South Dakota Unit 27A:elk draw odds & harvest
2 hunt codes for elk. 2026: 30 to 40 tags, 42 to 840 applicants per hunt.
Hardest draw in Unit 27A2026 draw
27A2130 tags, 840 applied, 4% drew.
11th hardest of 59 South Dakota elk draws in 2026.
At a glance
Elk hunt codes
2
Prairie firearms elk
Tags · 2026
70
across 2 hunts
Applicants · 2026
54
0.8 per tag
Harvest success 3-yr
26–95%
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 27A
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2026 | Tags | Success 3-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27A21 | prairie firearms elk · Sep 1–Dec 31 | 12 of 12 drew | 30 | 65–95% |
| 27A23 | prairie firearms elk · Sep 1–Dec 31 | 40 of 42 drew | 40 | 26–50% |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest
How hunters didin Unit 27A.
Harvest success by hunt, 2019–2025
% success27A2163–95%
70%
83%
89%
63%
88%
65%
95%
2019202020212022202320242025
27A2311–75%
50%
67%
75%
11%
50%
50%
26%
2019202020212022202320242025
45%+28–45%Under 28%
Before you apply
- Tag fee
- “21 - one any elk $195”
- 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
- 27A21Prairie Firearms ElkSep 1–Dec 31
- 27A23Prairie Firearms ElkSep 1–Dec 31
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