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South Dakota Big Game

Licensing ▪ Deposits ▪ Meals and Lodging ▪ SD State Rifle Deer ▪ SD State Archery Deer ▪ Tribal Rifle Deer
SD State/Tribal Archery/Rifle Antelope ▪ Bison Hunts ▪ Prairie Dogs

South Dakota Access Big Game Main

South Dakota’s big game hunting is a well kept secret! We offer Deer, Bison, Antelope and more including opportunities at a trophy with low or no points!

 

We coordinate hunting on 12+ private ranches across the State totaling around 165,000 acres and tribal hunts on 5 of 7 Lakota reservations totaling over 5 million of acres of hunting. While we can’t guarantee success, we will work hard to ensure the best experience and as many opportunities as possible. We had a 90% success rate on deer with a rifle (100% opportunity) and 100% success on archery whitetail hunts in 2022.

 

Big game hunts cost vary between $2750-5000 depending on species ranch, guide and dates and are priced as hunt only. Meal and lodging packages vary depending on preference and location of hunt but we have that too. 90% of our hunts are guided but we do have some scattered DIY and rancher supported hunts.

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South Dakota is ripe with opportunity to kill a good one for the wall and freezer whether you have preference points or not. The State of SD offers guaranteed draw rifle whitetail only tags every year. Archery tags for “any deer” and antelope on private land and available beginning in June. Drawing a State private land rifle “any deer” tag takes at least one year of preference points. In addition, there are five late (June-July) tribal lotteries offering a decent shot to draw a mule deer rifle tag without any points. We work with a Bison ranch that offers hunts with no tags necessary at all.  Did you know that the State of SD 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? We can help you find your wall hanger this fall or down the road.

 

Contact us for a hunt consultation, for more information, or to book a hunt.

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We will send an email and/or call deposited hunters and interested parties before and during eligible application periods based on discussed interests.

Licensing:

South Dakota is ripe with opportunity to kill a good one for the wall and freezer whether you have preference points or not. The State of SD offers guaranteed draw rifle whitetail only and archery tags for “any deer” and antelope on private land, available beginning in March. Your chance of drawing an “any deer” tag jumps to 65% with 1 point and 90% with 2 points. There are also four late (June-July) tribal lotteries offering a decent shot to draw a mule deer rifle tag without any points and Im blessed to work with the best damn tribal guides in the State. We are also working with a Bison ranch that offers hunts with no tags necessary at all.  Did you know that the State of SD will allow you to purchase a rifle or archery tag in May and then return it for a full refund of points and money if you draw a tribal tag in August? We can help you find your wall hanger in 2023 or 2024. Shoot me an email or give me a call to discuss.

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We will send an email and/or call deposited hunters before and during eligible application periods based on discussed interests.

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Preference Points are available September 15 through December 15! All state of SD tags and points can be purchased at https://gfp.sd.gov/deer/ beginning in March. Non-resident tags cost $286-$560. Preference points are recommended for all State rifle hunts and can be purchased online at the address above. The preferred tags to hunt private ground with us are:

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  • SD West River Special Buck - WR1-01 (any deer) or WR1-11 (whitetail only)

  • SD Statewide Archery – ST1-01 (private land only)

  • SD General Rifle Tags by Unit/County – call for consultation.

  • SD Special Rifle Antelope

  • SD Archery antelope (private land only)

 

Tribal Licensing: Each Tribe operates their own lottery draws and draw success statistics. We offer hunts on 6 different reservations across the State equaling around 5 million acres of tribal hunting. More info below. Call for a consultation before applying. We are proud to offer a tribal tag application service beginning in 2024.

 

2024 Prices: ** does not include 6% sales tax or gratuity. $1000 deposit required to hold a spot.

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Deposits:

Specific hunt dates will be offered in the order that the deposits are received. Booking a spot requires a $1000 deposit as a next step. Deposits from hunters who do not draw a tag will be rolled into the following year or refunded minus a service charge. Checks can be sent to SD Access, 2501 Anthony Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301. Deposits can also be made via Venmo for or via credit card over the phone for a +2.5% charge at the number below or @SDAGS. 

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Contact us for a hunt consultation, more info, or to book a hunt.

Meals and Lodging Packages:

  • Details and pricing vary depending on meals, ranch, outfit, and lodging preference

  • We can make recommendations or handle everything for you depending on tags drawn

    • Airbnb’s, park model cabins, 4-season campers, resort, motel, RV pads, and more

    • $500 -650 (dbl. occ.) OR $800/hunter depending on location, meals, etc.

    • Additional deposit of $500

  • Deer Camp with host - You will stay in one of two comfortable four-season Airstream trailers for four nights at camp location depending on tags drawn. Your camp host will provide coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner for you and your crew, every day during your hunt and debone your meat for you to be packed in your cooler

    • $550/hunter based on double or triple occupancy, $900/ single hunter,

    • Additional deposit of $500

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SD State Rifle Deer:

  • SD West River Rifle Deer - prices and details of specific hunts vary between ranches and outfits

    • Multiple private land options; Oglala Lakota, Bennett, Jackson, Ziebach, Dewey, Hughes, Perkins, Meade, Lyman, Hyde and Buffalo Counties

    • Hunt cost varies between properties between $3250-4500

    • Hunt only, targeting 150-170+ muley or 140+ whitetail with chance at bigger

    • No trophy fees ever​

  • Premium Ranch SD Trophy Hunt targeting 170”+ muleys and 150”+ whitetail

    • Multiple large ranches in Perkins County totaling over 50,000 acres

    • Guaranteed rifle opportunity

    • $5000 – 4 day rifle hunt or 5 day archery hunt only

  • SD East River Rifle (SD residents only) – Nov 18 – Dec3

    • Well managed 5000 acre property in Roberts Co. with incredible deer genetics and management (140-170”+) 

    • 6 days and 7 nights - Day 1 being rifle qualification and scouting

    • $3495 + tax, gratuity, and license (deduct $500 if no meals or lodging)

    • $500 additional if hunting Sept 1-15 or Nov 1-15

SD State Archery Deer: 

Sept 1 - Jan 1, Guaranteed draw March 1

  • Fully Guided private land archery hunts for muleys and whitetails (mostly west river, a few east river opportunities)

    • Multiple ranches and outfits in Oglala Lakota, Bennett, Jackson, Ziebach, Dewey, Hughes, Perkins, Harding, Gregory, Meade, Lyman, Hyde and Buffalo Counties.

    • 4-5 days hunt only.

    • $3250-5750, lodging and meal packages vary depending on ranch and outfit.

  • Backcountry archery hunts in wall tents for muleys and whitetails. Choice of horse packed or side by side or both. This is rough country hunting for deer who haven’t encountered many people

    • 22,000+ acres of private ranch land in southern Jackson County, Badlands of South Dakota.

    • 5 days hunting and 4 nights wall tent lodging, meals as hunting allows

    • $4500

    • Moderate horsemanship and a strong will are highly recommended

    • Difficulty level: 9+ of 10

South Dakota Big Game Fist Bump

Tribal Rifle Deer:

– New in 2024, we will be offering a tribal tag application service

  • Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Rifle Deer

    • 1.4 Million Acres in North Central part of State

    • Online application open June-July at http://crstgfp.com/

    • $3500-4500 - Hunt only

      • Meals and lodging $200-250/night depending on preference

  • Oglala Sioux/Pine Ridge Tribal Rifle Deer

    • 2.1 Million acres in SW corner of State

    • $3000-4500 - Hunt only (meals and lodging package $250/day)​

  • Lower Brule Tribal Rifle Deer

    • 114,000 acres in central South Dakota

    • $3500-4000 - Hunt only (meals and lodging package $250/day)

  • Crow Creek Tribal Rifle Deer

    • 126,000 acres in central South Dakota

    • $3500-4000 - Hunt only (meals and lodging package $250/day)

  • Rosebud Tribal Deer

    • 923,000 acres in south central part of the State

    • $3250-3750 – hunt only (meals and lodging package $250/day)

SD State or Tribal Archery or Rifle Antelope:

  • 3-5 day SD rifle and/or archery antelope 

    • private ranch hunts for 68-79”+ goats

    • $3000 – 3800 depending on ranch and style/duration of hunt

    • Hunt only, lodging and meal packages depending on hunt location

  • Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal antelope – 1.62 million acres

    • 3 day rifle or 4 day archery hunt - $3000-3500 hunt only

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Bison Hunts:

  • Fully-guided private ranch/preserve Bison hunts, rifle or archery, in the beautiful southern Black Hills

    • $4,500 for mature cow (5yo, 300-350 lbs meat)

    • $6,500 for meat bull (5yo, 1100+ lbs, 350-400 lbs meat)

    • $8,500 for trophy bull (10yo, 1800++ lbs, 450-500 lbs meat)

    • ​2@½ days and 1 full day of hunting

    • Includes lodge accommodations, meals, field dressing and skinning

      • 72 hr butchering costs an additional $780

    • Ranch consists of 9 miles of wooded draws and a tons of game

    • No tag required, year round hunting

    • 50% deposit required

  • Pine Ridge, Rosebud Lower Brule, and Crow Creek Tribal Bison hunts

    • Details, prices and dates vary by tribe

Prairie Dogs:

  • $275/hunter/day on private land in and around the Badlands

    • Shooting mats and/or benches included

    • Season dates, group size and bag limits are unrestricted

    • Licensing covered under SD Small Game license for $121 OR $40 annually

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