Hunting in South Dakota: 5 Things to Know About Urban Deer Hunting in Cities and Suburbs

Deer are an ever-present danger when driving in the northern United States, as they are known to dart out into the road and in front of moving vehicles with no warning. With the danger to both those driving the cars and the deer themselves, states such as South Dakota have focused on hunting for deer in urban areas.

South Dakota has an extremely large deer population, and the expansion of infrastructure and population in the state has meant that deer have become a growing problem in urban communities.

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This has brought up the question of whether the deer population should be controlled and whether hunting of deer should be allowed within city limits or suburbs.

This is a delicate subject for many residents of South Dakota. One contributing factor is the issue of citizen safety. As of now, only Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre have permitted deer population management through hunting.

Here are five things to know about urban deer hunting in South Dakota:

1. Kill Site Locations
According to the deer management program in Rapid City, “kill sites” are preselected by the city’s parks and recreation department. “Each City shooter must have a clear and unobstructed view of the impact area and adjacent land ... Shots will be fired in such a manner that a safe impact area is assured by the shooter and the spotter ... The maximum distance between the impact area and the firing point must be no more than 100 yards.”

2. Authorized Hunters
The only authorized deer hunters inside Rapid City limits will be employed as “City shooters.” They will be tested for firearm proficiency prior to being authorized by the parks and recreation department. In Sioux Falls, the only authorized hunters that can use firearms will be police officers. In Pierre, the “Deer Management Task Force” takes care of deer management within the city.

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3. Scale of Deer Management
The number of deer killed each year in urban areas is determined by information such as the deer population, number of citizen complaints, and deer/vehicle collisions.

4. Allocation of Meat
All meat harvested from the deer in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre is donated to South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger (SAH), a charitable organization that targets the problem of hunger in South Dakota.

5. Program Limitations
The hunting of deer in urban areas is limited strictly to does. Hunters must keep a log of all kills made inside the city limits.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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