South Dakota Access
South Dakota Big Game
State of SD Private Ranch Deer and Antelope Hunts ▪ Tribal Rifle Deer ▪ Antelope ▪ American Bison Hunts (Buffalo) ▪ Licensing ▪ Next Steps
We are likely different from most outfits you’ve hunted with in the past. If you need to lock up specific rifle hunt dates on a particular ranch right now, you can likely find someone else to do that for you. There are plenty out there, but you will be hunting a particular unit whether or not its herd gets wiped out with disease or a harsh winter. If you’re looking for your best chance to harvest a quality animal in South Dakota based on scouting, have some flexibility in your fall schedule, and want a big game hunt that is custom fit to meet or exceed your expectations, keep reading.
We recommend that every client that wants to rifle hunt a quality buck, apply for multiple tags to maximize the opportunities our outfit can provide. We can manage all of your SD and Tribal point purchases and applications for deer antelope and turkey for you or we can walk you through the process. We book specific dates, guides and ranch or reservation hunts once all tags are drawn in late summer in order of receipt of a deposit. You only have to pay for the tag you choose to hunt. Once we know which tags you have available and we understand your preferences, we will call you and present your options; kill history, style of hunt, accommodations, duration, cost etc.
If you/we apply for all proposed big game tags for your preferred species with no preference points, I’d give you a 50% chance at drawing a rifle muley tag and a 80% chance at a rifle whitetail with no preference points. It is free to enter the state lottery. It costs around $100/tag to apply for a Tribal tag and they cost $500-$1000 if successful. A State Special Buck (private land only rifle) tag costs $650 for a nonresident and $200 for a resident. State and Tribal turkey tags cost between $50-360 per tag. More details on tags in the “Licensing” section.
Mule deer hunts cost $4000-6000, Whitetail hunts cost $3500-5000, antelope hunts cost $2500-3500 and turkey hunts cost $900-1800. Bison hunts cost $5500 – 8500. Prices will vary based on ranch/reservation, what’s included, guide, duration, etc. There are no trophy fees ever. These are generally a hunt for 150-170+” muley, 140-170+” whitetails and 60-75+” pronghorn. We ran a 90% opportunity rate and 85% kill rate on mature critters across species and years and we don’t mix camps.
Accommodations cost between $65-150 a night. The closest airports will likely be Rapid City or Pierre. We can provide all your meals or some for a fee. We will help coordinate all elements of your hunt once tags are in hand and we know where you will be hunting. You will likely have multiple options.
We book hunts in order of receipt of deposit. If you don’t draw in year one or don’t like the options presented to you, we will roll your deposit into the following year. Prices do not include 5.7% sales tax or gratuity. A $1000 deposit is required to hold a spot for deer or antelope. A 50% deposit is required to hold a spot for turkey, upland birds, predators and bison.
If all of this sounds good read on. There is more info here than you likely need. Feel free to give me a call to discuss.
State of SD Private Ranch Deer and Antelope Hunts:
Rifle and Archery
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We have access to nearly 250,000 private ranch acres in 1000-40,000-acre parcels. We offer guided, semi-guided and access only hunts on 2500-44,000-acre parcels.
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West River Special Buck/Antelope tag is the preferred rifle tag. SD General Rifle (unit specific) is a second choice for a rifle tag but will limit your options and is harder to draw. The Statewide archery any deer/antelope tag is the preferred archery tag.
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Special Buck and Special Antelope tags cost $200 for residents $650 for non-residents. Tags can be returned to the State for a full refund of points and money if you are successful in a Tribal lottery in August.
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The cost of SD West River private ranch hunts vary between properties in; duration (3-5 days), acreage, trophy quality, what’s included and cost.
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Private Ranch Hunt Pricing: There are no trophy fees ever.
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Mule deer hunts cost $4000-6000
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Whitetail hunts cost $3500-5000
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Antelope hunts cost $2500-3500
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Turkey hunts cost $900-1600.
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Bison hunts cost $5500 – 8500.
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Each hunt is customized based on your expectations and preferences. Mule deer hunts sell out every year.
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A $1000 deposit, or 50% on upland birds, turkey, predator, varmints and bison hunts, is required to hold a spot. No trophy fees! We will likely be able to offer you customized hunt options across the price spectrum once tags are drawn.
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Contact us today to make a deposit or right click and open this this link to authorize a deposit and to get in queue. Rifle hunt specifics will be discussed and decided on once tags are drawn in August. Archery hunts can be arranged earlier. Call to discuss details.
A mature mule deer buck stands alert in the typical grassy or brushy terrain found on South Dakota private ranches, illustrating the quality of game available on these exclusive hunts.
A detailed close-up shot focusing on the impressive antlers of a whitetail buck harvested during a state private ranch hunt, showcasing the trophy quality potential.
Tribal Rifle Deer:
We offer hunts with the best Tribal guides in the State on 4 of 9 Lakota Reservations. Prices vary based on location, duration, and what is included. Season dates based on past years. No trophy fees. We will likely be able to offer you customized hunt options across the price spectrum once tags are drawn.
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Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Rifle Any Deer
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1.45 million Acres in North Central South Dakota
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Approximate season dates – Nov 1 – Dec 28
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$4000-5000 - Hunt only (lodging options $65-150/night)
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Oglala Sioux/Pine Ridge Tribal Rifle
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2.1 million acres in SW corner of State
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Muley tags cost $4000 and whitetail cost $3250. Both are lottery draws.
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Antelope are quota tags and cost $1500
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Season dates – est. First Saturday in November through second Sunday
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$3500-4500 - Hunt only (lodging options $65-150/night)
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Lower Brule Tribal Rifle, Archery and Muzzleloader Deer
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258,000 acres in central South Dakota
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Season dates – est. Nov 11 – Dec 10
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$3500-4500 - Hunt only (lodging options $65-150/night)
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Crow Creek Tribal Rifle Deer
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125,000 acres in central South Dakota
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Season dates Nov 1 – 30
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$3500-4500 - Hunt only (lodging options $65-150/night)
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A hunter poses with their rifle and a harvested whitetail buck, signifying a successful hunt conducted on tribal lands in South Dakota.
Antelope:
Prices vary based on location, duration, and what is included. Season dates based on past years. No trophy fees. We will likely be able to offer you customized hunt options across the price spectrum once tags are drawn.
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3-day SD private ranch rifle hunt – guided and semi-guided
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4-5-day SD archery antelope – guided and semi-guided
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$2500-3500
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private ranch hunts for 65-75”+ pronghorn
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2025 SD rifle season: October 4 - 19
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2025 archery season: August 16 - October 31 (closed during rifle season)
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Lodging options vary from included to $65-125/night
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Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal antelope - 1.5 million acres
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3-day rifle or 4-day archery hunt - $2500-3000
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Hunts for 65-75”+ pronghorn
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Estimated season dates: Third Saturday in September through third Sunday in October
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Tag costs an estimated $900
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Oglala Sioux (Pine Ridge) Tribal antelope – 2.1 million acres
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3-day rifle - $3250 – includes cabin on-site lodging
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Discount of $250/hunter for groups of 2 or more
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Hunts for 55-70”+ pronghorn
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Estimated season dates: Third Saturday in September through First Sunday in October
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Quota tags available until they’re gone
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Tags cost an estimated $1500 – until they are gone and they will go quick
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A pronghorn antelope is captured mid-stride, running across the expansive South Dakota prairie, showcasing the speed and environment of the quarry.
An archer carefully stalks a pronghorn antelope through grassland, illustrating the challenge of getting within bow range for this species in open country.
American Bison Hunts (Buffalo):
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Fully guided bison hunts on a spectacular family-owned working cattle and bison ranch. The rough country pasture these animals call home is around 4000 acres and makes for an excellent and challenging hunt.
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Includes 1 half day of scouting and 1 full day of hunting, 2 nights ranch house lodging, 5 home cooked meals, field dressing and delivery to processor
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Butchering costs $1.50/lb of hanging weight (55ish% of total weight) with a $250 deposit. A rush fee of $225 will get your meat ready to take home with you.
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Our top-notch taxidermist will pickup your head and hide from processor and call you for a consultation on next steps
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Shipping is available for an additional cost and we will coordinate all of it
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A 50% deposit locks up a hunt
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No tag required, year-round hunting available. Hides are best in December through February
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Young Bull - $5500 for 3.5-4.5 year old bull
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approximately 1000+ lbs, 300-350 lbs. of farm to table grassfed protein, hide and horns
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Trophy Bull - $8000 for 8+ year old bull
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approximately 2000+ lbs, 450+ lbs. of farm to table grassfed protein, hide and horns
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Licensing:
South Dakota is ripe with opportunity to kill a good buck for the wall and to fill the freezer whether you have preference points or not. There are 6 separate rifle deer tag lotteries and 6 rifle antelope opportunities with decent success rates, some with no or low points. That doesn’t even include archery applications, many of which are guaranteed draw. Each Tribal application is separate and not connected to other reservations or the State of South Dakota.
WE CAN HANDLE ALL YOUR STATE AND TRIBAL TAG APPLICATIONS FOR YOU AND SAVE YOU HOURS OF COMPUTER TIME FOR $250 FOR THE YEAR. Right click and open this link to authorize your deposit and give us the info necessary to build your profiles and manage your SD points, applications, and tag purchases for all species that we hunt.
The State of South Dakota Big Game Licensing:
The State of SD boasts 80% draw success in 2024 for private land only rifle whitetail only, archery tags for “any deer” and archery antelope on private land, available through online applications beginning in March. Your chance of drawing an “any deer” tag jumps to 65% with 1 point and 95% with 2 points. Special Antelope (private land only rifle) tags take 2 points to draw as a nonresident. There are also four late (May-July) Lakota Tribal lotteries offering a 50% shot to draw an any deer or mule deer rifle tag without any points at all. Each reservation has a separate application and lottery. You can apply for all and choose which tag you want to claim, pay for and hunt and let the others go. The State of South Dakota will allow you to purchase a rifle or archery tag and then return it for a full refund of points and money if you draw a tribal tag in August.
Tribal Big Game and Turkey Licensing:
Each reservation on which we are lucky enough to offer hunts has separate applications, tag allocations, regulations, cost and season dates. Tribal deer tags vary in cost from $500-4000. Antelope tags vary in cost from $500-1500, and turkey tags cost between $50-360 per tag. Contact us for more information.
State and Tribal Small Game Licensing:
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State of South Dakota non-resident small game license costs $142
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Pine Ridge non-Tribal member prairie dog costs $125
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Cheyenne River non-Tribal member prairie dog costs $95
Next Steps:
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Give us a call with questions, preferences and to discuss next steps and a South Dakota rifle tag strategy
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There are 4 ways to pay your deposit:
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Apply for tags between March-July.
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Review hunt options once all tags are drawn in late summer
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Review hunt itinerary and confirmation
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Complete waiver and contract
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Make final payment two weeks before arrival
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Arrive the day before your hunt begins
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Kill a bruiser or two