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Bighorn Sheep

Pictue of a Bighorn Sheep  

South Dakota's original wild sheep was the Audubon bighorn, but it became extinct around 1920. A herd of Rocky Mountain big horn sheep from Colorado were introduced to the Custer State Park area in 1959. Bighorns have recently been released in the Badlands.

**South Dakota Bighorn sheep hunting is a resident-only, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

(Photo courtesy SD Dept. of Tourism) 

Eligibility:  To be eligible for a Bighorn sheep License, a person must be a South Dakota resident who has never held a South Dakota Bighorn sheep License. A person can only receive this license once in a lifetime.

Custer State Park Season: NO SEASON FOR 2009

Black Hills Season Dates:  Oct. 3 - Nov. 30, 2009--
Licenses for the 2009 season are SOLD OUT

South Dakota residents have only one option for a bighorn license is 2009:  

1.  Black Hills season has 5 licenses available.

2.  Custer State Park season is closed after a significant die-off of bighorn sheep left a low population. This will allow the herd numbers to build back to a healthy level.

See applications for details:  PRINT one from this website or REQUEST to receive via postal mail.