South Dakota Unit 43A:deer draw odds & harvest
2 hunt codes for deer. 2026: 100 to 300 tags, 28 to 653 applicants per hunt.
Hardest draw in Unit 43A2026 draw
43A01300 tags, 653 applied, 46% drew.
92nd hardest of 316 South Dakota deer draws in 2026.
At a glance
Deer hunt codes
2
East river deer
Tags · 2026
400
across 2 hunts
Applicants · 2026
68
0.2 per tag
Harvest success 3-yr
40–56%
Hunt codes
Deer huntsin Unit 43A
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2026 | Tags | Success 3-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43A01 | east river deer · Nov 21–Dec 6Lake | 1 of 40 drew | 300 | 46–56% |
| 43A13 | east river deer · Nov 21–Dec 6Lake | 28 of 28 drew | 100 | 40–47% |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest
How hunters didin Unit 43A.
Harvest success by hunt, 2020–2025
% success43A0146–66%
59%
54%
66%
50%
56%
46%
202020212022202320242025
43A1340–63%
45%
43%
63%
47%
43%
40%
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
- 43A01East River DeerNov 21–Dec 6
- 43A13East 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