Hunt
Photo © Chad Coppess
Harvest Reports and Surveys
The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks has conducted harvest surveys since 1948 to estimate harvest data. There have been changes to the structure and style of these surveys, but for the past twenty years the form and content of the surveys has remained consistent.
Harvest surveys are an important part of wildlife management in South Dakota. The information obtained by completing these harvest surveys is the link between what happened during the hunting season this year and how next year’s hunting season will be determined.
Surveys are mailed at the end of each hunting season to a random sample of hunters usually using both emails and paper questionnaires. Approximately 10-14 days after mailing, a reminder or a new survey is mailed to all those who did not respond to the first mailing. The fact that someone was unsuccessful in their hunt is as important as their success. Unsuccessful hunters represent a cross-section of all hunters and we need to know that information. It is as important that hunters provide information on whether or not they even hunted.
If you have received a harvest survey card in the mail, please select the appropriate season below to complete the survey online. If you do not complete the survey online, you still have the option of returning your survey through the mail.
Antelope |
Reports |
Survey Links |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Report | Online Survey |
| Custer State Park | Report | |
| Firearms | Report | Online Survey |
| Mentored Youth | Report | Online Survey |
Deer |
Reports |
Survey Links |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide Summary | Report | |
| Archery | Report | Online Survey |
| Black Hills | Report | Online Survey |
| Custer State Park | Report | |
| East River | Report | Firearms | Landowner | Special Buck |
| Landowner Antlerless | Report | Online Survey |
| Mentored | Youth | Report | Online Survey |
| Muzzleloader | Report | Online Survey |
| National Wildlife Refuge | Report | Online Survey |
| West River | Report | Firearms | Landowner | Special Buck |
| Youth Antlerless | Report | Online Survey |
Elk |
Reports |
Survey Links |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide Summary | Report | Archery | Firearms |
Furbearer |
Reports |
Survey Links |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Report | Online Survey for 2017 |
| 2015 | Report | |
| 2014 | Report | |
| 2013 | Report |
Turkey |
Reports |
Survey Links |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Black Hills | Report | Online Survey |
| Fall | Mentored Youth | Report | Online Survey |
| Fall | Prairie Firearms | Report | Online Survey |
| Spring | Archery | Report | Spring Turkey Survey |
| Spring | Black Hills | Report | |
| Spring | Custer State Park | Report | |
| Spring | Mentored Youth | Report | Online Survey |
| Spring | Prairie Firearms | Report |
Upland Birds |
Reports |
Survey Links |
|---|---|---|
| Partridge | Report | |
| Pheasant | Report | |
| Prairie Chicken | Sharp-tailed Grouse | Report | |
| Sage Grouse | Report | |
| Mourning Dove | Report | |
| Nonresident Small Game | ||
| Resident Small Game |
Waterfowl | Migratory |
Reports |
Survey Links |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl Summary | Report | |
| Canada Goose | August Take | Report | Online Survey |
| Canada Goose | All Seasons | Report | |
| Canada Goose | Early Fall | Report | Online Survey |
| Canada Goose | Special Season | Report | Online Survey |
| Ducks | Report | |
| Snow Goose | Fall | Report | |
| Snow Goose | Spring | Report | Online Survey |
| Tundra Swan | Report | Online Survey |
| White-Fronted Goose | Report | |
| Nonresident Waterfowl | ||
| Migratory Bird |
Other |
Reports |
Survey Links |
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail | Squirrel | Report | Online Survey |
| Mountain Goat | Bighorn Sheep | Report | |
| Mountain Lion | Report | Online Survey |