South Dakota Pheasant Seasons

SD Regular Pheasant Season (Season is set in April)

See Hunting Handbook for Unit descriptions

1.  Statewide season Oct. 18, 2008 - Jan. 4, 2009

2.  Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Dec. 8 – Dec. 31, 2008

3. Renziehausen Game Production Area and Game Bird Refuge, Gerken State Game Bird Refuge, White Lake State Game Bird Refuge: Dec. 8 - Jan. 4, 2009

4.  Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge: Oct. 18, 2008 - Jan. 4, 2009

DAILY LIMIT. 3 cock pheasants

POSSESSION LIMIT. 15 rooster pheasants, taken according to daily limit. The limit accrues at the rate of 3 birds a day, and 15 birds may not be possessed until after the 5th day of hunting.

SHOOTING HOURS. 12 noon, Central Time, to sunset October 18 through Oct. 24; 10 a.m., Central Time, to sunset the rest of the season.

NOTE: Central Time is used for opening shooting hours, statewide.

Future Opening Dates: South Dakota's pheasant season traditionally opens the third Saturday in October.

Youth Pheasant Season

Season Dates:  Oct. 4-8, 2008
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Open Unit:  Statewide, Both private and public land, including Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, will be open to the youth hunters. However, only public road rights-of-way adjacent to public hunting lands will be open for hunting.

Daily Limit: 3 rooster pheasants, with a possession limit of 15 taken according to the daily limit.

Shooting Hours:  10:00 a.m. to sunset daily (Central time)

Eligibility:  Resident and nonresident youths must be 12 (must turn 12 by December 31) through 17 years of age, possess a valid Hunter Safety Certificate and be properly licensed to hunt small game.  All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult who is not carrying a firearm. Resident youth ages 10-16 may participate in a mentored hunt

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3-Day Resident Pheasant Season

Season Dates:  October 11-13, 2008

Open Unit:  Statewide, on public hunting lands only, including:

• GFP land that is owned, managed or leased by the department and is normally open to public hunting.
• Walk-In Areas that the department leases and manages,
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Areas,
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land adjacent to the Missouri River,
• U.S. Forest Service National Grasslands,
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation land,
• State School and Public Lands property,
• Public road rights-of-way adjacent to public hunting areas that are open to hunting.

NOT OPEN: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges

Daily Limit: 3 rooster pheasants, with a possession limit of 9 taken according to the daily limit.

Shooting Hours:  Noon to sunset (Central Time).