25.230.11 100th Legislative Session 41
2025 South Dakota Legislature
Senate Bill 41
ENROLLED
AN ACT
ENTITLED An Act to clarify the minimum age requirements for a hunting license.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That § 41-6-10 be AMENDED:
41-6-10. Licenses, permits, and stamps issued under this title are classified as
follows:
(1) Breeding and raising birds license;
(2) Disabled hunter permit;
(3) Export bait dealer license;
(4) Fur dealer's license;
(5) Hoop net, trap, or setline license;
(6) Mentored youth hunting license;
(7) Nonresident big game license;
(8) Nonresident fishing license;
(9) Nonresident and resident migratory bird certification permit;
(10) Nonresident predator/varmint license;
(11) Nonresident retail bait dealer license;
(12) Nonresident shooting preserve license;
(13) Nonresident small game license;
(14) Nonresident wholesale bait dealer license;
(15) Nonresident wild turkey license;
(16) Nursing facility group fishing license;
(17) Park user's license;
(18) Permit for transportation of big game animal;
(19) Private fish hatchery license;
(20) Reciprocal nonresident license to take fur-bearing animals;
(21) Resident license to take fur-bearing animals; 25.230.11 2 41
SB41 ENROLLED
(22) Resident big game license;
(23) Resident elk license;
(24) Resident fishing license and resident senior fishing license;
(25) Resident retail bait dealer license;
(26) Resident small game license and resident youth small game license;
(27) Resident predator/varmint license;
(28) Resident wholesale bait dealer license;
(29) Resident wild turkey license;
(30) Scientific collector's license;
(31) Special nonresident waterfowl license;
(32) Taxidermist's license;
(33) Temporary fishing and hunting licenses;
(34) Temporary nonresident early fall Canada goose license;
(35) Temporary nonresident fall three-day waterfowl license; and
(36) Temporary nonresident spring snow goose license.
The rights and privileges of such licensees are set forth in §§ 41-6-12 to 41-6-
45.1, inclusive, and in § 41-17-13. The Game, Fish and Parks Commission shall
promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to set the fees, eligibility, and duration for such
licenses.
Section 2. That § 41-6-12 be AMENDED:
41-6-12. Any person who is a resident of this state, as defined by this title,
qualifies as a resident for securing a resident hunting license, fishing license, or preference
point. A person who is not a resident of this state, as defined by this title, shall secure an
applicable nonresident hunting license, fishing license, or preference point.
Except as otherwise provided in § 41-6-81, a person under the age of twelve may
not be granted a hunting license. A person who is ten years of age or older may be granted
a hunting preference point. A person who is eleven years of age and who will become
twelve years of age during the period of September first to December thirty-first, inclusive,
may be granted a hunting license or preference point and may be allowed to hunt
beginning September first.
Section 3. That § 41-6-14 be AMENDED:
41-6-14. Except as otherwise provided in § 41-6-81, a person under the age of
sixteen shall comply with the provisions of chapter 41-7, pertaining to firearms safety, 25.230.11 3 41
SB41 ENROLLED
before being granted a resident hunting license or an applicable nonresident hunting
license.
Section 4. That § 41-6-81 be AMENDED:
41-6-81. A mentored youth hunting license may be issued to a child under the
age of sixteen. The child must be accompanied by a hunting mentor. A hunting mentor
may be the child's parent or guardian or any other competent adult who has the consent
of the child's parent or guardian.
The hunting mentor shall be unarmed, except as otherwise provided in this section,
and shall have successfully completed a hunter safety or hunter education course that
meets the requirements of chapter 41-7.
A child who hunts pursuant to this section must be under the immediate physical
control, direct supervision, and responsibility of a hunting mentor, at the time the child
discharges a firearm or operates a bow and arrow in the act of hunting.
A hunting mentor may accompany no more than one mentored child at any one
time.
Nothing in this section prohibits the hunting mentor from carrying a concealed
pistol or other legally possessed handgun.
The Game, Fish and Parks Commission shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter
1-26, to establish criteria and conditions governing the mentored youth hunting license
and the hunter mentoring program established in this section.
Section 5. That § 41-7-1 be AMENDED:
41-7-1. Notwithstanding § 41-6-13, a hunting license, other than a mentored
youth hunting license, may not be issued to a child under the age of sixteen, unless the
child presents to the person authorized to issue the license:
(1) A certificate verifying the successful completion of a hunter safety or hunter
education course, as provided for in rules promulgated by the Game, Fish and Parks
Commission, pursuant to chapter 1-26;
(2) A certificate verifying the successful completion of a hunter safety or hunter
education course from another state or province of Canada; or
(3) A hunting license issued to the applicant in the current or previous year.
A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. 25.230.11 4 41
SB41 ENROLLED
An Act to clarify the minimum age requirements for a hunting license.
I certify that the attached Act originated in
the:
Senate as Bill No. 41
Secretary of the Senate
President of the Senate
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate
Speaker of the House
Attest:
Chief Clerk
Senate Bill No. 41
File No. ____
Chapter No. ______
Received at this Executive Office
this _____ day of _____________,
2025 at ____________M.
By
for the Governor
The attached Act is hereby
approved this ________ day of
______________, A.D., 2025
Governor
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA ,
ss.
Office of the Secretary of State
Filed ____________, 2025
at _________ o'clock __M.
Secretary of State
By
Asst. Secretary of State