requires a $1000 deposit as the next step. Deposits from hunters who do not draw a tag will be rolled into the following year. Checks can be sent to SD Access, 2501 Anthony Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301. Contact us today to make a deposit or click and open this this link to make a deposit. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Meals and Lodging Packages:

  • $65-125/night depending on meals, ranch, outfit, and preference

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  • All meals can be provided for $75-100/day

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  • We can make recommendations or handle everything for you depending on tags drawn.

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SD State Private Ranch Deer:

Pricing overview: West River private ranch hunts vary between properties in duration (3-5 days), what’s included and cost.  Prices listed are total cost averages including guided hunt, tag, meals and accommodation but do not include gratuity.

  • 2025 Private ranch rifle whitetail – price ranges 3500-5000

  • 2025 Private ranch rifle mule deer – price ranges from 4000-6000

 

General Information

  • Online application at https://gfp.sd.gov/deer/ between (In 2024) March 19 – April 14 and May 30- June 17. Preference points available for $10 between Sept 15 – Dec 15

  • West River Special Buck tag is preferred, SD General Rifle is a second choice

  • Special Buck tags cost $175 for residents $560 for non-residents

  • Estimated season dates based on 2024 dates - Nov 16 – Dec 1, 2024

SD State Archery Deer: 

Sept 1 - Jan 1, Guaranteed draw March 1

  • Fully Guided private land archery hunts for muleys and whitetails (mostly west river, a few east river opportunities)

    • 4–5-day archery hunts

    • $3,500-$5,500

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Tribal Rifle Deer:

– Tribal tag application service available- $250/year

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  • Tribal whitetail hunts cost between $3500-4500

  • Tribal mule deer hunts cost between $4000-5000

    • Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Rifle Deer

      • 1.62 million Acres in North Central part of State

    • Oglala Sioux/Pine Ridge Tribal Rifle Deer

      • 2.2 million acres in SW corner of State

    • Lower Brule Tribal Rifle Deer

      • 114,000 acres in central South Dakota

    • Crow Creek Tribal Rifle Deer

      • 126,000 acres in central South Dakota

SD State or Tribal Archery or Rifle Antelope:

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  • $2500-4000 depending on ranch, reservation, duration, and lodging

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Preserve Bison, Elk and Deer Hunts:

  • Fully guided private ranch/preserve bison, elk and deer hunts, rifle or archery, in the beautiful southern Black Hills

    • 2 @ ½ days and 1 full day of hunting

    • Includes 2 nights lodge accommodations, meals, field dressing and skinning

      • 72 hr butchering is additional cost

    • Ranch consists of 9 miles of wooded draws and a tons of game

    • No tag required, year-round hunting

    • 50% deposit required

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Bison

  • $4000 for mature cow (5yo, 300-350 lbs meat)

  • $6500 for meat bull (5yo, 1100+ lbs, 350-400 lbs meat)

  • $8500 for trophy bull (10yo, 1800++ lbs, 450-500 lbs meat)

  • $10,500 for a mega bull (10yo, 2200+lbs, 500+ lbs of meat)

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Elk

  • $4000 for a mature cow

  • $9000 for a bull measuring 301” to 320” gross score

  • $10200 for a bull measuring 321” to 340” gross score

  • $11300 for a bull measuring 341” to 360” gross score

  • $12500 for a bull measuring 361” to 380” gross score

  • $14000 for a bull measuring 381” to 400” gross score

  • Price by request for a bull measuring over 400” gross score

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Giant muleys and whitetails available upon request

  • Contact for availability, details and pricing

Prairie Dogs:

  • $300/hunter/day on private land in and around the Badlands

    • Shooting mats and/or benches included

    • Season dates, group size and bag limits are unrestricted

    • Licensing covered under SD Small Game license for $121 OR $40 annually.

  Coyote:

  • $300/hunter/day  includes and predator calls.

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