Meet South Dakota's Fleet-Footed Creatures: Pronghorns, Coyotes, And More

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17 Animals You Can Hunt All Year in South Dakota

South Dakota loves to hunt. It's not only one of the state's most popular pastimes, but it's also big business. Especially South Dakota's famous Pheasant season.

There are seasons for hunting deer, antelope, turkey, and even bison. Plenty of opportunities to get that freezer in the garage stocked up.

The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department is the place to go for info about hunting licenses and specific rules and regulations for hunting in South Dakota.


Hunting most game in South Dakota is restricted to specific hunting seasons. Like deer and pheasant seasons in the fall.

But there are also animals you can hunt year-round in South Dakota.

There are still some rules to follow, like where exactly you can hunt. South Dakota has millions of acres of public and private land to hunt on. And you'll still need a hunting license.

So, always check with the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department for the latest information and regulations.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

20 Fascinating Photos Of Zoo Animals Getting Weighed and Measured

The annual weigh-in at the U.K.'s largest zoo allows zookeepers and veterinarians to record vital statistics and track the health and wellbeing of its more than 10,000 animals.

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll

These South Dakota animals are surprisingly fast. We didn't ask Sheriff Buford to clock them with a radar gun, but A-Z Animals gave us some eye-opening speeds.

Photo by Seth Wickham on Unsplash
Photo by Seth Wickham on Unsplash
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Pronghorn
These fellas can run fast and have been clocked at 61 mph! They have endurance, too, meaning they'll last much longer than you on a good run. Thankfully, they're not people hunters!

 

Photo by Brandon Stoll on Unsplash
Photo by Brandon Stoll on Unsplash
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Coyotes
Even the running backs on the USD Coyotes football team would envy this speed. Coyotes have been known to run 43 mph! Which is fast enough to catch any rabbit.

Prairie Dog Photo by Werner Hilversum on Unsplash
Prairie Dog Photo by Werner Hilversum on Unsplash
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Prairie Dogs
They're cute and there's plenty of places in western South Dakota to see them. Usually, prairie dogs scurry from hole-to-hole, but if they feel threatened they can hit 35 mph on the radar! Impressive for their short and stubby legs.

Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash
Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash
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Bison
How many times have we heard a news report that a tourist tried to get a selfie with a buffalo? There's even posters and memes-a-plenty that say "Don't Pet Our Fluffy Cows!" But alas, these warning go unheeded and often ends with injury or death. Bison can run up to 35 mph. Impressive considering they can weigh over a ton. So go ahead. Take your chances with a furry Volkswagen - but don't say we didn't warn you.

Photo by Sterling Lanier on Unsplash
Photo by Sterling Lanier on Unsplash
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Bighorn Sheep
If a bighorn sheep headbutted you, you'd probably whiz yourself forget your name for a while. They're also surprisingly fast clocking in at 20 mph!

Photo by Sergei A on Unsplash
Photo by Sergei A on Unsplash
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Mountain Goat
Found on the western side of South Dakota, these spry, sure-footed beasts run at about 15 mph. Sure, some humans can sprint faster than that but the mountain goat will out-climb us any day.

Photo by Nikola Tomašić on Unsplash
Photo by Nikola Tomašić on Unsplash
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Ringneck Pheasant
South Dakota's state bird can run up to 10 mph but it's airborne speed is awesome. They can fly up to 45 mph which is probably why I miss a few even with my trusty over-and-under 20-gauge.