first out of state turkey hunting questions for south dakota

[turkeyhunter91]

i have never hunted out of ky. i know with covid and everything it is just a guess if things will be open or not
but if everything goes well this spring my wife and i was thinking of going to South Dakota prob around the 2nd week of may, we would be bringing a camper to stay in. i have been looking over there page some and if i am reading everything right it looks like i have to apply for a licence. i went ahead and made an account. i would like to hunt the black hills area. im trying to find a map of public ground for the area. also 1 place it looked like there was an unlimited number of  nonresident tags for 1 bird in the black hills area but you still have to apply for a tag? also is a turkey permit and wildlife stamp is all i would need to purchase to hunt?any help would be appreciated i was wanting to try and get some things ready in case it all does work out. thanks

[Chad]

You dont have to apply for the Black Hills tag. They can be bought online from G&F website or you can stop in a G&F office and purchase there.

[turkeyhunter91]

ok thank you.
as of right no i think we are looking at staying around Custer. if anyone has some advise or tips i appreciate all the help i can get.

[Ridge]

You do indeed need to apply. They cannot be bought at just any office, but can be applied for online. There is however no quota, and you are guaranteed the tag if you apply. The 2021 Black Hills information is not available yet, but here is word for word information from the 2020 Black Hills application instructions.

"Licenses are available by application only through the GFP License Office in Fort Pierre. There is no application deadline. Applications may be submitted online or via mail through the end of the season, but please allow a minimum of 7-10 days for delivery of your license."

[turkeyhunter91]

ok thank you, that is what i was thinking when i read it but wasn't sure.

[ddturkeyhunter]

P.M. sent

[BBR12]

Yes you have to apply(guaranteed) or you can stop at the Soiux falls office and buy one( I wouldn't plan to go that route with covid) Make sure you don't wait till the last minute so the tag can get to you in the mail. You can get a replacement but its a little of a pain and $15 dollars. I have been 3 times all for whatever reason was last minute decisions to go and me or someone else didn't get their tags and had to jump through the hoops to get a replacement.
You need to be in decent shape or you'll be miserable if you cover much ground and those birds will cover some. I've hunted about 30 states and if I had to choose only one place to go the rest of my hunting career it would definitely be in the running for the top spot.

[ddturkeyhunter]

Yes you have to apply(guaranteed) or you can stop at the Soiux falls office and buy one( I wouldn't plan to go that route with covid) Make sure you don't wait till the last minute so the tag can get to you in the mail. You can get a replacement but its a little of a pain and $15 dollars. I have been 3 times all for whatever reason was last minute decisions to go and me or someone else didn't get their tags and had to jump through the hoops to get a replacement.
You need to be in decent shape or you'll be miserable if you cover much ground and those birds will cover some. I've hunted about 30 states and if I had to choose only one place to go the rest of my hunting career it would definitely be in the running for the top spot.

Did you say you can buy your SD turkey hunting license in person at a Sioux Falls office? The reason I am asking many years ago when they changed the over counter sale at sporting goods stores, they said only over counter place was at main office in Pierre South Dakota. That was so far out of our way we always made sure we ordered our license in plenty of time to get in the mail. But with mail service latly past year order it now to make sure.
Don't know whats all involved in selling license but always figured SD was hurting them self when they stoped selling turkey license at any retail place. Thats what happen to my brother he dropped from hunting group when he needed to buy his license so far ahead of time.

[cutt down]

Yes you have to apply(guaranteed) or you can stop at the Soiux falls office and buy one( I wouldn't plan to go that route with covid) Make sure you don't wait till the last minute so the tag can get to you in the mail. You can get a replacement but its a little of a pain and $15 dollars. I have been 3 times all for whatever reason was last minute decisions to go and me or someone else didn't get their tags and had to jump through the hoops to get a replacement.
You need to be in decent shape or you'll be miserable if you cover much ground and those birds will cover some. I've hunted about 30 states and if I had to choose only one place to go the rest of my hunting career it would definitely be in the running for the top spot.

BBR12 is right about being in shape. The altitude isn't that bad 5000-6500ft if I remember right but the ground you have to cover will get you. My wife has MS & is a poster child for the disease, actually a spokesperson for a little while & she did fine! We walked a fast pace at least 3 miles a night sometimes up to 5 miles to get her in shape. It is the most beautiful country you'll hunt! If you were around the Deadwood/Spearfish area I could help you out. Good luck! Pack a lunch & find a point overlooking a big draw & enjoy the view.

[Jim Spencer]

If you're pulling your camper, I recommend Custer's Gulch campground just east of town. It's a nice campground and butts up against public land on two sides. One year I filled my Black Hills tag without ever starting the truck - just walked out of the campground.

[BBR12]

Yes you have to apply(guaranteed) or you can stop at the Soiux falls office and buy one( I wouldn't plan to go that route with covid) Make sure you don't wait till the last minute so the tag can get to you in the mail. You can get a replacement but its a little of a pain and $15 dollars. I have been 3 times all for whatever reason was last minute decisions to go and me or someone else didn't get their tags and had to jump through the hoops to get a replacement.
You need to be in decent shape or you'll be miserable if you cover much ground and those birds will cover some. I've hunted about 30 states and if I had to choose only one place to go the rest of my hunting career it would definitely be in the running for the top spot.

Did you say you can buy your SD turkey hunting license in person at a Sioux Falls office? The reason I am asking many years ago when they changed the over counter sale at sporting goods stores, they said only over counter place was at main office in Pierre South Dakota. That was so far out of our way we always made sure we ordered our license in plenty of time to get in the mail. But with mail service latly past year order it now to make sure.
Don't know whats all involved in selling license but always figured SD was hurting them self when they stoped selling turkey license at any retail place. Thats what happen to my brother he dropped from hunting group when he needed to buy his license so far ahead of time.

I believe they said I could have bought it there. I had to stop there and get a replacement tag as mine had not come in the mail. This was a few year's ago. The best bet is definitely to buy it in plenty time for it to arrive before your trip.

[turkeyfool]

I've been hunting it every year for the last few. The Black Hills is so large that you'll see turkey hunters, but there's so much ground to randomly dive into that you should never really have to hunt in a crowded area. Don't necessarily think the further back you go, the more turkeys there will be. You're probably better off covering a lot of ground close to the road in my opinion. Hunt in May. Don't hunt in April unless it's the last few days of April. This year I think I'm going to be there probably around May 10th-ish. Plus or minus a week. I like to hunt around Custer or Hilly City, but I think you can honestly go just about anywhere. I know there's a lot of birds in canyon type terrain down around Hot Springs.

Oh, and they'll gobble as they're running away from you with hens. If you think I'm kidding, you're going to laugh when it happens and you think back to this post

[eggshell]

I would buy my license ahead. My  daughter works for the state of South Dakota in Pierre and their office has restricted entry and at times has been closed to the public. Right now they are open, but who knows come spring. At least call ahead. I have never hunted South Dakota but have spent a lot of time in the Black Hills with my daughter. We see turkeys every  trip down there. I see a lot around Hill City, Custer and deadwood. I have seen a few around Spearfish as well. I know landowners in Hill City and they have a  good flock. It's funny, I have seen them strutting right outside the motel in Hill City and walking the streets.

[deerhunt1988]

Last spring you couldn't pick up the tag at the offices due to COVID.