Learn about South Dakota pheasant season and licenses available to residents and nonresidents. Details on the pheasant hunting seasons are below. For more complete information, check out the South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook.
Traditional Pheasant Season
Dates:
October 17, 2026–January 31, 2027
Daily Limit:
3 Rooster Pheasants
Possession Limit:
15 Rooster Pheasants
Shooting Hours:
10 a.m. Central Time to sunset for the entire season
(Central Time is used for shooting hours statewide)
License Requirements:
Residents: Small Game License, any Combination License, Youth Small Game License or 1-Day Small Game License.
Nonresidents: Nonresident Small Game License or Nonresident Youth Small Game License (each valid for two 5-day hunting periods; start dates must be identified before license issued). Multiple licenses may be purchased to hunt more than the two 5-day periods allowed by one.
A Habitat Stamp is required for your first license purchase. Learn more about the Habitat Stamp in our FAQs.
Resident-Only Pheasant Season
Dates:
October 10–12, 2026
Daily Limit:
3 Rooster Pheasants
Possession Limit:
9 Rooster Pheasants
Shooting Hours:
10 a.m. Central Time to sunset
License Requirements:
Residents: Small Game License, any Combination License, Youth Small Game License or 1-Day Small Game License
Youth Pheasant Season
Resident and nonresident youth can hunt before the opening weekend when accompanied by an unarmed adult. Find more information about eligibility, season rules and license requirements from South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks.
Dates:
September 26–October 4, 2026
Daily Limit:
3 Rooster Pheasants
Possession Limit:
9 Rooster Pheasants
Shooting Hours:
10 a.m. Central Time to sunset.
Where Can I Hunt?
Private Lands & Public Access Areas
In addition to all the private ground you can hunt with landowner permission, South Dakota has millions of acres of free-access public lands. Find your field and see what land is open to the public on our Public Hunting Areas page.
Public Road Rights-of-Way
Road rights-of-way, excluding the Interstate highway system, are open for the hunting of small game and waterfowl. However, you may not shoot within 660 feet of an occupied building, church, schoolhouse, or livestock unless you are the owner or have written permission from the owner. More rules about hunting on public roads can be found in the South Dakota Hunting Handbook.
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