BirdHuntPrairie Chicken, Sharp-tailed & Ruffed Grouse
- Sep 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Grouse and prairie chickens (combined)3 daily15 poss.
← All states
Upland birds 2026-27
South Dakota upland hunting
Pheasant · Sharp-tailed grouse · Prairie chicken · Ruffed grouse · Gray partridge · Chukar · Quail
Open now
2
Prairie Chicken, Sharp-tailed & Ruffed Grouse, Partridge & Chukar
Pheasant
3 a day
Opens Oct 17
Species
7
Pheasant, Sharp-tailed grouse, Prairie chicken…
How nonresidents hunt upland birds in South Dakota
Nonresidents buy the small game license (two 5-day periods) and the habitat stamp over the counter. Pheasant shooting starts at 10 a.m. Central. Resident-only days open the public-land pheasant season Oct. 10-12, so nonresidents start Oct. 17.
Pheasant Oct. 17, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027 (youth Sept. 26 - Oct. 4); grouse, prairie chicken and partridge Sept. 19 - Jan. 31; quail Oct. 17 - Jan. 31.
Season calendar
SepOctNovDecJan
Prairie Chicken, Sharp-tailed & Ruffed Grouse
Partridge & Chukar
Youth Pheasant
Pheasant
Quail
Today
Seasons & bag limits
Partridge & Chukar
- Sep 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Partridge and chukar (combined)5 daily15 poss.
Youth Pheasant
- Sep 26 – Oct 4, 2026
Rooster pheasants3 daily15 poss.
Pheasant
- Oct 17, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Rooster pheasants3 daily15 poss.
Quail
- Oct 17, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Quail5 daily15 poss.
What a nonresident needs to buy
Public land & walk-in access
Programs and the rules that apply to them. We don't publish specific spots.
Walk-in program
Walk-In Areas (and CREP/CHAP land)
Nonresident limitsNonresidents: Walk-In Areas are private land leased for public hunting, not public land. Nonresident waterfowl licenses are limited to certain units and some units are private land only, so check what your license allows before you hunt.
Foot traffic only; over 1.2 million acres. Non-toxic shot is required for waterfowl. Tracts are in the free public hunting atlas.
Maps and details · Source · checked Sep 30, 2026 ·
Public land
Game Production Areas
Nonresident limitsNonresidents: Nonresident waterfowl licenses in units 00V, 00X and 00Z are valid on private land only, so they don't cover GPAs; unit 00Y covers public and private land. From Sept. 5-30, nonresidents may not hunt early Canada geese in 13 eastern counties.
State-owned land managed for wildlife habitat and public hunting.
Maps and details · Source · checked Sep 30, 2026 ·
