South Dakota Draw Odds

South Dakota fills its limited deer and antelope licenses through preference pools: half of the resident licenses in the big deer seasons go to local landowners first, and everyone else is drawn in strict tiers - applicants with 2+ preference points, then 1 point, then 0 - with each name entered (points+1) times and that count cubed, so points shift the odds inside a tier but never guarantee a tag.

Nonresidents draw from their own separate quota (up to 8% of each unit, printed per unit; often just 1-7 antelope tags) in the West River, Black Hills and Refuge deer seasons and the antelope draw - East River deer is leftovers-only for nonresidents, and every elk season is resident-only. You pay nothing up front: the license fee (about $375-$425 for a nonresident buck deer tag, $375 for antelope, plus a $25 habitat stamp) is charged only if you draw, and an optional preference point costs a nonresident $20.

Deer applications close in mid-to-late June with three follow-up draws through early September, antelope closes in July-August, and leftovers then sell first-come.

Sources: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks documents, last verified September 1, 2026. · 106 sources

Odds by Species

Deer

278 hunt codes

33 public-access hunts a 0-point nonresident had an even chance at in 2026

NR Tags 2026: 1,561
Applicants per Tag: 4.3

See every deer hunt →

Elk

54 hunt codes

No nonresident draw results on file. See every elk hunt →

Antelope (Pronghorn)

37 hunt codes

2 public-access hunts a 0-point nonresident had an even chance at in 2026

NR Tags 2026: 52
Applicants per Tag: 29.0

See every pronghorn hunt →

The Rules, Side by Side

Nonresident and resident rules for every species. Small numbers are sources.

Deer
Rule	Nonres.	Resident
System	Pref²⁰	Pref²⁰
Choices	2	2
Lower Choice Burns Points	No	No
Point-Only	Yes	Yes
Points Expire	No	No
Party Averages	No	No
NR Share	8% · 0%²¹	—

Elk
Rule	Nonres.	Resident
System	Pref¹³	Pref¹³
Choices	—	1
Lower Choice Burns Points	—	Yes
Point-Only	No	No
Points Expire	—	—
Party Averages	—	—
NR Share	0%¹³	—

Pronghorn
Rule	Nonres.	Resident
System	Pref²⁰	Pref²⁰
Choices	2	2
Lower Choice Burns Points	No	—
Point-Only	Yes	Yes
Points Expire	No	—
Party Averages	No	—
NR Share	8%²¹	—

Species	Who	System	Choices	Lower Choice Burns Points	Point-Only	Points Expire	Party Averages	NR Share
Deer	Nonresident	Preference points²⁰	2	No	Yes	No	No	8% · 0%²¹
Deer	Resident	Preference points²⁰	2	No	Yes	No	No	—
Elk	Nonresident	Preference points¹³	—	—	No	—	—	0%¹³
Elk	Resident	Preference points¹³	1	Yes	No	—	—	—
Pronghorn	Nonresident	Preference points²⁰	2	No	Yes	No	No	8%²¹
Pronghorn	Resident	Preference points²⁰	2	—	Yes	—	—	—

NR Share

Deer: 8% Nonresident licences are extra licences on top of a unit's resident quota, capped at 8% of them, on West River prairie, Black Hills and refuge deer. 0% East River deer, Custer State Park and the resident muzzleloader pool draw residents only; nonresidents can buy East River licences left after the fourth drawing.
Pronghorn: 8% The same 8% ceiling per unit as deer, though in practice most units print only one to seven nonresident licences.
Elk: 0% Nonresidents are not eligible for an elk licence of any kind.

How This Draw Works, With an Example

Preference points: Tags go to the applicants with the most preference points, one level at a time. If the last level that draws has more applicants than tags remaining, those applicants are chosen at random. Everyone below that level misses and earns a point.

Buying Points

A nonresident can buy a Preference point in South Dakota without applying for a tag. Buy the point in Go Outdoors South Dakota between September 15 and December 15, in lieu of an application; an unsuccessful applicant gets a point only by opting in and paying for it at application.

Points are on sale Sep 15 – Dec 15. Open now, closes Dec 15. Drawing your first choice spends the points you built. Points do not expire.

Species	Resident	Nonresident	How	Points Lapse
Deer Separate Window · never lapses	$5¹	$20¹	Separate Window	Never
Pronghorn Separate Window · never lapses	$5¹	$20¹	Separate Window	Never

1.GFP does not say whether the habitat stamp is needed for a point bought on its own

Source: Preference point — gfp.sd.gov

Fees

Show fees for

2026 Fee	Nonres.	Resident	When
Every Applicant
Habitat Stamp (18+, once per license year, required to apply)¹² To apply	$25	$10	To apply
Preference point (optional; raised from $10)¹⁹ If unsuccessful	$20	$5	If unsuccessful
Deer
NR deer license, one-tag types 01/02/11 (any deer / any buck / any whitetail) - WR, BH, Refuge¹⁸ If drawn	$375	$45	If drawn
NR deer license, single antlerless types 03/03P/13/13P¹⁸ If drawn	$100	$24	If drawn
NR deer license, two antlerless tags types 09P/19/19P¹⁸ If drawn	$150	$36	If drawn
NR deer license, two-tag types 08/18 (any deer or any whitetail + antlerless)¹⁸ If drawn	$425	$60	If drawn
Elk
Elk application fee, nonrefundable, per season¹⁶ To apply	—	$10	To apply
Any Elk license¹⁶ If drawn	—	$195	If drawn
Pronghorn
NR Special Antelope license (statewide private land, separate spring application)¹⁷ If drawn	$650	$200	If drawn
NR firearms antelope license (type 42, one buck) - Prairie / Custer¹⁷ If drawn	$375	$45	If drawn
Cash to Apply, One Species	$25	$20	Kept if you miss

Cash to apply adds up every fee due with an application; each extra species adds its own application fee.

Next Application Deadlines

Elk · residents only¹⁶

results about May 27

(Last cycle ran Apr 15 – May 19, 2026.) Residents only. A second drawing for leftover licenses follows in late May.

Apr 15 – May 19, 2027 213 days expected
Deer¹⁸

results about Jul 2 · points only Sep 15 – Dec 15

(Last cycle ran May 27 – Jun 23, 2026.) Three later drawings in July and August offer the licenses left over. A nonresident who returns a license pays a $30 fee.

May 27 – Jun 23, 2027 248 days expected
Pronghorn¹⁷

results about Jul 8 · points only Sep 15 – Dec 15

(Last cycle ran Jun 16 – Jul 7, 2026.) A second drawing for leftover licenses follows in July.

Jun 16 – Jul 7, 2027 262 days expected

Dates marked expected are last cycle's schedule rolled forward by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks' own rule; confirm them once the new dates are published.

Legal cartridges in South Dakota by species and weapon

Sources (106)

Draw Rules, Fees and Deadlines

1. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2022 Antelope application booklet (firearms + archery)
2. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2022 Deer Applications booklet (West River, East River, Black Hills, Custer State Park, Refuge, Muzzleloader, Youth, Archery)
3. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2022 Elk application booklet
4. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2023 Deer Applications booklet
5. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2023 Elk application booklet
6. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2023 Firearms Antelope application booklet
7. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2023 Special Buck and Special Antelope application
8. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2024 Deer Applications booklet
9. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2024 Elk application booklet
10. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2024 Firearms Antelope application booklet
11. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2024 Special Buck and Special Antelope application
12. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2025 Deer Applications booklet
13. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2025 Elk application booklet
14. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2025 Firearms Antelope application booklet
15. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2025 Special Buck and Special Antelope application
16. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2026 Elk application sheet
17. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2026 Firearms Antelope application sheet
18. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2026 West River Deer application sheet
19. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GFP FAQ (preference point fees $5 resident / $20 nonresident) · 2026
20. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GFP Preference Points page (cubed preference points; drawing procedure for deer/antelope/turkey and elk) · 2026
21. South Dakota Legislature · ARSD 41:06:01:14 Allocation of licenses to nonresident hunters · 2026
22. South Dakota Legislature · ARSD 41:06:21:02 East River deer open units · 2026

Draw Results, Hunt Lists and Harvest Reports, 2022–2026

2026 · 22 documents

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2026 Black Hills & CSP Deer application sheet
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2026 East River Deer application sheet
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2026 Muzzleloader Deer application sheet
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · 2026 National Wildlife Refuge Deer application sheet
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Deer, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Elk, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Elk, 2026, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Antelope, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Antlerless Elk, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Deer, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Elk, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2026, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Muzzleloader Deer, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Antelope, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Antelope, 2026, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Elk, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Elk, 2026, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2026, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2026, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2026, second application period

2025 · 16 documents

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Deer, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Elk, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Elk, 2025, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Deer, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Elk, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2025, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Muzzleloader Deer, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Antelope, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Elk, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Elk, 2025, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2025, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Special Antelope, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2025, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2025, second application period

2024 · 16 documents

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Deer, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Elk, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Elk, 2024, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Deer, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Elk, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2024, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Muzzleloader Deer, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Antelope, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Elk, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Elk, 2024, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2024, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Special Antelope, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2024, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2024, second application period

2023 · 17 documents

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Deer, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Elk, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Elk, 2023, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Deer, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Elk, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2023, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Muzzleloader Deer, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Antelope, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Antelope, 2023, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Elk, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Elk, 2023, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2023, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Special Antelope, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2023, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2023, second application period

2022 · 13 documents

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Deer, 2022, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Black Hills Elk, 2022, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Custer Deer, 2022, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2022, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: East River Deer, 2022, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Muzzleloader Deer, 2022, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Antelope, 2022, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Prairie Elk, 2022, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2022, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Refuge Deer, 2022, second application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: Special Antelope, 2022, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2022, first application period
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks · GoOutdoors South Dakota draw statistics: West River Deer, 2022, second application period

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About These Numbers

Rules, fees and deadlines are copied from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks documents and change by commission action; a date marked expected is last cycle's schedule rolled forward. The odds on each species page are last draw's results. Check the agency's site and apply there; we don't take applications. How we compute these.