It’s wolf harvest time in South Dakota. As of Jan. 4, federal protections have been lifted from gray wolves, putting management back into state hands. As a result, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) will allow sportsmen and women, trappers, landowners and livestock producers the “ability to harvest gray wolves across the state” as long as you meet specific license requirements, according to the agency.
Those interested in a chance at hunting a gray wolf will need to have either a predator/varmint license, furbearer license or any resident or nonresident hunting license. Trappers must have a furbearer license. These are the same licenses that South Dakota requires to hunt coyotes. Landowners who take a wolf on their own land and youth under the age of 16 do not have to have a license – they are exempt from that requirement.