South Dakota Approves Unlimited Elk Hunting Licenses East of the Missouri River as Herds Expand
Why It Matters
South Dakota wildlife managers are responding to the spread of elk into agricultural areas east of the Missouri River — a region where the animals are causing crop damage and presenting new land-management challenges. The rule changes affect both eastern South Dakota and Custer State Park in the Black Hills, expanding hunting access in two distinct situations.
What Happened
A joint legislative committee voted 4-2 Tuesday to approve a rules package from the Department of Game, Fish and Parks that establishes an unlimited elk hunting season for the East River region and raises the cap on antlerless elk licenses in Custer State Park. The six-member panel consists of three state senators and three state representatives.
The two no votes came from Sen. Liz Larson and Rep. Erik Muckey, both Democrats from Sioux Falls. Larson acknowledged that crops are being damaged but said she believes the approach is premature, given the lack of data on how unlimited hunting could affect the emerging East River elk population. “I don’t see enough evidence that we know how this would affect the elk populations,” she said.
Tom Kirschenmann, wildlife director for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, told the committee that elk are appearing with greater frequency in East River farm fields — terrain well outside their traditional habitat in the Black Hills and rugged western portions of the state. He described the animals as unwelcome in the region, noting they “can create a lot of damage” and present a “very, very challenging management activity.”
Kirschenmann stated that the agency has no plans to establish or sustain a permanent elk population east of the Missouri. East River elk are concentrated primarily between Pierre and Chamberlain, including portions of the Crow Creek reservation, which will be excluded from the unlimited hunting unit. Officials said the agency is working with the tribal wildlife department on a separate management approach for that land.
By the Numbers
- ~8,000 — Estimated elk population in the Black Hills
- ~2,000 — Estimated elk on the western South Dakota plains
- 750–775 — Current estimated elk count in Custer State Park, above the preferred management range of 500–600
- 100 — New maximum cap on antlerless elk licenses for Custer State Park, up from 20
- 50 — Licenses expected to be issued in the first year, split between October and December seasons
- 4-2 — Committee vote approving the rules package
Custer State Park Overpopulation
The Custer State Park elk herd has grown well beyond the agency’s preferred range. With the population estimated between 750 and 775 — roughly 50 percent above the upper end of the target band — officials moved to raise the antlerless license limit from 20 to 100.
Kirschenmann said the agency will not immediately issue all 100 licenses. Instead, roughly 50 are anticipated for the current year, divided between a two-week window in October and another in December. He said the staggered schedule is intended to reduce crowding in the park during hunting periods. The number issued in future years will be adjusted based on population trends.
Larson also questioned whether the higher license cap was appropriate, saying she did not see sufficient evidence to justify that ceiling.
Zoom Out
Elk range expansion into non-traditional habitat is a growing wildlife management issue across several Plains and Midwest states. As herds in established western ranges grow, animals increasingly push into agricultural zones, creating tension between conservation goals and farm protection. South Dakota’s approach — unlimited hunting in the affected zone — represents an aggressive management posture compared to the more incremental licensing structures used in some neighboring states.
Similar land-use questions are playing out elsewhere in the region. A federal dispute over home construction within Glacier National Park has drawn attention to the competing pressures facing public and protected lands across the West.
What’s Next
With committee approval in hand, the Department of Game, Fish and Parks is expected to move forward with issuing East River elk hunting licenses and preparing the divided Custer State Park season. The agency will monitor population data before committing to the full 100-license allotment in future years. South Dakota residents tracking broader state policy changes can also follow recently enacted property tax relief measures taking effect this year.