Hey guys so me and a couple friends are thinking about making a trip to SD next year from MN. Iv been looking on there Website to get some information but few things I haven't been able to find. Someone told me you can get multiple deer tags? I'm wondering if that's true and I'm looking for some advice on out of home state hunting. Iv never done it before. Other then being very proficient with my bow what else should I do to prepare? Any advice is greatly appreciated
Call to DNR. Ask them lots of questions. Call DNR again. With questions written down this time. Maps esp. Google Earth.
The number of tags can change from year to year. You won't know for sure until they come out with the new regs in a couple months. One thing about South Dakota, some areas the tags are OTC, and some you have to apply for a tag, but there is no limit on the number of tags. Weird but true. Here is a great source of information for the DIY hunter travelling to different states. Feel free to PM me for more info I have been doing trips like this for years. Glad to help. http://www.bowhuntingroad.com/buy-books/#deer
South Dakota has a great website and app to use on your phone. In addition to calling they are are great resources. I called a couple times before this years hunt with questions and I found them to be friendly and helpful. Also your more likely to get correct information as apposed to what your likely to find here in some case.
Knowing where you want to hunt is key as different parts of the state have different rules. In summary, you can only get one archery buck tag per area to hunt... The state is essentially split in half by the Missouri river... Anything east of the river is referred to as "east river" and anything west is "west river". Far as buck/any deer archery tags go. Traditionally (just say that because seasons are set every year), you can get a statewide archery buck tag OR you can buy either one of each the East and West... So in essence, if you bought separate East and West river tags, you could hunt bucks with both - but you would have to be on your respective side of the state to do it... You cannot buy a statewide any/buck tag and then go with either the East or West ANY tag too.... If you buy the statewide ANY tag - that's the only one you can get. If it were me (hunting as a NR), I'd just buy the 1 statewide tag - that way you can hunt where ever you want... Doe tags are up in the air and are dependent on where you are going. Some areas of the state you can buy multiple doe tags, some areas only allow you to shoot 1 doe and some areas of the state haven't allowed any doe hunting the last couple of years (because of EHD, Blue Tongue and other issues)... Again, I second calling DNR with any questions. But before you do that, I would at least have a couple of ballpark areas you are looking at so they can better explain the regs for that given area...
