South Dakota Unit 54A:deer draw odds & harvest
2 hunt codes for deer. 2026: 50 to 400 tags, 180 to 390 applicants per hunt.
Hardest draw in Unit 54A2026 draw
54A0150 tags, 180 applied, 28% drew.
49th hardest of 316 South Dakota deer draws in 2026.
At a glance
Deer hunt codes
2
East river deer
Tags · 2026
450
across 2 hunts
Applicants · 2026
519
1.2 per tag
Harvest success 3-yr
43–60%
Hunt codes
Deer huntsin Unit 54A
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2026 | Tags | Success 3-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54A01 | east river deer · Nov 21–Dec 6Potter | 25 of 149 drew | 50 | 43–60% |
| 54A11 | east river deer · Nov 21–Dec 6Potter | 370 of 370 drew | 400 | 48–56% |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest
How hunters didin Unit 54A.
Harvest success by hunt, 2020–2025
% success54A0143–76%
56%
62%
76%
54%
60%
43%
202020212022202320242025
54A1148–56%
53%
54%
56%
48%
52%
20212022202320242025
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
- 54A01East River DeerNov 21–Dec 6
- 54A11East 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