YST Hunting Schedule 2024-2025
The following are provisions for hunting on tribal or allotted lands during the hunting seasons as set by the Yankton Sioux Tribe.
Yankton Sioux Tribal members must have enrollment cards and hunting license on their person to legally hunt on the Yankton Sioux Reservation. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No authorized hunters allowed for any tribal members. No Non-Indian authorized hunters. All Non-Indian hunters must have a Tribal Guide. Please look on the website to see an updated list of tribal guides. Tribal Members need enrollment cards and driver’s license and/or state ID to receive hunting licenses. Members of other tribes who reside on the YST Reservation and have proof of enrollment, may receive licenses.
Tribal Members and Non-Members who plan to hunt Migratory bird must have a Federal Migratory Stamp. These stamps are available at any post office and cost $25.00.
Tribal Youth Hunters
Youth Hunter ages 12 – 18 must successfully complete a hunter’s safety course and present card when purchasing or picking up tags.
Hunters ages 12-14 years will receive a FREE license with a hunter safety course card.
Guides: Any member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe must purchase a Guide License at $100 if guiding Non-Indians on tribal and allotted lands. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The Sportsman License will cover the following:
The sportsman’s license cost $5. Elderly and Youth sportsman’s license cost $2 (YST members only).
Fishing (Year Round)
Small Game: Gray Partridge, Grouse, Dove, Cottontail Rabbit, Quail, Pheasant & Tree Squirrel
Fur-Bearers: Fox, Raccoon, Badger, Coyote, Skunk, Opossum, Jackrabbit, Mink, Weasel, Muskrat and Beaver
Waterfowl: Ducks, Dark and White Geese
Big Game: Turkey and Deer
Elderly and Youth Tags are $5.00.
Tags for Tribal members that don’t fall within one of the categories listed above will cost $10 per category: Big Game Only.
1. Turkey (2) tags 2. Deer Archery: (1) Tag 3. Deer Muzzle-Loader: (1) Tag
4. Deer Rifle (2) 1 Buck Tag & 1 Any Deer
Affiliated Tribal Members
Resident Affiliated Tribal Members: $150 per license, only (1) deer tag available. Must be 4x4 or better.
Rifle Non-Resident Affiliated Tribal Members (out of state) – $300
Non-Resident Affiliated Tribal Members: $300 per license, only (1) deer tag available. Must be 4x4 or better.
Where Can Licenses Be Purchased?
Licenses can be purchased at the YST Tribal Hall. HARVEST REPORTS must be filled out either online or a hard copy can be provided at the tribal hall with the game warden.
Restrictions
No person shall hunt turkeys with electronic call, use of bait stations, or with dogs.
No person shall hunt deer with electronic calls, use of bait stations, with dogs, flagging of any type, no shotguns of any type, no handguns or rifles with a caliber less than .223 (rifle) or .38 (handgun), handguns may be used on a rifle tag only. Only muzzle loader calibers from .39 up to .54 caliber allowed.
SALE OR TRANSFER OF TAGS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED!!
LICENSING LOCATION:
Licenses can be purchased at the YST Tribal Headquarters in Wagner, SD.
Weapons for Turkey: Center-fire rifles or handguns chamber for ammunition which is factory related to produce 700 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. Most common center fire rifle calibers meet the minimum standards except .25-20. Check with your Conservation Officers about questionable calibers.
Muzzle loading firearms of at least .39 caliber.
Bow and Arrow: 40 lbs. and above.
Shotgun: 20 gauge and up gauge 3 1/2.
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND OTHER REGULATIONS.
No person may shine a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light on a highway or in a field, pasture, woodlands forest, or prairie to spot, locate, take or attempt to take or hunt an animal while having in possession or control of a firearm, bow, or other implement with which game could be killed.
A person on foot may use a hand held light to take raccoons after they have been treed by dogs.
Use of vehicles to hunt is prohibited.
Chase hunting game by any method is illegal.
Some Tribal land or allotted land is posted.
No unauthorized vehicles allowed.
HARVEST REPORT CARDS
Fill out with Game Warden or Online
DEER
Shooting hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
Mule Deer Doe Season CLOSED!!
Mule Deer Bucks must be 4x4 or better.
White Tail Bucks must be 4x4 or better.
UPLAND GAME BIRDS AND WATERFOWL
Remove and turn in one wing from each game bird you take on Tribal land. We would like wings from pheasants, quail, sharp tailed grouse, prairie chickens, turkey and all waterfowl (ducks and geese). From these wings we can determine age and sex of birds being taken. Help us out by noting the species and where you shot the birds.
FISHING: OPEN
GRAY PARTRIDGE: GRAY AND CHUKAR
Tribal Member: Oct. 12, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Affiliated Tribal Member: Oct. 12, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Daily Limit: 5 (any combination)
Possession Limit: 15 (combination)
Shooting Hours: Noon to sunset. After Oct. 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to sunset.
GROUSE: SHARPTAIL, PRAIRIE CHICKEN
Tribal Member: Oct. 12, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Affiliated Tribal Member: Oct. 12, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2024
Daily Limit: 2 (any combination)
Shooting Hours: Noon to sunset. After Oct. 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to sunset.
MORNING DOVE
The following Dove season is for Tribal Members and Non-Indians.
The morning dove is a migratory bird. Federal Migratory Bird Regulations apply. Doves may only be shot when flying.
Tribal Member: Aug. 24, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Affiliated Tribal Member: Aug. 24, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Non-Indian: Aug. 31, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Possession Limit: 30
Shooting Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
COTTONTAIL RABBIT
Tribal Member: Sept. 1, 2024 to Feb. 23, 2025
Affiliated Tribal Member: Sept. 1, 2024 to Feb. 23, 2025
Non-Indian: Sept. 1, 2024 to Feb. 23, 2025
Daily Limit: 10
Possession Limit: 30
Shooting Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
BOBWHITE QUAIL
Tribal Member: Oct. 12, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Affiliated Tribal Member: Oct. 12, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Possession Limit: 15
Shooting Hours: Noon to sunset. After Oct. 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to sunset.
PHEASANT
Tribal Member: Oct. 12, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025
Affiliated Tribal Member: Oct. 12, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025
Daily Limit: 3 cock pheasants
Possession Limit: 15 cock pheasants
Shooting Hours: Noon to sunset. After Oct. 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to sunset.
TREE SQUIRREL
Tribal Member: Sept. 1, 2024 to Feb. 23, 2025
Affiliated Tribal Member: Sept. 1, 2024 to Feb. 23, 2025
Non-Indian: Sept. 1, 2024 to Feb. 23, 2025
Daily Limit: 5
Possession Limit: 15
FURBEARERS
FOX, RACCOON, BADGER, COYOTE, SKUNK, OPOSSUM, JACKRABBIT
Season: Year round - YST Members only!
MINK, WEASEL, MUSKRAT
Season: Nov. 1, 2024 to Apr. 30, 2025
BEAVER
Season: Nov. 1, 2024 o Apr. 30, 2025
*Furbearers may be taken by:
Firearms, box-live traps and traps.
Raccoons can be hunted with dogs and a person may use a hand held light while on foot to take raccoon after they have been treed by dogs.
PROTECTED ANIMALS
Swift Fox, Elk, Wolf, Bobcat, Antelope, Mountain Lion, and Buffalo are not open to hunting or trapping.
SNARES
The use of snares are only authorized for rabbit and tree squirrels. No snares on any other furbearers are authorized.
BIG GAME
TURKEY
Yankton Sioux Tribal Members Only!
Fall Turkey Season
Oct. 26, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Spring Turkey Season
Apr. 1, 2025 to June 1, 2025
Limit: 2 Turkeys per season (Adult Tom)
Affiliated Tribal Member: CLOSED
Non-Indian: CLOSED
DEER
ARCHERY
Tribal Member: Aug. 31, 2024 to Nov. 9, 2024
Affiliated Tribal Member: Sept. 7, 2024 to Nov. 9, 2024
Limit: 1 Any Deer
Mule Buck Must be 4 points or Better
Mule Deer Doe: CLOSED
Non-Indian: CLOSED
RIFLE
Tribal Member: Nov. 9, 2024 to Dec. 7, 2024
Affiliated Tribal Member: Nov. 16, 2024 to Dec. 7, 2024
Limit: Two Tags (1) Buck (1) Any Deer
Mule Buck Must be 4 points or Better
Mule Deer Doe: CLOSED
White Tail Buck Must be 4 points or Better
Non-Indian: CLOSED
MUZZLE-LOADER
Tribal Member: Dec. 8, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Affiliated Tribal Member: Dec. 15, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Limit: 1 Any Deer
Mule Buck Must be 4 points or Better
Mule Deer Doe: CLOSED
Non-Indian: CLOSED
Designated Shooter: No Designated Shooters are allowed!! No exceptions!! If you have any questions, please contact the Game Warden.
Tribal Waterfowl Season
DUCKS: (Including Mergansers and Coots):
Tribal Season: Oct. 5, 2024 to Jan. 4, 2025
Non-Indian: Oct. 12, 2024 to Jan. 4, 2025
Daily Bag: 6 ducks (may include 5 mallards of which no more than 1 hooded Merganser). The daily bag for coots is 15.
Possession limit is twice the daily limit.
DARK GEESE
Tribal Season: Oct. 19, 2024 to Feb. 15, 2025
Non-Indian: Oct. 26, 2024 to Feb. 15, 2025
Daily Bag: 4 geese (no more than 2 whitefront or brant).
Possession limit is twice the daily limit.
WHITE GEESE
Tribal Season: Oct. 19, 2024 to Feb. 15, 2025
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2024 to Feb. 15, 2025
Daily Bag: 20 light geese. Possession is unlimited.
Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.
Hunting Seasons Open to Non-Indian Hunters.
Rabbit and Squirrel License: $25.00
Coyote- $100
Upland Game Licensing Fees:
1-Day License $50
2-Day License $100
Annual License $150
Combination Licensing Fees:
Waterfowl & Upland Game-$300
DUCKS: (Including Mergansers and Coots):
Non-Indian Season: Oct. 12, 2024 to Jan. 4, 2025
Daily Bag: 6 ducks, which may include 5 mallards if which no more than 1 hooded Merganser. The daily bag for coots is 15.
Possession limit is twice the daily limit.
DARK GEESE
Non-Indian Season: Oct. 26, 2024 to Feb. 15, 2025
Daily Bag: 4 geese (no more than 2 whitefront or brant).
Possession limit is twice the daily limit.
WHITE GEESE
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2024 to Feb. 15, 2025
Daily Bag: 20 light geese. Possession is unlimited.
Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.
UPLAND GAME BIRDS AND WATERFOWL
Remove and turn in one wing from each game bird you take on Tribal land. We would like wings from pheasants, quail, sharp tailed grouse, prairie chickens, turkey and all waterfowl (ducks and geese). From these wings we can determine age and sex of birds being taken. Help us out by noting the species and where you shot the birds.
GRAY PARTRIDGE: GRAY AND CHUKAR
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Daily Limit: 5 (any combination)
Possession Limit: 15 (combination)
Shooting Hours: Noon to sunset. After Oct. 21, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to sunset.
GROUSE: SHARPTAIL, PRAIRIE CHICKEN
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2024
Daily Limit: 2 (any combination)
Shooting Hours: Noon to sunset. After Oct. 21, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to sunset.
MORNING DOVE
The morning dove is a migratory bird. Federal Migratory Bird Regulations apply. Doves may only be shot when flying.
Non-Indian: Aug. 31, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Daily Limit: 10
Possession Limit: 30
Shooting Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
COTTONTAIL RABBIT
Non-Indian: Sept. 1, 2024 to Feb. 23, 2025
Daily Limit: 5
Possession Limit: 15
Shooting Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
BOBWHITE QUAIL
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024
Daily Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 15
Shooting Hours: Noon to sunset. After Oct. 21, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to sunset.
PHEASANT
Non-Indian: Oct. 19, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025
Daily Limit: 3 cock pheasants
Possession Limit: 15 cock pheasants
Shooting Hours: Noon to sunset. After Oct. 21, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to sunset.
TREE SQUIRREL
Non-Indian Season: Sept. 1, 2024 to Feb. 23, 2025
Daily Limit: 5
Possession Limit: 15
PLEASE CHECK SEASON DATES IN
JANUARY TO MAKE SURE
STEEL SHOT
All federal migratory regulations apply in agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All tribal land is open for extended season. Steel shot is required for waterfowl hunting.
Subject to change.