South Dakota is a member of the INTERSTATE WILDLIFE VIOLATOR COMPACT as authorized by SDCL 41-15A.  This may be important to you if you have been issued a citation for violating one or more of South Dakota’s hunting, fishing, or trapping laws. 

What is the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact?

          The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) is an agreement among participating states to share information regarding sportsman fishing, hunting, and trapping violations, which is patterned after the Nonresidents Drivers License Compact.  The IWVC obligates members to report wildlife violation convictions to Compact members, gives the members the capability to honor each other’s suspensions, and provides the method to exchange violator data between member states and Canadian provinces.  Essentially, a violator convicted in one Compact member state may be barred from participating in hunting, fishing, and trapping in all member states, at the discretion of each state.

Consequences - Failure to Comply - Nonresident

          If you receive a citation for violating one or more of South Dakota’s hunting, fishing, or trapping laws and if you fail to comply with the terms of the wildlife citation, the State of South Dakota will formally notify you of your failure to comply.  After receiving such notification if you fail to comply with the terms of the wildlife citation, the State of South Dakota will notify the wildlife agency of the state in which you reside.  The wildlife agency of your home state will notify you regarding your failure to comply with the terms of the wildlife citation issued in South Dakota.  After receiving the notification from your home state, if you fail to comply with the terms of the wildlife citation issued in South Dakota, your home state may then initiate suspension of your respective hunting, fishing, or trapping privilege.  The suspension of privilege will remain in effect until your home state receives satisfactory evidence from South Dakota that you complied with the terms of the wildlife citation issued in South Dakota.  Pending such notification, your respective privilege will be suspended indefinitely in your home state and the other states that comprise the Violator Compact.  However, if you formally indicate your desire to contest the case in court, the suspension of privilege will not be implemented during the period of time the case is being contested.

Consequences – Failure to Comply – Resident

          If you are a resident of South Dakota and receive a wildlife citation for violating one of South Dakota’s hunting, fishing, or trapping laws; it is in your best interests not to ignore the terms of the wildlife citation.  However, if you fail to comply with the terms of the citation you may lose your respective hunting, fishing, or trapping privilege in South Dakota, as well as, in the other 27 states in the Compact. 
          If you are a resident of South Dakota and receive a wildlife citation for violating one of the other Compact state’s hunting, fishing, or trapping laws; you may risk losing your respective hunting, fishing, or trapping privilege if you fail to comply with the terms of the wildlife citation.

List of Member States

          There are currently 28 states in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact:  Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansan, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

For More Information Regarding the Compact

          For other questions regarding the IWVC, contact:
                   IWVC Administrator
                   South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
                   Division of Wildlife
                   523 East Capitol Avenue
                   Pierre, South Dakota 57501
                   (605) 773-8162