The week of December 18, 2017
- Only antlerless deer licenses will be valid for the East River Deer antlerless deer season December 30, 2017 – January 7, 2018.
- Canada Goose Season closes December 17, 2017. Light Goose Season closes January 12, 2018.
Aberdeen Area
Fishing Report:
No fishing activity. The lakes are mostly frozen over, but the ice is very thin yet.
Hunting Report:
Pheasant: Hunters have had to put in time to find pheasants. Hunters that are willing to walk found some birds. Hunters have had the best luck hunting cattail sloughs. Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Renziehausen Game Bird Refuge pheasant season is from Dec 11-Jan 7.
Waterfowl: The Canada goose season closed on December 17 and the snow goose season closes on January 12
Deer: Hunters that have an any deer license for archery or muzzleloader can hunt with that license until Dec 31, 2017. The Jan 1-15 season is for antlerless licenses only. Any deer tags are not valid for the antlerless deer season.
Clark County
Fishing Report:
Ice depths are still varying greatly across bodies of water and fishermen are urged to use caution.
Cottonwood: Fishermen are catching a few walleye and perch. Walleye range in size from 16-19 inches and Perch range in size from 10-14 inches.
Mahnke slough: Fishermen are catching a few walleye and perch. The walleye are ranging in size from 14-18 inches.
Hunting Report:
Deer: Deer are starting to move towards their wintering areas and have started grouping up. Archery and muzzleloader seasons run till December 31, 2017 and Mentored/Youth season’s go till January 15, 2018.
Pheasant: Hunters are starting to find some success, now that the crops have come out and the temps have dropped. Hunters are averaging 2 to 2.5 birds per hunter.
Codington County
Fishing Report:
Kampeska: A few anglers have been fishing near Sandy Shore and in the northeast corner of the lake. Ice conditions are pretty inconsistent but most of the ice seems to be in the 4-10 inch range. Anglers are reporting some perch and crappie.
Pelican: The northeast portion of the lake has had some anglers on it. Ice conditions are pretty safe, however on the west portion of Pelican some large roosts of Canada geese have held open some pockets of water.
Stink: Ice conditions are pretty good and anglers are catching some perch but most of them have been too small to keep.
Blythe Slough: Good ice conditions with a few smaller perch being caught.
Bailey’s Slough: Good ice conditions and some perch being caught. Perch seem to be in the 9 inch range with a few over the 11 inch mark.
Hunting Report:
Pheasants: Hunters are hoping to get snow on the ground in hopes of taking advantage of late season roosters. Hunting this week has been pretty quiet with the mild temperatures.
Geese: Light goose season is open until January 12th. However, we do are not seeing any light geese in Codington County.
Deer: Like the pheasant hunters, deer hunters could use some cold weather and fresh snow to bunch them up. Cold weather in the forecast could help hunters fill those last season antlerless tags. Muzzleloader deer hunters have reported tough hunting with the mild conditions.
Day County
Fishing Report:
Waubay: Anglers are catching decent perch and the occasional walleye.
Bitter: Anglers are catching a few walleye and the occasional perch.
Enemy Swim: Anglers are catching a few bluegill and crappie.
Hunting Report:
Deer: Archery and muzzleloader hunters are still trying to harvest a late season deer. The push of cold weather should keep the deer moving this weekend.
Pheasant: Hunters are seeing decent numbers of birds and have been harvesting 2 birds a person on average.
Hamlin County
Fishing Report:
Poinsett: There have been a few anglers fishing the Almos and Sarranen’s access areas. Ice conditions have been changing so use caution before heading out on the ice this year.Reports of small walleyes and some perch being caught. The 15” length limit on walleye has been removed effective December 4, 2017. The state-wide length limits still apply.
Lake Albert: There have been a few reports of anglers fishing the north end. Ice conditions have been changing so use caution before heading out on the ice this year.
Hunting Report:
Waterfowl: Most lakes and ponds have locked up for the season and the numbers of waterfowl have declined.
Deer: Archery and Youth continue with colder temperatures to move in it will keep the deer moving in the morning and evening hours.
Pheasant: Public lands have been hit hard by hunters this year. The numbers of birds harvested on public ground have increased with most of the crops out. With warmer temps to come this week the opportunity to harvest some birds will be good.
Marshall County
Fishing Report:
Patchy ice conditions exist across the county. Please use extreme caution.
Hunting Report:
Pheasant: Majority of the birds are located in the western portion of the county. Hunters focusing efforts near harvested fields seem to be having the best success.
Deer: The deer are moving in the early morning and evenings.
Be sure to obtain permission before entering private land, good luck and be safe.
Park Report:
Fort Sisseton State Park: January 1, 2018 kick off the new year by taking a step outside! If snowfall allows, we'll break out the snowshoes and take a trek around the park. Snowshoes will be provided and no experience is necessary. The event begins at 3pm. For more information please call 605-448-5474.
Oakwood Lakes State Park: Is also having a First Day Hike around the park. If there is snow, snowshoes will be available. Meet at the Warming Shelter by the Amphitheater/Mortimer's Cabin area at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 1st at Oakwood Lakes State Park! Contact us at 605-627-5441for more information.
Be sure to check out the event calendar at to see similar events in the area.
Park entrance licenses are required year-round. The 2018 Park Entrance Licenses are available at a number of local licensing agents. Gift cards are also available from your local park office and make great gifts for the holidays.
Reminder electricity in the campground stays on year-round and the cabins have heat, so there are still camping opportunities to be had.
605.882.5200 | GFP.SD.GOV
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