South Dakota Waterfowl License Requirements

Waterfowl Hunting License Requirements

Residents Must have one of the following

• Combination or Junior Combination, or
• Small Game, or
• Youth Small Game, or
• 1-Day Small Game

In addition, residents must also have

• South Dakota Migratory Bird Certification, and
• Federal Waterfowl Stamp (not required for those under age 16)

Nonresidents

• Licenses for most seasons are limited and issued by lottery drawing. Application deadline is July 9.
• Licenses of limited-day duration require a start date for hunt before a license will be issued; start date may be changed through GFP License Office prior to the start date; applicants without a start date will have license held if successful in drawing, and may provide start date at any time before season, but please allow ample time for mailing license
• See season Application information for details.
• Licenses for Unit 00B cover most of the state and are valid for 10 consecutive days
• Licenses for Unit 00A are for the southeastern corner of the state are valid for the length of the waterfowl seasons in that area
• Licenses for Unit 11A are for Bennett County in the southwest and are valid for 10 consecutive days
• Licenses for Unit 00Y in the northeast part of the state are valid for 3 consecutive days
• Licenses for Unit 00X in the central part of the state are valid on private land only for 3 consecutive days
• Early Fall Canada Goose licenses are valid for the length of that season in those counties open to nonresident hunting
• Spring Light Goose licenses are valid for the length of that season
• South Dakota Migratory Bird Certification is included in waterfowl license
• Federal Waterfowl Stamp required (not required for those under age 16)
• Youth age 12 (or will turn 12 by Dec. 31) may hunt and have same license requirements as adults