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Dog Training

No person may kill or capture any game birds while training or running a dog except during the open season. Using pen raised birds to train dogs is permitted with certain restrictions.

No person may train dogs on wild birds from April 15th - July 31st State wide.

From August 1 to the Friday preceding the third Saturday of September, A person may train a dog for the purpose of locating, pursuing, or pointing wild game birds on any publicly owned land or on any public road right-of-way with the following restrictions:

• No person may train more than four dogs in any one day.
• No person training a dog on wild game birds on public lands may possess a shotgun or rifle during the training during this time frame.
• No person may train using any form of motor vehicle, horse, or any type of conveyance.
• The dogs must be owned by the person conducting the training and not offered for sale. The owner of the dog may be assisted with training, provided the owner is also present.

However, a person who otherwise qualifies to train dogs on public lands may apply to the department for a special permit to use a horse for dog training on public lands until 12:00 noon central time on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the month of August, inclusive, if the public lands are otherwise open to horseback riding. No more than 30 special permits may be issued by the department.

In addition to the above rules, federal rules prohibit dog training year-round on federal refuges and Waterfowl production areas.

For information and complete rules contact

Janelle Jensen
Private Shooting Preserve / Permits Coordinator
Dept of Game, Fish and Parks
412 W. Missouri
Pierre, SD 57501

Phone ( 605 ) 773-4191
Fax ( 605 ) 773-6921