Black Hills Deer

The Black Hills, which reach an elevation of more than 7,000 feet, provide good deer hunting opportunities. Thick stands of ponderosa pine, white spruce, aspen and bur oak cover the land. The terrain varies from rolling hills and prairies to high mountains, rimrock and deep gorges. The hunting unit stretches 100 miles from north to south and 40 miles east to west. It covers 2.3 million acres. More than 80 percent is open to public hunting. Whitetails make up about 75 percent of the deer herd and mule deer the other 25 percent.

Black Hills deer hunters must apply for and successfully draw a tag by lottery drawing. This is done by acquiring a paper application, completing it and submitting it with payment by the indicated deadline. Applicants can also apply online with a credit card. Applications are usually available in June with a first deadline in July. See the links above.

Shooting hours: All firearms and archery big game shooting hours (except turkey) are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Shooting hours for turkey season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

The hills region is divided into units with each unit having set licenses available.  A unit mapping is available on the Black Hills deer application.  Applications become available in early June with a first deadline in July.  See links below for obtaining an application.

Most hunters stay in one of the many campgrounds or motels in cities like Custer, Deadwood, Lead, Hill City, Spearfish and Hot Springs. See the SD Dept. of Tourism website for other lodging information.

A Black Hills map is available for the U.S. Forest Service, 1019 North 5th Street; Custer, SD 57730. For price and how to obtain a Black Hills map, call (605) 673-9200.  To order a Black Hills map with a credit card, call (605) 745-7020.

Fluorescent Orange: Big game licensees hunting with a firearm in SD must wear at least one exterior garment of fluorescent orange while hunting. Garments include hat, shirt, vest, jacket, coat or sweater. Turkey hunters do not need to wear fluorescent orange.