10/23/2026
Pheasant season is in full swing in South Dakota, and reports from the field are excellent. If you're looking for a spot to hunt, we have 1,306,240 acres of public hunting opportunity within the primary pheasant range!
Some of the best pheasant hunting areas are Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) lands. These are located within both the James River and Big Sioux River Watersheds, and offer both CRP and public access.
The Walk-In Area Program is also extremely popular, and provides hunting opportunities for a number of species. Many Walk-In Areas in central and eastern South Dakota offer ideal pheasant hunting habitat!
Game Production Areas are also a great option, these are lands that are owned and managed by GFP to provide hunting opportunities. Similar to Walk-In Areas, many of these lands provide excellent pheasant hunting!
Lastly, don't count out Waterfowl Production Areas. They provide more than just waterfowl hunting, and many seasoned pheasant hunters will tell you that great success can be found in these areas!
There's great numbers of pheasants across South Dakota, and fortunately there's plenty of areas to hunt them as well! Find your next spot on our Public Hunting Atlas, and have a great season!
