South Dakota Unit 53A:deer draw odds & harvest
4 hunt codes for deer. 2026: 100 to 400 tags, 44 to 1,314 applicants per hunt.
Hardest draw in Unit 53A2026 draw
53A01400 tags, 1,314 applied, 33% drew.
62nd hardest of 316 South Dakota deer draws in 2026.
At a glance
Deer hunt codes
4
West river deer
Tags · 2026
850
across 4 hunts
Applicants · 2026
151
0.2 per tag
Harvest success 3-yr
43–73%
Hunt codes
Deer huntsin Unit 53A
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2026 | Tags | Success 3-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53A01 | west river deer · November 14-29, 2026North Perkins | 3 of 49 drew | 400 | 64–73% |
| 53A09P | west river deer · November 14-29, 2026North Perkins | 36 of 45 drew | 100 | 58–70% |
| 53A18 | west river deer · November 14-29, 2026North Perkins | 9 of 18 drew | 250 | 54–71% |
| 53A19P | west river deer · November 14-29, 2026North Perkins | 13 of 39 drew | 100 | 43–53% |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest
How hunters didin Unit 53A.
Harvest success by hunt, 2020–2025
% success53A0164–76%
74%
76%
73%
64%
65%
20202021202220242025
53A1854–71%
60%
65%
71%
63%
54%
20202021202220242025
53A09P58–77%
77%
58%
62%
70%
2021202220242025
53A19P43–74%
74%
50%
53%
43%
2021202220242025
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
- 53A01West River DeerNovember 14-29, 2026
- 53A09PWest River DeerNovember 14-29, 2026
- 53A18West River DeerNovember 14-29, 2026
- 53A19PWest 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