South Dakota Hunting Season Dates | Find Hunting Dates
The Black Hills Chapter has also been showing their support for season structure changes that the SDGFP has made to their deer rifle season. In the past, a resident or nonresident has been able to purchase a ‘Buck Only’ Tag for the Black Hills. Many people were not happy with the low number of mature bucks that they were seeing, so more restrictions were made. Point restrictions were put in place and it was moved to a drawing for 5,000 ‘Any Deer’ tags. Mule deer numbers were still not what they used to be, so in 2007 the season changed to where a resident has to apply for one of 500 ‘Any Deer’ tags or apply for one of the 5,000 ‘White-tailed Deer’ tags. There have now been two deer seasons that have been under the new season structure, and the consensus appears to be that most sportsmen are happy with the changes. The true test, however, will be in a couple of years to determine how much of an effect this has had on the mule deer population in the Black Hills.
