South Dakota Black Hills

[KHNC]

https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/docs/2025deer.pdf

https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/docs/2024deer.pdf

His numbers look about right they got rid of the double tags they got rid of the double doe tags on public land and got rid of the double doe tag and only a single tag. So when you run all numbers its right there.

If you go just straight tag numbers it would not look like that much but you have to account for all the double tags being taken away.

Good luck with the hunt. Deer numbers are bad in my areas i hunt so just put in for points this year.

You added about the special buck while i was posting thats for all of west river so not really county specific

its easier to read from the links i posted

2024

WRD-30A- GREGORY CO. Season Dates: Nov. 9-12 and Nov. 25-Dec. 1.01: Valid for one Any Deer25 resident licenses ($40); 2 nonresident licenses ($286)18: Valid for one Any Whitetail and one Antlerless Whitetail600 resident licenses ($50); 48 nonresident licenses ($336)19: Valid for two Antlerless Whitetail200 resident licenses ($30); 16 nonresident licenses ($120)19P: Valid for two Antlerless Whitetail, valid on private land only100 resident licenses ($30); 8 nonresident licenses ($120)WRD-30B- GREGORY CO. Season Dates: Nov. 16-Dec. 1.01: Valid for one Any Deer25 resident licenses ($40); 2 nonresident licenses ($286)18: Valid for one Any Whitetail and one Antlerless Whitetail600 resident licenses ($50); 48 nonresident licenses ($336)19: Valid for two Antlerless Whitetail200 resident licenses ($30); 16 nonresident licenses ($120)19P: Valid for two Antlerless Whitetail, valid on private land only100 resident licenses ($30); 8 nonresident licenses ($120)


2025

WRD-30A- GREGORY CO. Season Dates: Nov. 8–11 and Nov. 24–30.11: Valid for one Any Whitetail450 resident licenses ($45); 36 nonresident licenses ($375)13P: Valid for one Antlerless Whitetail, valid on private land only100 resident licenses ($24); 8 nonresident licenses ($100)WRD-30B- GREGORY CO. Season Dates: Nov. 15–30.11: Valid for one Any Whitetail450 resident licenses ($45); 36 nonresident licenses ($375)13P: Valid for one Antlerless Whitetail, valid on private land only100 resident licenses ($24); 8 nonresident licenses ($10

Thanks, I am hunting the first week of sept archery anyway. On private, with alfalfa on creek and the river as well. Should be pretty good shot at a decent buck as ill be on 4000 acres with plenty of ag and cover.

 

[spur60]

For those of you that have done this hunt before, any words of advice for finding likely terrain that holds deer? I hunt whitetail entirely out east, and the environment is pretty different and outside my base of experience.

I haven't spent a ton of time hunting out in the hills, but one pattern I found was seeking out open meadow with thick pines on at least one side. Then it was just a matter of finding a vantage point that let me overlook as much of the meadow as possible, and wait to see if deer were cruising across the meadow or coming down off bedding to browse. You can easily find and pin hundreds if not thousands of spots like this all over the hills using OnX. A lot of guys I know simply find public bordering rural private land or towns and try to intercept deer as they move back and forth. And then you have the hunters that just cruise the trails in their trucks or UTVs until they finally catch a buck in the open. You can try to still hunt the trees, moving from spot to spot trying to sneak up on deer, but more often than not, you won't even know there's deer there until you see 6 tails running straight away from you.

 

[mitchellmountain]

I haven't spent a ton of time hunting out in the hills, but one pattern I found was seeking out open meadow with thick pines on at least one side. Then it was just a matter of finding a vantage point that let me overlook as much of the meadow as possible, and wait to see if deer were cruising across the meadow or coming down off bedding to browse. You can easily find and pin hundreds if not thousands of spots like this all over the hills using OnX. A lot of guys I know simply find public bordering rural private land or towns and try to intercept deer as they move back and forth. And then you have the hunters that just cruise the trails in their trucks or UTVs until they finally catch a buck in the open. You can try to still hunt the trees, moving from spot to spot trying to sneak up on deer, but more often than not, you won't even know there's deer there until you see 6 tails running straight away from you. View attachment 900633

That's good to know, thanks for the info. Like so many hunts, now that we know we're going all the planning starts and the anticipation of November. Really looking forward to something new and time out hunting with the boy.

 

[7RemMag]

Spur gave very sound advice. I live in the Black Hills just across the border in Wyoming. It is much the same. Many ways to skin that cat, but I'd say the "vantage over a meadow" is one of the best.

 

[NLenz22]

I hunted the Black Hills last fall for the first time. I thought the deer density was surprisingly similar to what I’m used to in Missouri. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding deer with the info that’s already been posted.

Pick out a bunch of good looking areas and glassing knobs. Be out there at first light and last light. Check new spots until you find a deer that makes you happy. I think you’ll have a fun hunt.

 

[cnelk]

One evening last week I was atving in SD along the border of WY. In 15 miles we counted over 55 deer.
They were everywhere