2025 South Dakota Pheasant Season Dates & Details

If you’re like us, you’re already marking your calendar for the 2025 pheasant season! To help you out, here's a short summary of the 2025 pheasant hunting season dates in South Dakota:

• Youth Only Season:

  • Start: September 27, 2025

  • End: October 5, 2025

  • Resident and nonresident youth can hunt before the opening weekend when accompanied by an unarmed adult. The season is open on both private and public lands.

• Resident-Only Season:

  • Start: October 11, 2025

  • End: October 13, 2025

  • This three-day season is open to the state’s residents, who may only hunt on public lands.

• Traditional Season:

  • Start: October 18, 2025

  • End: January 31, 2026

  • Open to residents and nonresidents, the traditional pheasant season always opens the third Saturday of October.

Regardless of season, shooting hours are from 10 a.m. to sunset, and Central Time is used for opening shooting hours statewide. The daily limit is three rooster pheasants, with a possession limit of 15.

For even more information, go to the SD Game, Fish and Parks website.