South Dakota Deer Population and Management Archive -  South Dakota

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South Dakota Deer Population and Management Archive

Annual Deer Kill, Estimated from Survey

1975    35,000

1976    29,500

1977    23,000

1978    19,500

1979    19,800

1980    32,000

1981    20,500

1982    35,000

1983    48,000

1984    56,000

1985    49,000

1986    49,000

1987    39,500

1988    44,000

1989    55,000

1990    53,000

1991    56,500

1992    62,000

1993    65,000

1994    65,718

1995    59,000

1996    52,000

1997    50,000

1998    46,000

1999    48,500

2000    51,000

2001    59,000

2002    61,500

2003    69,954

2004    74,000

2005    84,500

2006:   88,000

2007:   88,500

2008:   91,500

2009:   87,350

2010:   94,726

2011:   85,160

2012:   71,500

2013:   55,483

2014:   46,526

2015:   52,589

2016:   53,027

2017:   51,932

2018:   51,926

2019:   50,736

2020:   59,071

2021:   55,142

2022:  55,379

2023:  48,630


Deer Information from 2017 plan


Deer Reports


Most data for 1975 to 2005 estimated from graph, so approximate.


In 2015,  30,687 whitetail bucks, 15,997 whitetail does, 4,888 mule bucks and 1,017 mule does


In 2013:  25,199 whitetail bucks, 23,275 whitetail does, 4,251 mule bucks. 2,758 mule does.

In 2012:  62,900 were whitetails (30,800 bucks, 32,100 does) and 8,600 were mule deer (4,900 bucks, 3,700 does.) 


In 2011: 33,285 whitetail bucks, 40,772 whitetail does, 5,675 mule bucks and 5,428 mule does. Hunting stats

Hard winter of 2010-2011 reduced herd.


A Food Habits Study of Deer in the Southern Black Hills, 1970


2022 Elk Hunt

2021 Big Game Report

2011 - 2020 Elk Hunt


2016 Elk Season