Application requirements -- License and season restrictions -- Special conditions -- Carcass check-in procedures.
Effective Oct 27, 202552 SDR 42Source: 32 SDR 45, effective September 20, 2005; 33 SDR 1, effective July 18, 2006; 34 SDR 67, effective September 10, 2007; 37 SDR 112, effective December 8, 2010; 38 SDR 101, effective December 5, 2011; 39 SDR 100, effective December 3, 2012; 41 SDR 126, effective March 2, 2015 ; 46 SDR 116, effective April 29, 2020 ; 48 SDR 60, effective December 8, 2021; 51 SDR 123, effective May 26, 2025; 52 SDR 42, effective October 27, 2025 . | General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18 (1)(2)(14)(17), 41-8-15 (1). | Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18 (1)(2)(14)(17), 41-8-15 (1).
Only a resident may apply for a mountain lion hunting license. The following requirements, restrictions, special conditions, and procedures apply to all licenses issued under this chapter:
- (1) No person may harvest more than one mountain lion in a season;
- (2) No person may harvest or attempt to harvest a mountain lion with a spotted coat or any mountain lion accompanying another mountain lion;
- (3) No person may hunt mountain lions with the aid of traps or bait;
- (4) The use of dogs to hunt mountain lions is allowed in the Black Hills Fire Protection District only during those hunting intervals and in the area specified in § 41:06:61:02; and year-round outside of the Black Hills Fire Protection District;
- (5) No person may release dogs on tracks indicating multiple mountain lions traveling together;
- (6) In the Black Hills Fire Protection District, a person using dogs shall attempt to harvest the first legal mountain lion the person has a reasonable opportunity to harvest, except where the lion pursued shows obvious signs of lactation;
- (7) Licensed hunters must accompany the dog handler when the dogs are released and must continuously participate in the hunt until the hunt is completed;
- (8) A person may use any firearm, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow established by statute or administrative rule as legal implements for the taking of deer; and
(9) All mountain lions harvested must be presented to a department representative within twenty-four hours of harvest for inspection.
Cross-References:
Hunting guide activities barred from certain state-owned or state-managed areas -- Violations, SDCL 41-4-13.
Source: 32 SDR 45, effective September 20, 2005; 33 SDR 1, effective July 18, 2006; 34 SDR 67, effective September 10, 2007; 37 SDR 112, effective December 8, 2010; 38 SDR 101, effective December 5, 2011; 39 SDR 100, effective December 3, 2012; 41 SDR 126, effective March 2, 2015 ; 46 SDR 116, effective April 29, 2020 ; 48 SDR 60, effective December 8, 2021; 51 SDR 123, effective May 26, 2025; 52 SDR 42, effective October 27, 2025 .
General Authority: SDCL 41-2-18 (1)(2)(14)(17), 41-8-15 (1).
Law Implemented: SDCL 41-2-18 (1)(2)(14)(17), 41-8-15 (1).
Prior versions effective: 2025-05-26, 2021-12-08, 2020-04-29, 2015-03-02, 2012-12-03.