The Black Hills buck unit covers the entire hills, they only break it up for antlerless tags. There are some wilderness (roadless) areas, but they aren't very big. Most places you can go for a hike and cross a dozen forestry roads on any given hunt. The Black Hills are well developed so you can stay in a cabin with a hot tub and have a buck standing 20 ft out your window. This is a hunt you can bring your family on if you want to, there are lots of touristy things for women and children to do during the day.
SD Public Land
- Thread starter muskiemauler22
- Start date
AustonButt
New Member
Being from SD, I have some mixed feelings about the hunting opportunities. Each year, I find out what new walk-in acres have been opened up and always scout pre-season. If you're looking to kill a big buck on public land in SD, your best best is to hunt the archery season early. Walk-in gets absolutely hammered during rifle season. There also isn't much walk-in to begin with. the best hunting is on private land and most of the landowners have signs posted that say, "Don't even ask." You're also not going to be limited with the walk-in you do get (besides the black hills). A lot of it is only a mile square or so. I would say that 99% of big deer you see being taken out of SD are off private land that the hunter paid some money for.
SDbowhunter
Active Member
just in the last 3 years there has been thousands of acres of private land put into walk in areas in the hills, mostly in the southwest part. It is true that the antler size is smaller in the hills, but there are thousands of deer. Whitetail are more plentiful than the mulies, but its not uncommon to drive by a field and see 70 deer at one time, after SD made the deer tags a draw in the hills about 14 years ago the deer population has boomed, both hunts are a draw in SD but the archery is almost guaranteed and is a VERY long season, Approx sept 27th through dec 31st and is also an any deer(mule or whitetail) and you can get a statewide tag.
Ilovethewest
Active Member
Anybody hunt the nW corner? Custer NF? Slim Buttes.....Cave Hills.....Short Pines area. Unit is 35-L now. I know tags are limited. I posted this on another thread, but thought I would ask you guys too. Looking at Rifle next fall 2013. We are not road hunters......we strap on the old boot straps on and get out on foot. any advice or info??