South Dakota Hunting Laws and Regulations

Who is required to complete hunter education in South Dakota?

According to South Dakota law, all hunters who are younger than 16 years of age must complete hunter education certification in order to hunt in South Dakota.

Is completion of the South Dakota state agency-approved course required in order to buy a license?

Yes, in some cases. In order to buy a license, South Dakota requires that hunters who are younger than 16 years old must first complete a course approved by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and IHEA-USA.

Elsewhere

Hunting education is currently required in several U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

Reciprocity

All U.S. states, provinces, and other countries that have mandatory hunter education requirements will accept the South Dakota HuntSAFE Certificate. Likewise, South Dakota will accept Hunter Education certifications that are issued by other jurisdictions that meet official IHEA-USA requirements. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)

What Makes a Course Approved?

To be approved by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, a course must teach hunters to become:

• Safe (by following all hunting safety rules)
• Responsible (about hunting, wildlife, conservation, and hunting laws)
• Knowledgeable (by knowing and demonstrating acceptable behavior and attitudes while hunting)
• Involved (in joining and participating in hunting and conservation organizations)

Meets IHEA-USA Standards

This South Dakota Hunter Ed online hunting education course was developed in accordance with the standards set forth by IHEA-USA and meets the requirements of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks hunter safety mandate.

About the Standards

In 1999 the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) adopted a set of performance guidelines for basic hunter education courses. These standards have been used internationally by hunter education administrators to evaluate minimum core content in hunter education courses. Industry partners, including the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and Hunter Ed, have used the revised standards to develop new student manuals and alternative delivery methods for hunter education.

Our Commitment to Hunter Education

Hunter Ed is committed to making sure South Dakota hunter education students learn the skills and information needed to have a safe, successful, and fun hunt. We strive to ensure this South Dakota online hunter safety course helps you become a more knowledgeable and ethical hunter. Educated hunters play an important role in making South Dakota a leader in conservation and wildlife management.

We accomplish that goal by working with South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and IHEA-USA to produce a course that’s accurate, interesting, and easy to understand.

As a new hunter, you can be proud of your contributions to wildlife conservation and your role as a steward of our natural resources.