big game license information
Applying for a license
- Before applying, check License Draw Statistics to see how many individuals drew a tag in the selected unit last year.
- Then apply online for any one of the below seasons.
- After applying, check your application status to see what you have applied for and if you were successful in the drawing.
- If unsuccessful in any drawing, individuals may still have a chance at being successful if there are leftover licenses available for any potential second and third drawings.
deadlines
- Friday dates listed below represent paper application deadlines.
- Online applications are accepted until 8 a.m. Central Time the following Wednesday.
- No deadlines means that applicants may purchase a license throughout the season. Please allow approximately 7-10 business days for the license to be processed and mailed to you before you leave for your hunt.
Season Information |
Application Available (tentative) |
First 2015 Deadline Date | Season Dates |
Resident Fee | Non-Resident Fee |
Antelope |
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| Archery Antelope | July | No deadline | Aug. 15-Oct. 2, 2015 / Oct. 19-31, 2015 | Any Antelope Doe Antelope |
Any Antelope |
| Custer State Park Antelope | July | Aug. 14 | Oct. 13-21, 2015 | Any Antelope $156.00 |
N/A |
| Firearms Antelope | July | Aug. 14 | Oct. 3-18, 2015 | Any Antelope Doe Antelope |
Any Antelope |
| Mentored Antelope | February | No deadline | Oct. 3-18, 2015 | Antelope, Turkey or Deer $5.00 |
N/A |
Deer |
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| Archery Deer | June | No deadline | Sept. 26-Dec. 31, 2015 Anterless Tags Sept. 26, 2015 - Jan. 15, 2016 | 1 Any Deer 1 Doe Tag |
1 Any Deer 1 Doe Tag |
| Black Hills Deer | June | July 17 | Nov. 1-30, 2015 | 1 Any Deer 1 Any Whitetail |
1 Any Deer |
| Custer State Park Deer | June | July 17 | Nov. 7-20, 2015 | Any Deer Antlerless Whitetail |
N/A
|
| East River Deer (resident) & East River Landowner Deer |
June | Aug. 28 | Nov. 21-Dec. 6, 2015 and Antlerless Only tags are valid Dec. 26, 2015 - Jan. 3, 2016 | 1 Any Deer 1 Any Deer + 1 Doe Tag 1 Doe Tag 2 Doe Tags |
N/A
|
| East River Deer (nonresident) | June | Oct. 9 | Nov. 21-Dec. 6, 2015 and Antlerless Only tags are valid Dec. 26, 2015 - Jan. 3, 2016 Nov. 21-Dec.6, 2015 | N/A
|
1 Any Deer 1 Any Deer + 1 Doe Tag 2 Doe Tags |
| West River Deer & West River Landowner Deer |
June | July 17 | Nov. 14-29, 2015 | 1 Any Deer 1 Any Deer + 1 Doe Tag 1 Doe Tag 2 Doe Tags |
1 Any Deer 1 Any Deer + 2 Doe Tags |
| Mentored Deer | February | No deadline | Sept. 12, 2015-Jan. 15, 2016 | Antelope, Turkey or Deer $5.00 |
N/A |
| Muzzleloader Deer | June | August 28 | Dec. 1-31, 2015 Dec. 1-31 - any deer Dec. 1 - Jan. 15 - antlerless whitetail |
1 Any Deer 1 Doe Tag 2 Doe Tags |
N/A
2 Doe Tags |
| National Wildlife Refuge Deer | June | August 28 | Varies by refuge | 1 Any Deer 1 Any Deer + 1 Doe Tag 1 Doe Tag 2 Doe Tags |
1 Any Deer 1 Any Deer + 2 Doe Tags |
| Special Buck (East River) | late March | April 17 | Nov. 21-Dec. 6, 2015 and Antlerless Only tags are valid Dec. 26, 2015 - Jan. 3, 2016 | $175.00 | N/A |
| Special Buck (West River) | late March | April 17 | Nov. 14-29, 2015 | $175.00 | $560.00 |
| Youth Deer | June | No deadline | Sept. 12, 2015-Jan. 15, 2016 | $5.00 | $10.00 |
Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Mountain Lion (all Resident-only) |
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| Archery Elk | early May | May 22 | Sept. 1-30, 2015 | Any Elk $185.00 |
N/A |
| Black Hills Elk | May | May 22 | Oct. 1-31, 2015 for Any Elk and Oct. 16-31, 2015 and Dec. 1-15, 2015 for Antlerless Elk | Any Elk $185.00 |
N/A |
| Custer State Park Elk | May | May 22 | Sept. 19 - Oct. 4, 2015 | Any Elk $316.00 |
N/A |
| Prairie Elk | May | May 22 | Varies by unit | Any Elk $185.00 |
N/A |
| Bighorn Sheep | May | May 22 | Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2015 | $290.00 | N/A |
| Mountain Goat | Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2015 | $290.00 | N/A | ||
| Mountain Lion | November | No deadline | Dec. 26, 2015-March 31, 2016 | $28.00 | N/A |
Turkey |
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| Archery Spring Turkey | February | No deadline | April 2 - May 22, 2016 | $25.00 | $100.00 |
| Black Hills Spring Turkey | February | No deadline | April 9 - May 22, 2016 | $25.00 | $100.00 |
| Custer State Park Spring Turkey | January | Feb. 13 | April 9 - May 22, 2016 | $25.00
|
N/A |
| Prairie Spring Turkey | January | Feb. 13 | April 9 - May 22, 2016 | 1 Male Turkey 2 Male Turkeys |
1 Male Turkey 2 Male Turkeys |
| Prairie Fall Turkey (All) | Late August | Sept. 18 | Nov. 1, 2015 - Jan. 31, 2016 | 1 Any Turkey 2 Any |
1 Any Turkey
|
| Mentored Turkey | February | No deadline | Sept. 12, 2015 - Jan. 15, 2016 | Antelope, Turkey or Deer $5.00 |
N/A |
Waterfowl |
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| Canada Goose | July 10 | Varies by unit | $16.00 | N/A | |
| Nonresident Fall Waterfowl | June | NA | See application for specific details | N/A | 3-Day 10-Day |
| Tundra Swan | June | Aug. 14 | Oct. 3-Dec. 20, 2015 | $18.00 | $25.00 |
paddlefish |
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| Gavins Point Dam Paddlefish - Archery | January | May 22 | June 1 - 30, 2016 | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| Gavins Point Dam Paddlefish - Snagging | January | May 22 | Oct. 1-31, 2015 | $25.00 | N/A |
| Lake Francis Case Paddlefish - Snagging | January | Feb. 13 | May 1-31, 2015 | $25.00 | N/A |
other |
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| Custer State Park Trophy Bison | Early Aug. - Online Only | Up to 3 days as scheduled, excluding holidays and weekends | |||
| Custer State Park Non-Trophy Bison | Early Nov. - Online Only | 1 day as scheduled. | |||
| Resident Big Game Depredation | No deadline | If needed | |||