Hunting in South Dakota: Online Resources and Mobile Apps to Enhance the Field Experience

Known for its pheasant hunting, South Dakota is a desirable destination for sportsmen from throughout the country. Modern technology can help hunters make the most of their outdoor experience. Online resources and applications provide useful information for navigating the state's varied outdoor spaces and targeting an array of wild game.

Here are five online resources and mobile apps for hunters in South Dakota.

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1. WILMA (Wildlife Inventory and Management Application)
This online mapping resource provides users with information allowing them to accurately locate public lands. It is provided by the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department and identifies such areas as state refuges, private lands with hunting access, federal lands and more. It also shows county boundaries and which type of hunting access is allowed in each area.

2. Garmin Mapping GPS Tool
This program is for use on Garmin GPS units and displays lakes, streams, roads and public hunting areas. It also shows city and county lines and works with maps that users may already have loaded on their GPS unit. This tool is recommended for use in conjunction with the WILMA app.

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3. Online Public Hunting Atlas
This atlas is available as both an online version as well as a hard copy available through the mail. It provides detailed information such as how to identify particular species of wild game, the state's hunting signage, maps identifying hunting access areas throughout South Dakota and more.

4. SDGFP Hunting and Fishing Mobile App
This application is available for both iPhone and Android. Users can apply for hunting and fishing licenses, read South Dakota regulations, reserve camp sites and look at maps.

5. State Parks Pocket Ranger Application
This free app is the official South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks department guide. It is available for both iPhone and Android devices and includes a compass, GPS maps with trail data, an alert feature for use in emergencies, a calendar of events, sharing features and more.

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

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