State guide · SD · coming soon
Hunting outfitters and guides in South Dakota: coming soon
No outfitters or guides are listed in South Dakota yet. Listings are added only after a person confirms the license or permit with the agency that issues it.
Be the first listed in South Dakota
Sun Up Hunts is launching. We list a hunting outfitter or guide only after checking its license or permit with the issuing agency, so this page stays out of search results until South Dakota has at least 2 verified listings to compare. If you run an outfit in South Dakota, you can ask to be listed for free; there is also an optional upgraded listing, always labelled Sponsored, that is free for life for the first Founding outfitters.
What you can hunt in South Dakota
Looking for hunting outfitters in South Dakota? Start with what the state allows. Below are the game species the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks lists hunting seasons for, grouped by type, from guided whitetail hunts in South Dakota to mule deer and pronghorn hunts. Species tagged "Draw/permit only" are allocated through a draw, lottery or limited permit rather than an over-the-counter license.
Big game
- White-tailed and mule deer
- Pronghorn
- ElkDraw/permit only
- Bighorn sheepDraw/permit only
- Mountain goatDraw/permit only
- Mountain lion
Turkey
Waterfowl
- Ducks
- Geese (incl. light goose)
- Sandhill crane
- Tundra swanDraw/permit only
Upland birds
- Ring-necked pheasant
- Prairie grouse (sharp-tailed grouse, prairie chicken)
- Partridge
- Quail
- Mourning dove
- Snipe
Small game and furbearers
- Cottontail rabbit
- Tree squirrel
- Furbearers and predators
Check with the agency
We could not confirm a current open season for these from the agency pages we read, so they are not listed above. Ask the agency directly.
- Bison (Custer State Park)(big game)
Sources (checked Oct 2026): SDGFP - Key Dates; SDGFP - Big Game Regulations; SDGFP - Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat (PDF); SDGFP - Application Information.
Seasons, draws and regulations change every year and can differ by unit or zone. Confirm seasons and regulations with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks before you plan or book a hunt. This list is a starting point, not legal advice.
Outfitter and guide licensing in South Dakota
Not confirmed
Not confirmed. We have not yet researched outfitter and guide licensing for South Dakota, so we state no requirement. The authority on licensing, seasons and draws is South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
State wildlife agency: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (link checked October 23, 2026). South Dakota rules change: check with the agency before booking a hunt or operating as a guide.
Before you book any South Dakota hunt
- Ask for the outfitter's license, registration or permit number and confirm it with the agency before you pay a deposit.
- Get the hunt terms in a written contract: dates, guide-to-hunter ratio, services, what is and is not included, and the refund and cancellation terms.
- Ask which land the hunt is on (private, public, or both) and what permit or access arrangement covers it.
- Ask for recent client references you can phone, and what happens to your meat and trophy.
- Check the state's own hunter-license, tag, draw and hunter-education requirements well ahead of the application dates.
- Ask what happens if conditions or game numbers are poor: no outfitter can guarantee a harvest, and we do not list any that promise one.
Hunting leases and public access in South Dakota
Listed for information only. Sun Up Hunts does not arrange or negotiate leases, does not act for any landowner or hunter, holds no real estate license and is not a party to any lease. We don't handle deposits or payments, and we get no fee or commission from these links. The lister sets price, terms and availability, so confirm everything directly with them before you pay or sign. Full lease listings disclaimer.
Lease search pages and state programs covering South Dakota
- Hunting Lease Network: Land for Lease Lease marketplace
Lease marketplace: search land offered for hunting lease, by state. Listed by: Hunting Lease Network (Farmers National Company). Checked October 24, 2026. - Walk-In Areas and public hunting areas State program
State program: walk-in hunting on enrolled private land. Listed by: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. Checked October 24, 2026.
Nationwide lease search sites
- HLRBO Lease Finder Lease marketplace
Lease marketplace: lease finder covering all 50 states. Listed by: HLRBO. Checked October 24, 2026. - HuntingLeaseUSA Lease marketplace
Lease marketplace covering many states (home page). Listed by: HuntingLeaseUSA. Checked October 24, 2026. - Land And Farm Land marketplace
Land marketplace, mostly land for sale; some hunting and recreational land. Listed by: Land And Farm (CoStar Group). Checked October 24, 2026.
No one pays us for these links and none is ranked by payment. We copy no lease details, photos or descriptions: open the lister's page for current offers. Check South Dakota licenses, tags and seasons with the state wildlife agency.
Draws and lotteries: South Dakota draw and application deadlines, with a link to the agency's own page.
Bordering states and region
South Dakota is in the Midwest region. Hunting outfitters in bordering states:
Browse all 50 states from the home page, or see guided hunts by species.
See also all 50 states and their wildlife agencies, how we verify and the paid-placement disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Are there outfitters listed in South Dakota yet?
Not yet. Sun Up Hunts is launching, and an outfitter or guide is added only after a person confirms its license or permit with the agency that issues it. When South Dakota has enough verified listings this page becomes a full comparison.
Who is the authority on hunting in South Dakota?
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks sets seasons, licenses and rules. Confirm every requirement with the agency before you book or pay a deposit.
I run an outfit in South Dakota. How do I get listed?
Send a request through the contact form with the topic "Claim or add a listing". A free basic listing and the optional upgraded listing (free for life for the first 25 Founding outfitters) both go through the same license check. Founding outfitters pay nothing.