Except as provided in this chapter, it is a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person to hunt, take, kill, or trap fur-bearing animals without a license to take fur-bearing animals or in violation of the conditions of the license or the rules of the Game, Fish and Parks Commission.

A license to take fur-bearing animals permits the licensee to set or operate a trap or traps, hunt, catch, take, trap, or kill fur-bearing animals, except the black-footed ferret, to the extent and in the manner provided in §§ 41-8-20 to 41-8-26, inclusive.

Attorney's Note

Under the South Dakota Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class 2 misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $500
For details, see § 22-6-2

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 41-6-23

  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2

A license to take fur-bearing animals is not required for residents to hunt raccoon, skunk, opossum, badger, jackrabbit, fox, and coyote with firearms. A license to take fur-bearing animals is not required for residents to trap raccoon, skunk, opossum, badger, jackrabbit, fox, and coyote between April first and August thirty-first.

Source: SDC 1939, § 25.0302 (18); SL 1941, ch 105; SL 1959, ch 112; SDC Supp 1960, § 25.0302 (16); SL 1967, ch 83; SL 1976, ch 261, § 1; SL 1977, ch 328, § 1; SL 1978, ch 295; SL 1979, ch 278, § 12; SL 1984, ch 29, § 5G; SL 1990, ch 332, § 8; SL 1991, ch 337, § 18; SL 2007, ch 240, § 1; SL 2019, ch 184, § 2, eff. Mar. 11, 2019; SL 2021, ch 184, § 5.