PointsAfieldSeason2026–27
South Dakota · Upland

Greater sage-grouse

Season closed
Season 2026-27
0 windows on one classification

Season windows

Awaiting survey — No dated season on record

This state's classification carries no date range for the species.

What you may take, and when

Take and hours

Licence and outlook

Bag limitAwaiting survey
HIP requiredNot required
Exceptions posted at the boundary

Handbook states 'GREATER SAGE GROUSE / SEASON CLOSED' outright.SD GFP's species page explains a resident-only season would only be considered when a minimum of 300 males are counted on all leks in Butte and Harding counties for two consecutive years; the most recent season was 2016 (40 resident permits, one-bird limit via lottery). Most recent survey found (2024 count, per source): only 94 males across 17 leks, well below the 300-male trigger. No 2025/2026 updated count was found in this pass.

Population outlook

South Dakota 2026

Awaiting survey — South Dakota 2026

SD's sage-grouse season has been closed since 2016, reopening gated on 300+ males counted on Butte/Harding County leks for two consecutive years; the most recent count found is 2024 (94 males across 17 leks, well below the trigger). Spring lek counts fold into the same not-yet-published late-August Upland Outlook PDF as prairie-chicken and sharp-tailed grouse (404 confirmed 2026-08-19); no discrete 2025 or 2026 sage-grouse count found independently.

Issuing agencySouth Dakota Game, Fish and Parksgfp.sd.govRecord year 2026