South Dakota Unit H3A:elk draw odds & harvest
2 hunt codes for elk. 2026: 30 to 40 tags, 796 to 1,753 applicants per hunt.
Hardest draw in Unit H3A2026 draw
H3A2330 tags, 796 applied, 4% drew.
13th hardest of 59 South Dakota elk draws in 2026.
At a glance
Elk hunt codes
2
Archery elk
Tags · 2026
70
across 2 hunts
Applicants · 2026
798
11 per tag
Harvest success 3-yr
5–43%
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit H3A
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2026 | Tags | Success 3-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H3A21 | archery · Sep 1–Sep 30 | 9 of 9 drew | 40 | 11–43% |
| H3A23 | archery · Sep 1–Sep 30 | 23 of 789 drew | 30 | 5–13% |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest
How hunters didin Unit H3A.
Harvest success by hunt, 2019–2025
% successH3A2111–57%
55%
57%
54%
30%
43%
11%
36%
2019202020212022202320242025
H3A235–30%
27%
22%
6%
30%
13%
5%
11%
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
- H3A21Archery Elk · archerySep 1–Sep 30
- H3A23Archery Elk · archerySep 1–Sep 30
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