South Dakota · Fishing license
South Dakota fishing license
Do I need one?
Yes — anyone 18 or older needs one.
A year costs $31 if you live here and $80 if you don't. SDGFP's listed prices leave out the agent fee added at purchase.
There is a free option: Youth fishing (under 18). Free for visiting youngsters.
What it costs
If you live in South Dakota
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| Annual fishingCovers fish, frogs and turtles. | $31 |
| Senior fishing (65 and older) | $17 |
| One-day fishing | $10 |
If you're visiting
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| Annual fishing | $80 |
| Three daysThree consecutive days. | $45 |
| Youth fishing (under 18)Free for visiting youngsters. | Free |
SDGFP marks its published prices as excluding the agent fee, so the counter total is a little higher.
How long it lasts
SDGFP sells the annual licence by the year and the short ones for a consecutive block of days. The prices below are the department's own, before the agent fee added at the counter.
Who doesn't need one
- Residents under 18 years of age
- Visiting youngsters under 18, who receive a free youth licence
SDGFP words the age rule this way: SDGFP exempts youth under 18 from the resident fishing licence, and sells visiting youngsters under 18 a free youth licence — so a licence first costs money at 18.
Where to buy it
- Online through Go Outdoors South Dakota
- At licence agents across the state
- By telephone on 605-223-7660
Wondering about the big retailers? A shop like Walmart sells the state's license at the state's price — it sets none of its own.
Days you can fish without one
SDGFP publishes this as a recurring rule rather than a fixed date. Check the exact days on their free fishing page before you plan around it.
