South Dakota Unit 03A:deer draw odds & harvest
2 hunt codes for deer. 2026: 300 to 600 tags, 54 to 1,234 applicants per hunt.
Hardest draw in Unit 03A2026 draw
03A01600 tags, 1,234 applied, 49% drew.
97th hardest of 316 South Dakota deer draws in 2026.
At a glance
Deer hunt codes
2
East river deer
Tags · 2026
900
across 2 hunts
Applicants · 2026
95
0.1 per tag
Harvest success 3-yr
29–42%
Hunt codes
Deer huntsin Unit 03A
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2026 | Tags | Success 3-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03A01 | east river deer · Nov 21–Dec 6Brown (exc. Sand Lake NWR) | 8 of 91 drew | 600 | 38–42% |
| 03A13 | east river deer · Nov 21–Dec 6Brown (exc. Sand Lake NWR) | 1 of 4 drew | 300 | 29–42% |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest
How hunters didin Unit 03A.
Harvest success by hunt, 2020–2025
% success03A0138–56%
48%
49%
56%
42%
38%
41%
202020212022202320242025
03A1329–47%
47%
40%
47%
38%
29%
42%
202020212022202320242025
45%+28–45%Under 28%
Before you apply
- Tag fee
- “03 - one any antlerless deer $5 $10”
- Points
- “One point may be purchased each year the applicant is unsuccessful.”
- Application fee
- “A non-refundable $10 application fee is charged for each season applied for.”
Rules for 2026.
Season dates · 2026
- 03A01East River DeerNov 21–Dec 6
- 03A13East River DeerNov 21–Dec 6
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Public land & access
Each program opens on the state's site. Check on-the-ground signage.
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: SDGFP