South Dakota Unit 05A:deer draw odds & harvest
3 hunt codes for deer. 2026: 200 to 400 tags, 27 to 577 applicants per hunt.
Hardest draw in Unit 05A2022 draw
05A1960 drew, 103 applied.
125th hardest of 316 South Dakota deer draws in 2022.
At a glance
Deer hunt codes
3
East river deer · erd
Tags · 2026
600
across 2 hunts
Applicants · 2026
109
0.2 per tag
Harvest success 3-yr
31–56%
Hunt codes
Deer huntsin Unit 05A
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2026 | Tags | Success 3-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05A01 | east river deer · Nov 21–Dec 6Codington | 108 of 108 drew | 400 | 48–55% |
| 05A13 | east river deer · Nov 21–Dec 6Codington | 1 of 1 drew | 200 | 31–56% |
| 05A19 | erdCODINGTON CO. | 8 of 51 drew | 55% |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest
How hunters didin Unit 05A.
Harvest success by hunt, 2020–2025
% success05A0148–63%
63%
52%
61%
55%
51%
48%
202020212022202320242025
05A1331–56%
56%
56%
31%
48%
2020202320242025
05A1955%
55%
55%
20212022
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
- 05A01East River DeerNov 21–Dec 6
- 05A13East 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