The ins and outs of South Dakota nonresident waterfowl hunting

The day started at an agonizingly slow pace.

The morning’s cobalt blue sky with faint brushstrokes of white was beautiful, but the absence of wind – and this being the South Dakota prairie, where sustained gales are as common as breathing – was perplexing, to say nothing of disappointing.

The two dozen decoys in the shallow marsh didn’t move a fake muscle. Meanwhile, the ducks we scouted the day before – a healthy, diverse mixture of puddle ducks, especially blue-winged teal and gadwalls – were MIA.

“Patience,” said the landowner, a rancher and bird hunter whose family had been running cattle on the same land for decades.

This was the late 1990s. We were hunting opening weekend in northeast South Dakota west of Aberdeen, an area that’s considered semi-arid. But not this year. The entire region was awash, saturated, overflowing. The water – from massive spring snowmelt coupled with copious spring and summer rains – had created a bonanza of waterfowl habitat. Duck numbers exploded. Ditches were full of water and littered with teal, gadwalls, mallards and pintails, among other species. It was a sight to see.

Near midmorning, the wind awoke, the decoys started to bob and quiver, and the ducks began to move. Lots of ducks. Lots of blue-winged teal in particular. Clouds upon clouds of the tasty early migrator. Our patience was rewarded. We shot limits of blue-wings in short order, and the entire year – my first in the state after taking my first newspaper job – was a waterfowler’s dream. The hunting was that good.

I’ve hunted ducks in South Dakota (as a resident and nonresident) over many years. I’m often asked by readers in late summer about taking a duck-hunting trip there in the fall. My first question: Did you secure a nonresident license in the late-spring/early summer lottery-style drawing?

Indeed, if you’re reading this now and didn’t know South Dakota had such requirements for nonresident waterfowlers, you’re most likely out of luck for this year. But should you apply for 2027? Yes, you should. Here are several reasons why.

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Hunting the ‘duck factory’

South Dakota is part of the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region and a critical duck-production state in the prairie breeding grounds “duck factory.”

Consider: The Prairie Pothole Region is the epicenter of what was once the largest expanse of grasslands in the world. When the glaciers from the last ice age receded, they left in their wake thousands of tiny depressions, known as potholes. These ancient plant- and aquatic-rich wetlands support continentally and even globally significant populations of breeding waterfowl and other migratory birds.

When the prairies in the U.S. and Canada are wet, especially in spring and early summer, duck numbers typically flourish, with hunters reaping the rewards during the fall hunting season.

“I’ve talked to many, many hunters over the years from across the country who are thinking about taking a trip to the U.S. or Canadian prairies – certainly in South Dakota – and I always encourage them to do so, because every serious waterfowler should hunt the breeding grounds and learn where a significant percentage of our ducks are produced each year,” said John Devney of Delta Waterfowl in Bismarck, N.D. “For a lot of hunters, they consider it a bucket-list trip. You can never guarantee quality hunting. But the trip is worth it just to see the breeding grounds.”

Indeed, during the wet years, a full 70% or more of the continent’s duck production originates on the prairies. Early season waterfowlers are rewarded because they get to hunt gullible young-of-the-year birds.

Lots of public access

South Dakota is the land of plenty. That is, plenty of public land on which to hunt. With plenty of ducky water, too. Shallow lakes. Large permanent wetlands. Some smaller semi-permanents. Rivers and creeks.

According to South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, the state has more than 5 million acres “of hunting opportunity on public land, as well as on private land leased for public hunting.”

Your best bet is using the South Dakota Public Hunting Atlas, the bible of public hunting opportunities. It has everything. The atlas contains maps and information on the state’s walk-in areas, game production areas (GPAs) and federal waterfowl production areas (WPAs), among other public lands open to hunting.

The atlas is printed annually and available in early August.

Less hunting pressure

When I moved to South Dakota from my native Minnesota, I was astounded by the lack of hunting pressure across the state, especially for over-water duck hunting.

In South Dakota, pheasant hunting is king. Many state bird hunters do hunt ducks and geese, but the tradition doesn’t run nearly as deep as it does in other states. Many state hunters grew up pass-shooting ducks and geese, often bypassing hunting over decoys. Limiting state nonresident waterfowlers also helps keep hunting pressure in check.

“I’ve hunted South Dakota for ducks, early season Canada geese and spring snows, and every time I was out there, I couldn’t believe the lack of hunting pressure,” said Minnesotan Scott Doheny, 58.

A lifelong waterfowl hunter, he grew up hunting ducks, the vast majority of time across the prairies of his home state.

“We’ve lost a lot of hunters in Minnesota, but it’s still hard to find a quality place to hunt on public and private land.

South Dakota is completely different. There’s just so much opportunity. That’s important if you’re going to take a multiday hunting trip to another state.”

Keep in mind, getting access on private land (80% of South Dakota is privately owned) can be tricky, although it’s far from impossible. Still, more agricultural fields are now leased for dry-land duck and goose hunting.

If you go during the pheasant season (the traditional opener is the third Saturday in October), be sure you tell landowners up front that you want to hunt ducks, not their pheasants. I’ve done that multiple times over the years and gotten permission on the spot.

Diversity of birds, ways to hunt them

The state offers a wealth of styles of waterfowl hunting.

Small prairie potholes that only require a dozen or so decoys. Larger permanent marshes, shallow lakes and even bigger glacial lakes where waterfowl hunters can set combination spreads for divers (canvasbacks, redheads, etc.) and mallards and other puddle ducks.

In addition, cut ag fields offer excellent duck and goose hunting for mallards (primarily) and geese (Canada, snows and blues, whitefronted). During the late season, the Missouri River offers excellent mallard and over-water Canada goose hunting.

“There are many different types of hunting you can do in South Dakota and a diversity of species to chase,” said Rocco Murano, senior waterfowl biologist with South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks.

Applying for a license

For nonresident hunters seeking to draw a waterfowl license, South Dakota offers six nonresident “waterfowl hunting zones.” The main hunting zone – NRW-00B-86 – covers the state (with a few exceptions) and that license is valid for 10 days, or hunters may opt for two five-day periods. Most of the other hunting zones are set up for three-day licenses, with various requirements or limitations depending on the zone.

Most nonresident hunters apply for the “statewide” zone because it offers more days afield and greater flexibility on where to hunt. Some nonresidents hunt five days early and five days late.

This year the application period was May 26 through June 8. The lottery happens shortly thereafter. Some years the licenses sell out on the first draw. If they don’t, a second draw occurs. Every year I applied for a nonresident license I was lucky enough to get one. The odds are good that you will, too.

To learn more about applying for a South Dakota nonresident waterfowl license, including cost and various requirements, visit here.

If you go

South Dakota is replete with lodging opportunities that accommodate waterfowl hunters and their dogs. Most offer bird cleaning areas and freezer space. If you’re committed to a location, start checking into motel occupancy as soon as you can. That’s especially true when the pheasant season is open.

Do as much homework as you can before you go. Study the state’s hunting atlas and learn where there are significant concentrations of public land. Be prepared to do a lot of scouting if you want to consistently kills bird day after day.

If you’re hunting ducks during the pheasant season, you can certainly buy a nonresident upland license. But if you’re hunting and scouting hard, you likely won’t have the time or the energy. I never did.