Where to use nontoxic shot on SD public lands
If you're planning a trip to South Dakota to hunt pheasants, there's an important thing you need to know: nontoxic shot is required in certain areas. Don't worry, below you’ll find all the details you need.
Today’s hard-hitting nontoxic loads are deadly on pheasants. Plus, they’re required on certain public lands while pheasant hunting in South Dakota.
First things first — what exactly is nontoxic shot? In short, nontoxic shot basically means anything but lead in the hunting world. Growing up, steel shot was all we had to work with, but nontoxic loads have come a long way.
Today’s nontoxic loads still include many iterations of steel shot, but they have also evolved to include heavy-hitting payloads made from bismuth, tungsten-matrix and tungsten-alloy blends. These are the types of nontoxic shot you'll need to use if you want to hunt pheasants on some of South Dakota’s public lands, and it's important to note that lead shot is a big no-no in these areas.
So, on which public lands is nontoxic shot required? You'll need to switch to nontoxic shot if you're hunting pheasants on these public areas:
State Game Production Areas: These are areas managed by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Department. They're great spots for pheasant hunting, but remember nontoxic shot is required.
Waterfowl Production Areas: These federal areas are specifically managed to support waterfowl populations, so it's no surprise that nontoxic shot is a requirement.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land: If you're hunting on these lands, which are primarily found up and down the banks of the Missouri River, make sure you're using nontoxic shot.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Wildlife Production Areas managed by GFP: Another set of public lands where nontoxic shot is a must. Keep those steel, bismuth or tungsten-matrix loads handy.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges: These refuges are home to a variety of wildlife, including waterfowl. To protect the environment and the animals, nontoxic shot is required here.
Now, there are a few places where you can still use lead shot for pheasant hunting. These include national grasslands, state school lands, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) areas, and most Walk-In Areas.
However, it's always a good idea to err on the side of caution and use nontoxic shot whenever you're hunting public land. Better safe than sorry, and because some of today’s nontoxic loads hit as hard as lead, there’s no reason not to shoot nontoxic if you’re ever in doubt or hopping from one public spot to another.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on hunting regulations, head over to the GFP website at gfp.sd.gov. They've got all the details you need to ensure a safe and successful hunting trip in South Dakota.
Whether you're a resident hunter or a nonresident traveling to South Dakota for the thrill of pheasant hunting, remember to pack your nontoxic shot. Also, take a minute to pick up any spent hulls or any other trash you might see lying around. Let's keep our beautiful public lands clean and safe for everyone to enjoy. Happy hunting!