What are the laws for hunting fox in South Dakota? This article covers many of the fundamental laws you will need to know to get started. It also provides information such as seasons, harvest limits, and required permits for bobcat hunting in South Dakota. It is not a legal document and is not intended to cover all hunting laws and regulations.
In South Dakota, the fox hunting season is year round. There is no bag limit. Night hunting with artificial lights and thermal/infrared riflescopes is only allowed for landowners.
Purchase a South Dakota hunting license here.
Check out all the South Dakota hunting seasons.
First time hunting fox? Check out these articles:
Read: How to call in a fox.
Read: How to use tracks and scat to hunt a fox.
Related: Read the laws for hunting coyotes in South Dakota.
Related: Read the rules for hunting bobcats in South Dakota.
General rules for hunting fox in South Dakota.
Can you hunt with lights? All lights, and Infrared or Thermal riflescopes are prohibited for night fox hunting.
So, even though the shooting hours for fox are unrestricted, you are limited at night to hunting in moonlight or animals visible on snow.
The exception for landowners regarding night hunting.
There are several exceptions that allow a landowner and others to hunt at night provided the restrictions found in state law on land area, weapons, age of individual species, and accompaniment are followed.
(1) A landowner and up to two accompanied guests may hunt jackrabbits, coyotes, beaver, foxes, raccoons, opossums, badgers, skunks and rodents within the applicable season using artificial light/night vision on that landowner’s property with a shotgun using shotshells or a rimfire rifle. Centerfire cartridges may not be used in this scenario.
(2) A landowner who is at least 18 years of age and up to two accompanied guests may hunt jackrabbits, coyotes, beaver, foxes, raccoons, opossums, badgers, skunks and rodents within the applicable season using night vision equipment on that landowner’s property with a firearm using a cartridge with a bullet diameter below .225 inches. It is important to note that spotlights and other artificial light may not be used in this scenario, nor may a shotgun be used.
(3) A landowner who is at least 18 years of age may issue written permission to up to two guests who may hunt unaccompanied for jackrabbits, coyotes, beaver, foxes, raccoons, opossums, badgers, skunks and rodents within the applicable season using night vision equipment on that landowner’s property with a firearm using a cartridge with a bullet diameter below .225 inches. It is important to note that spotlights and other artificial light may not be used in this scenario, nor may a shotgun be used. Written permission can be in the form of letters, emails, or text messages.
Legal equipment when hunting fox in South Dakota.
Electronic callers. These are legal to use when hunting fox in Wisconsin.
While electronic callers are expensive, mouth and hand callers are cheaper but harder to use.
Read this article and watch the video to learn how to use a closed reed rabbit squealer.
Follow along as call manufacturer Brian Rush shows you three open reed calls you can learn and use today.
You can check the price for an electronic caller on Amazon.
Decoys are legal. You can read about some highly effective but inexpensive ($20) coyotes decoys here.
Suppressors. Legal for use while hunting fox in South Dakota.
Furbearer license required? The Furbearer License is required to trap wolf, coyote, red fox, grey fox, jackrabbit, raccoon, badger, bobcat, river otter, opossum, mink, weasel, beaver, muskrat and skunk; and when and where allowed is required to hunt bobcat, river otter, opossum, mink, weasel, beaver and muskrat.
Fox hunting in South Dakota: License.
PREDATOR/VARMINT LICENSE
The Predator/Varmint License is needed to hunt coyote, wolf, red fox, grey fox, skunk, raccoon, badger, prairie dog, gopher, crow, opossum, jackrabbit, ground squirrel, porcupine and marmot. Other licenses that may be used in lieu of the Predator/Varmint License include any valid resident South Dakota hunting license or furbearer license.
For a Big Game License to be valid, the licensee must retain the top portion of the Big Game License. No license is required for resident youth under age 18.