BirdHuntYouth Waterfowl Season
- Sep 12 – Sep 13, 2026
← All states
Waterfowl 2026-27
South Dakota
Central Flyway
Open now · White-fronted Goose, Light Goose, Ducks, Mergansers & CootsSeason
Open now
White-fronted Goose, Light Goose, Ducks, Mergansers & Coots
Daily duck bag
6
7 species limits apply
Next draw deadline
None
No open applications
Nonresident rules
Most fall nonresident waterfowl licenses are issued by lottery and are valid only in the unit on the license: unit 00B for two 5-day periods, 00A all season, and three-day units (00V, 00X, 00Z private land only; 00Y). No more than one nonresident waterfowl license before Nov. 1. Hunters choose the traditional or three-duck daily limit when buying the State Migratory Bird Certificate.
Season calendar
SepOctNovDecJan
Youth Waterfowl Season
White-fronted Goose
Light Goose
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots Low Plains - Middle Zone
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots Low Plains - North Zone
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots High Plains
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots Low Plains - South Zone
Today
Seasons & bag limits
White-fronted Goose
- Sep 26 – Dec 8, 2026
White-fronted geese3 daily9 poss.
Light Goose
- Sep 26, 2026 – Jan 8, 2027
Light geese50 dailyNo limit poss.
No possession limit.
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots
- Sep 26 – Dec 8, 2026
Ducks (traditional option, includes mergansers)6 daily18 poss.
- 5 mallards
- 2 hen mallards
- 3 wood ducks
- 1 scaup
- 2 redheads
- 2 canvasbacks
- 3 pintails
Bonus blue-winged teal (traditional option)2 daily6 poss.
First 9 days of the zone's season only, in addition to the duck limit.
Ducks (three-duck option)3 daily9 poss.
Alternative to the traditional limit: 3 ducks of any species or sex, including mergansers. Chosen when buying the State Migratory Bird Certificate and used all season; no bonus teal.
Coots15 daily45 poss.
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots
- Sep 26 – Dec 8, 2026
Ducks (traditional option, includes mergansers)6 daily18 poss.
- 5 mallards
- 2 hen mallards
- 3 wood ducks
- 1 scaup
- 2 redheads
- 2 canvasbacks
- 3 pintails
Bonus blue-winged teal (traditional option)2 daily6 poss.
First 9 days of the zone's season only, in addition to the duck limit.
Ducks (three-duck option)3 daily9 poss.
Alternative to the traditional limit: 3 ducks of any species or sex, including mergansers. Chosen when buying the State Migratory Bird Certificate and used all season; no bonus teal.
Coots15 daily45 poss.
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots
- Oct 10, 2026 – Jan 14, 2027
Ducks (traditional option, includes mergansers)6 daily18 poss.
- 5 mallards
- 2 hen mallards
- 3 wood ducks
- 1 scaup
- 2 redheads
- 2 canvasbacks
- 3 pintails
Bonus blue-winged teal (traditional option)2 daily6 poss.
First 9 days of the zone's season only, in addition to the duck limit.
Ducks (three-duck option)3 daily9 poss.
Alternative to the traditional limit: 3 ducks of any species or sex, including mergansers. Chosen when buying the State Migratory Bird Certificate and used all season; no bonus teal.
Coots15 daily45 poss.
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots
- Oct 24, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027
Ducks (traditional option, includes mergansers)6 daily18 poss.
- 5 mallards
- 2 hen mallards
- 3 wood ducks
- 1 scaup
- 2 redheads
- 2 canvasbacks
- 3 pintails
Bonus blue-winged teal (traditional option)2 daily6 poss.
First 9 days of the zone's season only, in addition to the duck limit.
Ducks (three-duck option)3 daily9 poss.
Alternative to the traditional limit: 3 ducks of any species or sex, including mergansers. Chosen when buying the State Migratory Bird Certificate and used all season; no bonus teal.
Coots15 daily45 poss.
What you need to buy
Draws & reservations
- Jun8
Nonresident Waterfowl License Lottery
Fall nonresident waterfowl licenses are limited and drawn by lottery, in two draws followed by first-come leftovers.
Preference points: most points draw first
How to apply
Apply online at Go Outdoors South Dakota. First draw: May 19 – June 8, 2026 (results June 10); one application. Second draw: June 23 – July 14 (results July 17) for anyone without a license. Leftover licenses are first-come, first-served from August 3. Units: 00A season-long and 00B two 5-day periods ($145); 00V, 00X, 00Y and 00Z are 3 consecutive days ($106). You also need a Migratory Bird Certificate (bought on or after July 1) and a Federal Duck Stamp.
Source · checked Sep 28, 2026 ·
Public land & walk-in access
Programs and the rules that apply to them. We don't publish specific spots.
Walk-in program
Walk-In Areas (and CREP/CHAP land)
Nonresident limitsNonresidents: Walk-In Areas are private land leased for public hunting, not public land. Nonresident waterfowl licenses are limited to certain units and some units are private land only, so check what your license allows before you hunt.
Foot traffic only; over 1.2 million acres. Non-toxic shot is required for waterfowl. Tracts are in the free public hunting atlas.
Maps and details · Source · checked Sep 30, 2026 ·
Public land
Game Production Areas
Nonresident limitsNonresidents: Nonresident waterfowl licenses in units 00V, 00X and 00Z are valid on private land only, so they don't cover GPAs; unit 00Y covers public and private land. From Sept. 5-30, nonresidents may not hunt early Canada geese in 13 eastern counties.
State-owned land managed for wildlife habitat and public hunting.
Maps and details · Source · checked Sep 30, 2026 ·
Field Notes for South Dakota
More Central Flyway states
Official sources
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