Read from Game, Fish and Parks on September 27, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Game, Fish and Parks before you hunt.
Open the official South Dakota regulationsHunting 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 August 15 through February 14, 2027, with 18 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.
Season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for verifying current regulations with your state or provincial wildlife agency before every hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains - North1,2Northeast South Dakota duck zone | Sep 26 – Dec 8 | 6 Traditional option: 6 ducks (including mergansers); 5 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 1 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintail; OR Three-Duck option: 3 ducks of any species or sex. Bonus 2 blue-winged teal first 9 days. | 18 |
| Low Plains - Middle1,2Central South Dakota duck zone | Sep 26 – Dec 8 | 6 Traditional option: 6 ducks (including mergansers); 5 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 1 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintail; OR Three-Duck option: 3 ducks of any species or sex. Bonus 2 blue-winged teal first 9 days. | 18 |
| Low Plains - South1,2Southeast South Dakota duck zone | Oct 24 – Jan 5 | 6 Traditional option: 6 ducks (including mergansers); 5 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 1 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintail; OR Three-Duck option: 3 ducks of any species or sex. Bonus 2 blue-winged teal first 9 days. | 18 |
| High Plains1,2Western South Dakota duck zone | Oct 10 – Jan 14 | 6 Traditional option: 6 ducks (including mergansers); 5 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 1 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintail; OR Three-Duck option: 3 ducks of any species or sex. Bonus 2 blue-winged teal first 9 days. | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hens · The daily limit of six ducks may include no more than two redheads, one scaup, three wood ducks, three pintail, two canvasback, and five mallards, of which no more than two may be hen mallards. During the first nine days of the season, two blue-winged teal may be harvested in addition to the daily b | 5 | 15 |
| Redhead The daily limit of six ducks may include no more than two redheads, one scaup, three wood ducks, three pintail, two canvasback, and five mallards, of which no more than two may be hen mallards. During the first nine days of the season, two blue-winged teal may be harvested in addition to the daily b | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck The daily limit of six ducks may include no more than two redheads, one scaup, three wood ducks, three pintail, two canvasback, and five mallards, of which no more than two may be hen mallards. During the first nine days of the season, two blue-winged teal may be harvested in addition to the daily b | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) The daily limit of six ducks may include no more than two redheads, one scaup, three wood ducks, three pintail, two canvasback, and five mallards, of which no more than two may be hen mallards. During the first nine days of the season, two blue-winged teal may be harvested in addition to the daily b | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback The daily limit of six ducks may include no more than two redheads, one scaup, three wood ducks, three pintail, two canvasback, and five mallards, of which no more than two may be hen mallards. During the first nine days of the season, two blue-winged teal may be harvested in addition to the daily b | 2 | 6 |
| Blue-winged Teal Low Plains - North · Sep 26–Dec 8 · BONUS - in addition to the 6-duck bag; 'first nine days of the season' computed from ARSD 41:06:16:02/02.01 opening rules (HP 2nd Sat Oct = Oct 10; LP-N/M Sat closest to Sept 24 = Sept 26; LP-S 4th Sat Oct = Oct 24). | 2 | 6 |
| Blue-winged Teal Low Plains - Middle · Sep 26–Dec 8 · BONUS - in addition to the 6-duck bag; 'first nine days of the season' computed from ARSD 41:06:16:02/02.01 opening rules (HP 2nd Sat Oct = Oct 10; LP-N/M Sat closest to Sept 24 = Sept 26; LP-S 4th Sat Oct = Oct 24). | 2 | 6 |
| Blue-winged Teal Low Plains - South · BONUS - in addition to the 6-duck bag; 'first nine days of the season' computed from ARSD 41:06:16:02/02.01 opening rules (HP 2nd Sat Oct = Oct 10; LP-N/M Sat closest to Sept 24 = Sept 26; LP-S 4th Sat Oct = Oct 24). | 2 | 6 |
| Blue-winged Teal High Plains · BONUS - in addition to the 6-duck bag; 'first nine days of the season' computed from ARSD 41:06:16:02/02.01 opening rules (HP 2nd Sat Oct = Oct 10; LP-N/M Sat closest to Sept 24 = Sept 26; LP-S 4th Sat Oct = Oct 24). | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup combined with Lesser Scaup | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup combined with Greater Scaup | 1 | 3 |
1Traditional option: 6 ducks (including mergansers); 5 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 1 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintail; OR Three-Duck option: 3 ducks of any species or sex. Bonus 2 blue-winged teal first 9 days.
2Hunters must choose Traditional or Three-Duck option at time of State Migratory Bird Certificate purchase.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Goose Unit 21,2Western SD goose zone | Nov 2 – Feb 14 | 4 Includes brant and cackling geese. Nonresidents may not hunt geese during August Management Take in Unit 2. | 12 |
| Canada Goose Unit 13,4Central and eastern SD goose zone | Sep 1 – Dec 16 | 8 Includes brant and cackling geese. | 24 |
| August Management Take Area5,6 | Aug 15 – Aug 31 | 8 Resident only. Open area: Meade County south of SD Hwy 34, Pennington County west of Cheyenne River, Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel, Hamlin, Grant, Marshall, and Roberts counties. Possession: unlimited. | – |
1Includes brant and cackling geese. Nonresidents may not hunt geese during August Management Take in Unit 2.
2Those areas not included in Unit 1.
3Includes brant and cackling geese.
4August Management Take (resident only): Aug. 15-31, daily limit 8, possession unlimited. Regular season Unit 1: Sept. 1 - Dec. 16.
5Resident only. Open area: Meade County south of SD Hwy 34, Pennington County west of Cheyenne River, Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel, Hamlin, Grant, Marshall, and Roberts counties. Possession: unlimited.
6Possession limit: Unlimited. Brown, Edmunds, Faulk, McPherson, and Spink counties removed from open unit (new for 2026). No Federal Waterfowl Stamp required.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Sep 26 – Dec 8 | 3 | 9 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Sep 26 – Jan 8 | 50 | – |
1Possession limit: Unlimited.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains - North1Northeast South Dakota duck zone | Sep 26 – Dec 8 | 15 | 45 |
| Low Plains - Middle2Central South Dakota duck zone | Sep 26 – Dec 8 | 15 | 45 |
| Low Plains - South3Southeast South Dakota duck zone | Oct 24 – Jan 5 | 15 | 45 |
| High Plains4Western South Dakota duck zone | Oct 10 – Jan 14 | 15 | 45 |
1Coot limit of 15 listed alongside Traditional duck limit on page 32. Dates concurrent with Low Plains North duck season.
2Coot limit of 15 listed alongside Traditional duck limit on page 32. Dates concurrent with Low Plains Middle duck season.
3Coot limit of 15 listed alongside Traditional duck limit on page 32. Dates concurrent with Low Plains South duck season.
4Coot limit of 15 listed alongside Traditional duck limit on page 32. Dates concurrent with High Plains duck season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Hunting Unit (West)1,2West of the line: SD-ND border at State Hwy 25, south to Hwy 34, east to US Hwy 81, south to the SD-NE border | Sep 26 – Nov 22 | 3 Non-toxic shot required. Open area is west of a line beginning at SD-ND border and SD Hwy 25 south to SD Hwy 34, east to US Hwy 81, then south to SD-NE border. | 9 |
1Non-toxic shot required. Open area is west of a line beginning at SD-ND border and SD Hwy 25 south to SD Hwy 34, east to US Hwy 81, then south to SD-NE border.
2No Federal Waterfowl Stamp required; State Migratory Bird Certificate still required.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tundra Swan Unit (35 eastern counties)1,2Unit TSW-00A-81 — 35 counties in eastern South Dakota | Oct 3 – Jan 8 | 1 License by lottery only. Non-toxic shot required. Open unit: Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, Campbell, Clark, Codington, Davison, Day, Deuel, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, Hanson, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, McCook, McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, Sully, and Walworth counties. | 1 |
1License by lottery only. Non-toxic shot required. Open unit: Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, Campbell, Clark, Codington, Davison, Day, Deuel, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, Hanson, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, McCook, McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, Sully, and Walworth counties.
2One per license (possession limit = 1). Federal laws apply.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 12 – Sep 13 | 6 Traditional option: same as regular duck season (no bonus blue-winged teal). Three-Duck option: 3 ducks of any species or sex. Canada Goose: 8 in Unit 1, 4 in Unit 2. | 12 |
1Traditional option: same as regular duck season (no bonus blue-winged teal). Three-Duck option: 3 ducks of any species or sex. Canada Goose: 8 in Unit 1, 4 in Unit 2.
2Possession limit is twice the daily limit. No bonus blue-winged teal allowed.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Sep 1 – Nov 9 Mourning Dove | 15 Cannot shoot unless bird is flying. No shotgun capable of holding more than 3 shells. Cannot hunt in state parks/recreation areas except specified. Cannot hunt within road rights-of-way. | 45 |
| Sep 1 – Oct 31 Snipe | 5 Non-toxic shot required. | 15 |
1Cannot shoot unless bird is flying. No shotgun capable of holding more than 3 shells. Cannot hunt in state parks/recreation areas except specified. Cannot hunt within road rights-of-way.
2Federal laws apply; Federal Waterfowl Stamp not required but State Migratory Bird Certificate is mandatory.
3Non-toxic shot required.
Spring 2027 turkey season
Not announced yet. Most states set spring dates over the winter.
Checked October 16, 2026.
Official regulations
South Dakota Game, Fish and ParksZones, tags, bag limits and public-land rules.
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See the turkey hunting appOfficial regulations
South Dakota Game, Fish and ParksThe state sets the deer seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the deer hunting appOfficial regulations
South Dakota Game, Fish and ParksThe state sets the upland bird seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
Log your upland bird hunts free in BlindBook.
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See the upland bird hunting appSeason 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 September 27, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.