Hunting South Dakota this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
South Dakota is part of the Central Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through November 22, 2026, with 13 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Game, Fish and Parks within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains - North | Sep 27 – Dec 9 | 6 | 18 |
| Low Plains - Middle | Sep 27 – Dec 9 | 6 | 18 |
| Low Plains - South | Oct 25 – Jan 6 | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains | Oct 11 – Jan 15 | 6 | 18 |
Species-by-species limits are being verified against Game, Fish and Parks. Dates and daily bag limits above are confirmed.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goose Unit 2 | Nov 3 – Feb 15 | 4 | 12 |
| Goose Unit 1 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 Early Season | 15 | 45 |
| Oct 1 – Dec 16 Regular Season |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goose Unit 21 | Nov 3 – Feb 15 | 50 | – |
| Goose Unit 11 | Oct 1 – Dec 16 | 50 | – |
1Possession limit: unlimited per SD GFP
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Sep 1 – Nov 9 | 15 | 45 |
1Statewide; rails season runs concurrently
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Hunting Unit (West)1,2 | Sep 26 – Nov 22 | 3 | 9 |
1SD Migratory Bird Certification required (federal duck stamp NOT required); nontoxic shot; shooting hours 1/2 hr before sunrise to sunset
22026 dates from official GFP Key Dates page; unit boundary and limits from gfp.sd.gov/sandhill-crane/. Open only west of the SD Hwy 25 / Hwy 34 / US Hwy 81 line.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tundra Swan Unit (35 eastern counties)1,2 | Oct 4 – Jan 9 | 1 | 2 |
1Draw license (1,100 resident / 200 nonresident); one swan per license, max two licenses; valid only in the swan unit; shooting hours 1/2 hr before sunrise to sunset
22025-26 used — 2026-27 dates not finalized by GFP Commission as of 2026-07-02. Draw: 1,100 resident + 200 nonresident licenses; one swan each; max two licenses per hunter. Nonresident permit valid only with (and for the dates of) a valid NR waterfowl license. Migratory Bird Certificate and federal duck stamp (16+) required.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Sep 13 – Sep 14 | 6 | 12 |
1Statewide; possession = 2x daily per SD GFP
Season dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2026-2027 season. This data was verified on July 3, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.