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# Fact brief: Can people hunt on South Dakota tribal lands?
- URL: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/fact-brief-south-dakota-tribal-lands-reservation-hunting/
- Published: 2026-01-29T11:00:46.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-29T11:00:45.000Z
- Description: Though rules differ, several South Dakota reservations allow hunting on tribal lands.
- Author: Michael Klinski
- Tags: Fact briefs, #feature-3

## Yes.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/2025/01/WhiteFACT-BRIEF--500-x-200-px--2-1-1.png)

Though rules differ, several South Dakota reservations allow hunting on tribal lands. 

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, located in north-central South Dakota and parts of North Dakota, allows hunting on its 1.6 million acres. The tribe uses a lottery system for tags for deer, antelope and elk and also offers guided hunts.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe, which includes Pine Ridge in southwestern South Dakota, requires non-members to have a guide who is certified with the reservation. The Yankton Sioux Tribe requires a guide for non-Indians.

The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks has memorandums of understanding with five of the reservations, allowing sharing of information, season recommendations, managing resources and providing law enforcement assistance when requested. 

The South Dakota Department of Tribal Relations says hunters should reach out to each individual tribe to learn about their rules and regulations and whether they require guides. 

*This fact brief responds to conversations such as* [*this one.*](https://www.reddit.com/r/SouthDakota/comments/1q7sqq7/hunting%5Fon%5Findian%5Freservations/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

### **Source**

SDGF&P, [Tribal relations](https://gfp.sd.gov/tribal-relations/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, [Game & Fish Department](https://gameandfish.standingrock.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org#:~:text=Standing%20Rock%20Sioux%20Tribe%20Game%20and%20Fish%20%2D%20Home)

Oglala Sioux Parks and Recreation Authority, [2024 Hunting Guidebook](https://oglalasiouxparksandrec.net/image/cache/2024%5FHunting%5FGuidebook.pdf?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Yankton Sioux Tribe, [Hunting regulations](https://www.yanktonsiouxgamefishandparks.com/hunting-dates-and-fees/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

South Dakota Department of Tribal Relations, [Hunting on tribal lands](https://sdtribalrelations.sd.gov/docs/Tribal%20Wildlife%20Contacts.pdf?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

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[Share your thoughts on this story](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdTmGFf24Uhwiwd%5FndSxHkv6oBGSAy1LxF9BbwRbhBK5KflA/viewform?usp=sf%5Flink&ref=sdnewswatch.org)

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