No person may at any time hunt, catch, take, attempt to take, or kill any small game or game animal in any other manner than by shooting the same with a firearm, except:

1. (1) Game birds and animals may be taken with birds trained in falconry or with bow and arrow;
2. (1A) Cottontail rabbit, red squirrel, fox squirrel, grey squirrel, and any species defined as a predator/varmint in § 41-1-1 may be taken with an air gun that complies with specifications established by rules promulgated by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission pursuant to chapter 1-26;
3. (2) A person with a permanent or temporary disability who is missing an upper limb, physically incapable of using an upper limb, or confined to a wheelchair may obtain a disabled hunter permit to use a crossbow or other legal bow equipped with a draw-lock device to take game birds and animals;
4. (3) A person who is legally blind, is legally licensed, possesses a disabled hunter permit, and is physically present and participates in the hunt but cannot safely discharge a firearm or bow and arrow, may claim game birds and animals taken by a designated hunter in accordance with the license possessed by the hunter who is legally blind;
5. (3A) A person who is quadriplegic, is legally licensed, possesses a disabled hunter permit, and is physically present and participates in the hunt but cannot safely discharge a firearm or bow and arrow, may claim game birds and animals taken by a designated hunter in accordance with the license possessed by the hunter who is quadriplegic; and
6. (4) A person with a permanent or temporary disability as defined in subdivision (2) of this section who is legally licensed for a youth big game hunting season, possesses a disabled hunter permit, and is physically present and participates in the hunt but is unable to safely discharge a firearm or bow and arrow, may claim any big game animal taken by a designated hunter in accordance with the youth big game license possessed by the person with a permanent or temporary disability. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: SDC 1939, § 25.0412; SL 1941, ch 109 ; SL 1943, ch 94 ; SL 1947, ch 111 ; SL 1953, ch 105 ; SL 1957, ch 105 ; SL 1959, ch 116 ; SL 1963, ch 138 ; SL 1969, ch 100 ; SL 1979, ch 283 , § 5; SL 1984, ch 274 ; SL 1986, ch 353 ; SL 1991, ch 337 , § 54; SL 2007, ch 243 , § 1; SL 2008, ch 218 , § 1; SL 2009, ch 210 , § 1; SL 2010, ch 210 , § 1; SL 2011, ch 192 , § 1.