The birds are the easy part. The license is what trips people up, especially the two five-day periods. Here is the plain version, start to finish.
South Dakota is the pheasant capital of the world, and every fall it draws tens of thousands of nonresident hunters. The one thing that reliably slows people down is not the drive or the weather. It is the licensing system. We walk guests through it on the phone all the time, so we wrote it all down in one place.
Which license do you need?
Almost every hunter who comes to us is a nonresident, so these are the licenses that apply. Fees are set by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks and can change year to year, so treat these as current-season figures and confirm at checkout.
| License | Who it’s for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Nonresident Small Game Wild season plus preserves |
Adults 18+ hunting the traditional wild season. Also covers licensed preserves and other small game. | ~$142 + $25 stamp |
| Shooting Preserve (5-Day) Preserve only |
Hunters on a licensed shooting preserve, often before the wild opener. | ~$96 |
| Youth Small Game Ages 12 to 17 |
Youth hunters with a hunter safety certificate. Same season windows as adults. | ~$10 |
| Mentored Youth Under 16, no safety yet |
Youth without hunter safety, hunting alongside a qualified adult mentor. | ~$10 |
What is the habitat stamp?
The nonresident habitat stamp is about $25, and it goes toward habitat work and public access across the state. Here is the part that saves people money and confusion: the stamp is required with the adult small game license only. It is added automatically at checkout, and you never need more than one per year. The preserve license and the youth licenses do not require it, so do not add it to those.
How the two five-day periods work
This is the piece that confuses nearly everyone, so it is worth slowing down. The Nonresident Small Game License is not a season-long license. It gives you two separate five-day hunting periods, and you pick both start dates when you buy it, even if the two periods run back to back.
A simple way to set them:
- Set your first period to your actual trip dates, so all your planned hunting days fall inside that five-day window.
- If you already know your second trip, set the second period for those dates. If you do not, push it to the latest window the calendar allows.
- You can change either start date any time before that date arrives. So when in doubt, set a period late and adjust it once your plans firm up.
Need more than ten days in the field across the season? You can buy more than one small game license. Most groups do not need to.
How to buy your license, step by step
Do this before you travel, not at the lodge on hunt morning. It takes about ten minutes online.
- Go to gooutdoorssouthdakota.com and create a mySD account. If you already have one, log in with the email on file.
- Select Buy Fish / Hunt Licenses on the home page.
- Choose your license: Nonresident Small Game for the wild season, or the 5-Day Shooting Preserve if you are on a preserve before the opener.
- Enter your start date, or your two start dates for the small game license.
- Go to the cart in the upper right and check out.
- Download the free Go Outdoors SD app and keep your phone on you. A digital license is a legal way to carry it in the field, so you do not need a paper copy.
What you’ll need at checkout
- Your mySD account and the email on it
- Date of birth and last name
- Your Social Security number (the state requires it to issue a license)
- A credit or debit card
- Your hunt start date or dates
Other ways to buy
You do not have to do it online. South Dakota has more than 250 registered license agents, including many gas stations and bait shops, though an agent may add a small fee of up to $8. And if you are booking a hunt with a lodge, ask whether they are a registered agent. At Rieger Creek, Christine can license an entire group at once when you book, which spares the person organizing the trip from chasing everyone down the morning of.
Get the free Hunt Planner
Everything above, plus season dates, what to pack, and choke by season, in one clean guide you can save. Written by the people who run the hunts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a habitat stamp for a preserve hunt?
No. The habitat stamp is required only with the adult small game license. Preserve and youth licenses do not require it.
Can I change my hunting dates after I buy the license?
Yes, within limits. You can change either start date any time before that date arrives. So if you are unsure about a second trip, set that period late and adjust it once your plans firm up.
Can I carry my license on my phone?
Yes. You must carry your license while hunting, and a digital copy counts. Log into your account on your phone or download the free Go Outdoors SD app, and the barcode can be scanned as your official license.
What does the small game license actually cover?
Pheasant during the traditional wild season, hunting on licensed shooting preserves through January 31, and other small game such as grouse, partridge, and rabbit. See SD GF&P for the full list.
How early should I buy it?
As soon as your dates are set. There is no reason to wait, and doing it at home removes the biggest morning-of headache at the lodge.
Ready to plan your hunt?
Most hunters book with a call. Tell Christine your group size and the dates you are eyeing, and she will find the right fit, licenses included.
Figures and rules here are current-season and verified against the official South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Hunting & Trapping Handbook. License fees are set by the state and can change year to year. Always confirm at gooutdoorssouthdakota.com. For more, see our guide to choosing the best pheasant hunting lodge in South Dakota and our South Dakota pheasant hunting season guide.
