{"data":{"id":"us-sd/sdcl-41-8-31","jurisdiction":"us-sd","citation":"SDCL § 41-8-31","heading":"Hunting methods restricted--Violation as misdemeanor.","body":"No person may at any time hunt, catch, take, attempt to take, or kill any small game or game animal in any other manner than by shooting the same with a firearm, except:\n(1) Game birds and animals may be taken with birds trained in falconry or with bow and arrow;\n(1A) Cottontail rabbit, red squirrel, fox squirrel, grey squirrel, and any species defined as a predator/varmint in § 41-1-1 may be taken with an air gun that complies with specifications established by rules promulgated by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission pursuant to chapter 1-26;\n(2) A person with a permanent or temporary disability who is missing an upper limb, physically incapable of using an upper limb, or confined to a wheelchair may obtain a disabled hunter permit to use a crossbow or other legal bow equipped with a draw-lock device to take game birds and animals;\n(3) A person who is legally blind, is legally licensed, possesses a disabled hunter permit, and is physically present and participates in the hunt but cannot safely discharge a firearm or bow and arrow, may claim game birds and animals taken by a designated hunter in accordance with the license possessed by the hunter who is legally blind;\n(3A) A person who is quadriplegic, is legally licensed, possesses a disabled hunter permit, and is physically present and participates in the hunt but cannot safely discharge a firearm or bow and arrow, may claim game birds and animals taken by a designated hunter in accordance with the license possessed by the hunter who is quadriplegic; and\n(4) A person with a permanent or temporary disability as defined in subdivision (2) of this section who is legally licensed for a youth big game hunting season, possesses a disabled hunter permit, and is physically present and participates in the hunt but is unable to safely discharge a firearm or bow and arrow, may claim any big game animal taken by a designated hunter in accordance with the youth big game license possessed by the person with a permanent or temporary disability.\nA violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.","path":["TITLE 41. GAME, FISH, PARKS AND FORESTRY","CHAPTER 41-8. HUNTING AND TRAPPING SEASONS AND METHODS"],"source_url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/41-8-31","current_through":"2026-08-31","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T15:18:57Z","sha256":"227b19abba96f9339f5ac238fd020535028d1d5674a35c2c8eb3286dfa09dadd","source_id":"us-sd","stale":true,"prev":"us-sd/sdcl-41-8-30","next":"us-sd/sdcl-41-8-31.1"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}