South Dakota Unit 21A:deer draw odds & harvest
4 hunt codes for deer. 2026: 50 to 200 tags, 78 to 576 applicants per hunt.
Hardest draw in Unit 21A2024 draw
21A01100 tags, 580 applied, 19% drew.
One of South Dakota's hardest deer draws: 21st hardest of 316 in 2024.
At a glance
Deer hunt codes
4
Wrd · west river deer
Tags · 2026
350
across 3 hunts
Applicants · 2026
140
0.4 per tag
Harvest success 3-yr
48–78%
Hunt codes
Deer huntsin Unit 21A
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2024 | Tags | Success 3-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21A01 | wrdCUSTER CO. east of SD 79, and PENNINGTON CO. | 8 of 83 drew | 100 | 62–78% |
| 21A02 | west river deer · November 14-29, 2026East Custer / Central Pennington | 1 of 45 drew | 100 | 67% |
| 21A11 | west river deer · November 14-29, 2026East Custer / Central Pennington | 16 of 22 drew | 200 | 61–64% |
| 21A13P | west river deer · November 14-29, 2026East Custer / Central Pennington | 29 of 73 drew | 50 | 48–62% |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest
How hunters didin Unit 21A.
Harvest success by hunt, 2020–2025
% success21A1161–79%
79%
62%
63%
61%
64%
20202021202220242025
21A0162–78%
68%
62%
65%
78%
2020202120222024
21A13P48–62%
56%
48%
62%
52%
2021202220242025
21A0267%
67%
2025
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
- 21A02West River DeerNovember 14-29, 2026
- 21A11West River DeerNovember 14-29, 2026
- 21A13PWest River DeerNovember 14-29, 2026
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