BLACK HILLS DEER
Firearm, November.
Archery, October through December. Refer to the Hunting Handbook for
detailed Black Hills deer hunting unit and season information.
Extending 100 miles long by 50 miles wide, the Black Hills harbor both
whitetail and mule deer among the ponderosa pine, white spruce and
aspen-covered mountains which reach elevations of more than 7,000 feet.
The Black Hills cover 2.3 million acres with 1.2 million acres open to
public hunting.
The deer herd is approximately 75 percent whitetail and 25 percent mule deer, with success averaging 30 percent for the buck-only hunt. Licenses are limited and available through a lottery basis. Unlimited archery licenses are available for a season that opens October 1.
Four-wheel-drive recommended.
Access to the Black Hills
is good, but a four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for rougher
areas. Areas with limited access offer backpacking opportunities.
When with a larger group.
Organized drives are a
popular and effective method for hunting the Black Hills with larger
groups.
When with a smaller group.
Still hunting or stands
work well for solo hunters or small groups, especially with other
hunters moving deer and rutting deer activities.
Decoys.
Decoy placement can spell
success or failure for your hunt. Group species accordingly and leave
landing pockets for optimum shooting opportunities.
Prepare for the weather.
Plan for fast-changing
mountain weather patterns. Sunny, warm days can be replaced quickly by
raging snowstorms.
