Season choice
Early season for patterned, velvet-antlered bucks; the rut for movement; late season for feed. Tell us what you want and we will pick the week.
South Dakota Archery Deer Hunts
Five days with a bow for mule deer or whitetail, from early-season velvet through the late December cold — and archery tags are unlimited, so there is no lottery to wait on.
$3,000 + tax · 5 days
Sep 1, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
Unlimited archery tags
The hunt
Five days, a bow, and no lottery to draw
An unlimited number of archery tags are sold in South Dakota, which makes a bow hunt the surest way to get into this country. Archery season opens at the end of September and runs through the end of December, and our archery hunts are booked from September 1, 2026 through January 1, 2027 — early-season patterns, the November rut, or late-season feed, depending on the week you pick.
You are hunting the same 150,000 privately owned acres along the Cheyenne River drainage that our rifle hunters use: cedar-covered hills, steep draws and river bottoms, with water and feed that hold deer all season. Your guide is a rancher or ranch hand who knows where the big deer live, and hunting transportation is in four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Bow hunters get five days instead of four, which matters when you are trying to close the last hundred yards. Spot-and-stalk in the breaks is the classic approach for muleys here; whitetail hunters tend to sit the bottoms and travel corridors.
What an archery hunt looks like
Spot and stalk
The breaks are made for it — glass a bedded buck from a rim, then use the wind and the cedars to close. Whitetail hunters can sit bottoms and crossings instead.
Tags are easy
Archery licenses are sold in unlimited numbers, so there is no lottery and no waiting for draw results before you book.
Five full days
Bow hunts run five days rather than four, and additional days can be arranged. Lodging, meals and 4WD transportation are included throughout.
Archery deer — 5-day hunt
Per hunter, plus tax
$3,000
- Mule deer or whitetail
- Archery tags are unlimited — no lottery
- Lodging, all meals and guiding included
- Four-wheel-drive hunting transportation
- One party at a time on 150,000 private acres
- $1,500 non-refundable deposit; balance due before your hunt
Dates & licensing
| Booking window | Sep 1, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 |
|---|---|
| State archery season | Late September through end of December |
| Hunt length | 5 days |
| License | Unlimited archery tags — no draw |
| Deposit | $1,500 non-refundable |
Archery tags are available over the counter, so a bow hunt can be booked without waiting on the lottery. Confirm current season dates and tag rules at gfp.sd.gov.
Answers
Archery hunting FAQ
How much is a guided archery deer hunt?
Archery deer hunts are $3,000 plus tax for five days. A $1,500 non-refundable deposit is required, with the balance due before your hunt.
Do I need to draw a tag for archery?
No. An unlimited number of archery tags are sold in South Dakota, so there is no lottery for a bow hunt.
When can I book an archery hunt?
We book archery hunts from September 1, 2026 through January 1, 2027. The state archery season opens at the end of September and runs through the end of December.
Mule deer or whitetail?
Either — both live on this ground. Mule deer are the classic spot-and-stalk quarry in the breaks; whitetails hold in the river bottoms and cedar draws.
Are blinds or stands available?
Talk to us when you book. Much of the hunting here is spot-and-stalk or sitting natural funnels, and your guide will set up the approach that fits the week and the wind.
Is the archery hunt included with a rifle hunt?
They are separate hunts with separate prices. Many of our hunters do one in the fall and come back for the other.
No lottery. Five days. One party on the ground.
Pick your week for the 2026 archery season and we will hold it.