C & D Outfitters
Working cattle ranch in west-central South Dakota (Weyer Ranch, near Howes) guiding whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn, Merriam's turkey, upland bird,…
No public state license lookup: confirm with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Small game and varmints · South Dakota
Guided small game and varmints hunts in South Dakota: outfitters and guides
Small game and varmint trips, such as prairie dog shoots, are about access to private ground, the number of shots and the rules for rifles and shooting positions.
- 7outfitters
- 5hunt types
- 4regions
- 0Sponsored
- Licenses checked against state records wherever a state lookup lets us
- Contact the outfitter directly, with no middleman
- Free for hunters: we take no bookings, deposits or fees
Small game and varmints in South Dakota at a glance
- This directory currently shows 7 published listings for small game and varmints hunting in South Dakota.
- By service level: 2 guided and 5 fully outfitted.
- Species offered most often: small game and varmints, mule deer, pronghorn, and upland birds.
- Hunt types offered most often: archery, rifle, wingshooting, and muzzleloader.
- All 7 listings are in states where we found no state outfitter license or no public state license lookup: they are labelled that way, with a link to the agency to confirm, and not shown as license-checked.
- Most recent listing check: October 24, 2026.
Service levels for small game and varmints in South Dakota
| Service level | What it means here | Outfitters | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided | A guide accompanies the hunter in the field. Lodging, meals and transport may or may not be included, so read the contract. | 2 | C & D Outfitters, South Dakota Access |
| Fully outfitted | The outfitter supplies the guide plus camp or lodging, meals and field logistics (for example vehicles or boats) as one package. | 5 | Dakota Prairie Lodge, Jim River Guide Service, Prairie Highlands Lodge, Routier Outfitting, Thunderstik Lodge |
| Semi-guided | Guide help is partial: for example scouting, a shared guide, or help only at set points such as stand placement or recovery. | – | none listed |
| Drop camp | The outfitter sets up or drops off a camp and transports hunters and gear, but does not guide the hunt. | – | none listed |
Hunt types offered
| Hunt type | Guided | Fully outfitted | Semi-guided | Drop camp | Listings | Sponsored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 2 | 3 | – | – | 5 | – |
| Rifle | 2 | 2 | – | – | 4 | – |
| Wingshooting | 1 | 2 | – | – | 3 | – |
| Muzzleloader | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – |
| Youth and novice | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – |
| Total (a listing counts in each row it matches) | 6 | 8 | – | – | 14 | – |
Home regions in South Dakota
- Northern South Dakota: Jim River Guide Service.
- Central South Dakota and the Missouri River: Dakota Prairie Lodge, Thunderstik Lodge.
- Southeast South Dakota: South Dakota Access.
- West River and the Black Hills: C & D Outfitters, Prairie Highlands Lodge, Routier Outfitting.
South Dakota outfitter licensing, with sources: licensing in South Dakota. All species: guided hunts in South Dakota.
Questions to ask a South Dakota small game and varmints outfitter
- Whose land is it, and how many shooters share a town or field?
- What calibers and shooting setups are allowed?
- Are lodging and meals included?
Outfitters offering small game and varmints in South Dakota
Filter the 7 outfitters below. Pick one option in each group; if nothing shows, no listing matches all of them.
Dakota Prairie Lodge
All-inclusive lodge near Kimball offering guided wild-pheasant hunts on its own and leased farm ground, with guides, dogs, meals, lodging and bird…
No public state license lookup: confirm with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Jim River Guide Service
Guide service run by Willie Dvorak out of Mellette, offering prairie dog shoots, bison, archery whitetail and mule deer, antelope and coyote hunts…
Jim River Guide Service website
No public state license lookup: confirm with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Prairie Highlands Lodge
Lodge near Wood in south-central South Dakota run by Abel Harmon, offering guided deer, pronghorn, turkey, prairie dog, upland bird and coyote hunts…
Prairie Highlands Lodge website
No public state license lookup: confirm with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Routier Outfitting
Family-run outfit on a working cattle ranch near Buffalo in northwest South Dakota, guiding archery and rifle hunts for mule deer, whitetail and…
No public state license lookup: confirm with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
South Dakota Access
Mitchell-based guide service (est. 2018) running 1:1 or 2:1 guided hunts for whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn, Merriam's turkey, bison, upland birds,…
No public state license lookup: confirm with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Thunderstik Lodge
Lodge above the Missouri River near Chamberlain, operating since 1988, offering all-inclusive pheasant hunts on about 7,000 private acres plus…
No public state license lookup: confirm with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Compare side by side
| Outfitter | Service level | Species | Hunt types | License on file | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C & D Outfitters | Guided | Whitetail deer, Turkey, Upland birds, Mule deer,… | Rifle, Archery, Muzzleloader | No state lookup | |
| Dakota Prairie Lodge | Fully outfitted | Upland birds, Waterfowl, Small game and varmints | Wingshooting, Youth and novice | No state lookup | |
| Jim River Guide Service | Fully outfitted | Whitetail deer, Small game and varmints, Mule deer,… | Archery | No state lookup | |
| Prairie Highlands Lodge | Fully outfitted | Whitetail deer, Turkey, Upland birds, Mule deer,… | Rifle, Archery | No state lookup | |
| Routier Outfitting | Fully outfitted | Whitetail deer, Turkey, Mule deer, Pronghorn, Predators,… | Archery, Rifle | No state lookup | |
| South Dakota Access | Guided | Whitetail deer, Turkey, Upland birds, Waterfowl, Mule… | Rifle, Archery, Wingshooting | No state lookup | |
| Thunderstik Lodge | Fully outfitted | Upland birds, Small game and varmints | Wingshooting | No state lookup |
Keep comparing
- Turkey in South Dakota
- Upland birds in South Dakota
- Whitetail deer in South Dakota
- Mule deer in South Dakota
- Pronghorn in South Dakota
- Predators in South Dakota
- Waterfowl in South Dakota
Frequently asked questions
Who offers guided small game and varmints hunts in South Dakota?
C & D Outfitters, Dakota Prairie Lodge, Jim River Guide Service, Prairie Highlands Lodge, Routier Outfitting, South Dakota Access, and Thunderstik Lodge. The service-level table above shows which are guided, fully outfitted, semi-guided or drop-camp.
What should I ask a South Dakota small game and varmints outfitter?
Whose land is it, and how many shooters share a town or field? What calibers and shooting setups are allowed?
How do I check a South Dakota outfitter's license?
Start with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP guide licensing FAQ). See the South Dakota section on its state page for what we could confirm and the date we read it.