DUCKS Traditional Season: Late September to December. Range and Habitat: More than 15 million ducks migrate annually through South Dakota. They include mallards, gadwall, pintails and teal. The migration peaks in mid-November along the Missouri River. Plan early since nonresident waterfowl licenses are limited and issued by lottery drawing. Decoy placement can spell success or failure for your hunt. Group species accordingly and leave landing pockets for optimum shooting opportunities. Incorporate both ducks and geese into your decoy spread as confidence builders and in case either species pass by. EAST RIVER DEER Traditional Season: Firearm, mid-late November to early December. Archery, September to early-January. SOUTHEAST REGION Range and Habitat: East of the Missouri River, deer hunters will find crops such as corn, oats, wheat, sunflowers and soybeans attracting the whitetail deer population. Mule deer hunting is limited to coun-ties bordering the Missouri River. Rolling pastures, tree strips, river bottoms and cattail sloughs provide escape cover. PRAIRIE TURKEY Traditional Season: Spring firearm and archery, April to mid-May. Fall prairie turkey, November through January. Range and Habitat: In the eastern portion of the state, turkeys prefer the woods and brushy hillsides of rivers, as well as tree belts. GOOSE Canada Goose Season: September to December (November to mid February in some areas). Light Goose: Spring -Mid February to early May. Fall -Late September to mid January. Range and Habitat: The Missouri River corridor is the main route for more than 400,000 migrating Canada geese, and eastern South Dakota attracts 350,000 snow and blue migrants. FOR DISABLED HUNTERS A Reduced Fee Hunting and Fishing License is available for persons with total disability and for disabled vets. A Disabled Hunter Permit authorizes a qualifying disabled hunter to lawfully shoot game animals from a stationary motor vehicle. You can find applications for these on www.gfp.sd.gov. For hunting regulations, license fees, maps and applications visit www.gfp.sd.gov SoutheastSouthDakota.com // 227
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2021 South Dakota Vacation Guide: Page 227
