Resident South Dakota Elk Hunting

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Elk once ranged over all of South Dakota from the eastern prairies to the western Black Hills. By the time South Dakota reached statehood in 1889, no elk remained. Efforts began in the early 1900s to reestablish elk in South Dakota. Today, wild elk are found in the Black Hills and on the prairie in Butte, Bennett and Gregory counties. South Dakota's present-day elk herd consists of about 2,000 Rocky Mountain elk. Only South Dakota residents are eligible to apply for and receive an elk license in South Dakota. South Dakota Elk Licenses are Resident-Only Licenses:

Black Hills Firearms Elk: South Dakota residents who have not received a Black Hills firearms elk license in the preceding nine years are eligible to apply.

Prairie Elk Firearms Season: The prairie elk season gives elk hunters a chance at harvesting an elk outside of Custer State Park and the regular Black Hills elk units. This season covers Gregory and Bennett counties.  

South Dakota residents who have not received a prairie firearms elk license in the preceding nine years are eligible to apply. Preference can be switched within season units, but not between different seasons. In other words preference for a Black Hills unit cannot be used for a prairie elk unit or a Custer State Park unit.

Custer Park Firearms Elk:  South Dakota residents who have never received  a Custer State Park firearms elk license are eligible to apply. Applicants are eligible to apply for both the "any elk" and "any antlerless elk" seasons on separate applications.

Custer Park Firearms Antlerless Elk:  South Dakota residents who have not received a Custer Park antlerless elk license in the preceding nine years are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants may also apply for the firearms any elk season on a separate application.

Custer Park Archery Elk -- Early:  Only South Dakota residents who have never received a Unit 520A archery elk license may apply. Applicants may also apply for the Custer Park late archery elk season on a separate application.

Custer Park Archery Elk Season -- Late:  South Dakota residents may apply every year. Eligible applicants may also apply for the Custer Park Early Archery Elk season on a separate application.