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Is deer season open in South Dakota?
Every South Dakota deer season we have read for 2026-27 from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, open or closed on the day you pick, and when the next one opens.
South Dakota deer seasons 2026-27
South Dakota's Black Hills Deer season opens first Nov 1, 2026, and the dates vary by zone.
Firearm deer licenses are drawn by unit, so these dates count only with a license for that area; national wildlife refuges set their own dates, Custer State Park is closed to archery and muzzleloader hunters, Gregory County has its own firearm dates, and nonresident archers stay on private land until Oct. 1.
- ArcherySep 1 to Jan 1, 2027
- Apprentice, Mentor, Youth Deer · youth, mentored and apprentice hunters onlySep 12 to Jan 1, 2027
- Black Hills Deer · Black Hills and Custer State ParkNov 1 to Nov 30
- West River Deer, Unit 30A · West River · Unit 30A (Gregory County) onlyNov 7 to Nov 10 · Nov 23 to Nov 29
- West River Deer · West RiverNov 14 to Nov 29
- East River Deer · East RiverNov 21 to Dec 6
- Muzzleloader DeerDec 1 to Jan 1, 2027
- Antlerless only · West River, East RiverDec 12 to Dec 20
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. 2026 Combined Deer applications: West River, East River, Black Hills & CSP, Muzzleloader, Refuge (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks PDF), checked November 2026.
Deer season · South Dakota · Today. Yes. South Dakota's Archery season is open today, Sep 1 to Jan 1, 2027.
Deer season · South Dakota · Today
Season openYes. South Dakota's Archery season is open today, Sep 1 to Jan 1, 2027.
Also open today for some hunters:
- Apprentice, Mentor, Youth Deer, Sep 12 to Jan 1, 2027: youth, mentored and apprentice hunters only
Firearm deer licenses are drawn by unit, so these dates count only with a license for that area; national wildlife refuges set their own dates, Custer State Park is closed to archery and muzzleloader hunters, Gregory County has its own firearm dates, and nonresident archers stay on private land until Oct. 1.
- Archery
- Apprentice, Mentor, Youth Deer
- Black Hills Deer · Black Hills and Custer State Park
- West River Deer, Unit 30A · West River · Unit 30A (Gregory County)
- West River Deer · West River
- East River Deer · East River
- Muzzleloader Deer
- Antlerless only · 2 zones
ArcheryArcheryOpen
Sep 1 to Jan 1, 2027
South Dakota's wording
"2026 RESIDENT ARCHERY DEER | SEASON DATES | September 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027"
SourceApprentice, Mentor, Youth DeerYouthOpen
Sep 12 to Jan 1, 2027
Youth, mentored and apprentice hunters only
South Dakota's wording
"2026 APPRENTICE, MENTOR, YOUTH DEER | SEASON DATES | September 12, 2026 to January 1, 2027"
SourceBlack Hills DeerFirearmOpen
Nov 1 to Nov 30
Black Hills and Custer State Park
South Dakota's wording
"2026 BLACK HILLS & CSP DEER | SEASON DATES | November 1-30, 2026"
West River Deer, Unit 30AFirearm
Nov 7 to Nov 10 · Nov 23 to Nov 29
West River, Unit 30A (Gregory County) only
South Dakota's wording
"30A, 1st Interval: November 7-10, 2026 | 30A, 2nd Interval: November 23-29, 2026"
West River DeerFirearm
Nov 14 to Nov 29
West River
South Dakota's wording
"2026 WEST RIVER DEER | November 14-29, 2026"
East River DeerFirearm
Nov 21 to Dec 6
East River
South Dakota's wording
"2026 EAST RIVER DEER | November 21 - December 6, 2026"
Muzzleloader DeerMuzzleloader
Dec 1 to Jan 1, 2027
South Dakota's wording
"2026 MUZZLELOADER DEER | SEASON DATES | December 1, 2026 - January 1, 2027"
Antlerless onlyAntlerless
Dec 12 to Dec 20
West River, East River
South Dakota's wording
"Antlerless only season: Only those tags specifically designated as "antlerless" are valid from December 12-20."
Hunter orange
"Big game licensees (excluding turkey and mountain lion) hunting with a firearm must wear at least one exterior garment of fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink while hunting."
More from South Dakota's rules
"Due to low deer numbers, Apprentice, Mentored, and Youth Deer Hunting seasons are closed in nine southeastern South Dakota counties including Bon Homme, Clay, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Lincoln, Turner, Union, and Yankton counties."
"Archery and Muzzleloader deer season license types for “any deer” were changed to “any buck deer” licenses types."
"Custer State Park, National Wildlife Refuges, and Waubay Lake Game Bird Refuge are closed to archery deer hunting."
Source: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, 2026 Combined Deer applications: West River, East River, Black Hills & CSP, Muzzleloader, Refuge (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks PDF), checked November 2026.
A guide to the dates each state printed for the year, not the regulations. Bag limits, permits, weapon rules and unit closures are in the state's own digest, which is the authority.
- Each state's own dates, quoted
- Your zone and your day
- When the next season opens
Hunting in South Dakota
38 outfitters, guides and lodges listed in South Dakota. Legal shooting hours in South Dakota today.
Other states
Deer seasons in other states
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Common questions
Deer season questions
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