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Special Disability and Reduced Fee Licenses and Permits The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks offers a variety of special licenses and permits for disabled individuals and former prisoners of war. These licenses and permits cannot be purchased or obtained over the counter at the various license agents. Specific criteria are required for their application process and approval. Some of these licenses or permits are free-of-charge and others have a permit fee. For more information or applications for these licenses or permits, contact your local Conservation Officer or GFP office for further information. Further department information can be found on the GFP web site: www.sdgfp.info. Disabled Hunter Permit Generally speaking, it is illegal to shoot game animals from a motor vehicle in South Dakota. For the legal discharge of a weapon, a hunter must be outside of the vehicle or off an all-terrain vehicle to shoot game. However, there are two exceptions to this law. The first exception is a hunter may shoot coyotes, jackrabbits, rodents, skunks, badgers, raccoons and foxes from a motor vehicle. The second exception allows hunters who possess a valid Disabled Hunter Permit to shoot game animals from a stationary motor vehicle. A Disabled Hunter Permit allows a qualified hunter to lawfully shoot game animals from a stationary motor vehicle. This includes big game animals such as deer, antelope, elk, and turkey, and small game animals such as grouse, pheasants, partridge, rabbits, and waterfowl. The Disabled Hunter Permit is issued free-of-charge by the department to qualified hunters. The permit is valid for a period of up to four years and may be renewed after the date of expiration. What are the Qualifications and Application Procedures to Receive a Disabled Hunter Permit? A qualifying individual must have at least one of the following physical disabilities or medical conditions:
The disabled hunter permit is only intended for use in situations where an applicant’s physical or medical condition makes it impossible, or causes severe pain or physical hardship on the applicant to walk afield while hunting Applications from a nonresident hunter must include written/signed medical evidence of their physical disability from a licensed physician. The resident applicant will need to complete the application and meet with their local conservation officer to verify their health situation or disability. A physician's verification may be a special requirement for some resident applications. What does the Disabled Hunter Permit Authorize and what are the Limitations of the Permit? The Disabled Hunter Permit authorizes permittees to legally shoot game animals from a stationary motor vehicle under the limitations provided in the permit. Permittees must still obtain the required hunting licenses for the desired species to be hunted. The following permit limitations or guidelines specify what a person can and cannot do while in possession of a Disabled Hunter Permit. LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS OF PERMIT: The Disabled Hunter Permit allows an individual to shoot from a stationary motor vehicle with the following exceptions or provisions:
Applications are available from your local conservation officer, regional or district office, or from Game, Fish & Parks, Permits, 412 West Missouri, Suite 4, Pierre, SD 57501. Or you may call 605-773-4191 for further information. Designated Shooter for the Blind PermitA Designated Shooter for the Blind Permit is available to any legally blind or visually impaired person. Visually impaired is defined as a person who has a visual acuity 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses or has a limited field of vision such that the widest diameter subtends an angular distance of no greater then twenty degrees. The applicant may designate one shooter to legally hunt or take game on their behalf. The designated shooter must be in immediate physical presence of the permittee during the hunt or taking of game animals. Permits are issued free-of-cost and are non-transferable. Contact: Youth Designated Shooter PermitA Youth Designated Shooter Permit is available to any youth who has a permanent or temporary disability who is missing an upper limb, physically incapable of using an upper limb, or confined to a wheelchair.
The disabled youth must be legally licensed for a youth big game hunting season. The youth designated shooter permit is valid only during the youth deer season. Contact:
Crossbow/Draw-Lock Permit A Crossbow/Draw-lock Permit is available to any person who is incapable of using a conventional bow with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds, due to the loss of use of one or both arms, caused by birth defect, injury, disease, or who uses a wheelchair for mobility. The crossbow/draw-lock application has a section that must be completed and signed by a licensed physician or chiropractor that will document the medical condition, disability, or injuries that restricts the applicant from using a conventional bow and arrow. This portion must be filled out for both new and renewing permits. The physician or chiropractor is also required to list a date of recovery for the applicant. Applications are available from:
GFP Permitting Office, 412 West Missouri,
Pierre, SD 57501 Reduced Fee Hunting and Fishing Card for Persons with Total Disability and Certain VeteransQualified Disabled Persons Or Veterans:
What are the Application Procedures to Receive a Disabled/Veteran Hunting and Fishing Card? A person must apply on forms provided by the department and provide proof of South Dakota residency with the application. The application must also include a written statement that verifies the applicant's inability to walk with or without mechanical aids from a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, or chiropractic, currently and validly licensed by the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic examiners or Board of Chiropractic Examiners. A veteran must provide proof, at the time of application, that they are in receipt of one of the following: total disability allotment, social security disability benefits, or "K" award. What does the Disabled/Veteran Hunting And Fishing Card Authorize? South Dakota residents who qualify and are approved will be issued a Disabled/Veteran Hunting and Fishing Card for a $10 fee. A disabled/veterans hunting and fishing card is the equivalent of the resident fishing and small game licenses until the expiration of the card. The card shall be valid for a period of four calendar years if permittees remains a resident of the state. For subsequent applications, a conservation officer in the county of the applicant's residence may verify the applicant's total disability in lieu of the doctor's statement. Applications are available from Game, Fish and Parks, Licensing, 412 West Missouri, Pierre, SD 57501. Or you may call 605-773-3393 for further information. Free Admission and Reduced Fees for Certain Veterans in State Parks and Recreation Areas Any South Dakota resident who has received one of the following: 1) a veterans allotment for a total disability which is deemed a service-connected injury, 2) the United States Veterans Administration "K" Award, or 3) was held as a prisoner of war, may apply for a free park entrance permit to any South Dakota state park or recreation area. The approved applicant will also receive a camping services permit that allows the permit holder a fifty percent discount on any camping fee or associated electrical service fee for their site. Applications are available from GFP License Office; 412 West Missouri, Pierre, SD 57501. Or you may call 605-773-3393 for further information. |
