elk hunting unit · South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Prairie elk unit 35D
South Dakota, United States
The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.
About Prairie elk unit 35D
Prairie elk unit 35D is a elk hunting unit in South Dakota, United States, set by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. It covers about 3,491 km² (1,348 mi²). No town of the HuntGrid list lies inside it; the nearest is Belle Fourche, about 61 km from its edge.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for Elk (wapiti).
- Unit code
- 35D
- Area
- 3,491 km²
- Area (miles)
- 1,348 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 758 km² of public or protected land inside it, 22% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:
| Manager | km² | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 538 | 15% |
| Forest Service Region 01 Northern | 122 | 4% |
| Bureau of Land Management | 99 | 3% |
Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.
Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1
Seasons and regulations
Season dates, bag limits and licences for Prairie elk unit 35D are in South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks's official regulations. HuntGrid shows a season in the app only once a person has checked it against them.
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
- Prairie elk unit 35A
- Prairie elk unit 35B
- Prairie elk unit 35C
- Prairie elk unit 35E
- Prairie elk unit 35F
- Prairie elk unit WRA (West River)
Other hunting units that cover part of it
- Prairie turkey unit 35A (Harding) (turkey hunting unit)
- High Plains Mallard Management Unit (duck zone)
- Nonresident waterfowl unit NRW-00B
- Nonresident 3-day waterfowl unit NRW-00Z (private land only) (nonresident waterfowl unit)
- Sandhill crane open unit (sandhill crane unit)
- Prairie (outside the Fire Protection District) (mountain lion zone)
- Archery and muzzleloader deer unit ST1 (statewide except Custer State Park)
- Dark goose Unit 1 (goose hunting unit)
- Archery deer unit WR1 (West River) (archery and muzzleloader deer unit)
- West River zone (west of the Missouri River, outside the Black Hills Fire Protection District) (bobcat zone)
What HuntGrid shows for Prairie elk unit 35D
- Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
- Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
- Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
- Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
- Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.
Questions
How big is Prairie elk unit 35D (elk hunting unit)?
About 3,491 km² (1,348 mi²), as HuntGrid maps South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Prairie elk unit 35D?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 758 km² of public or protected land, 22% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Unknown. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Prairie elk unit 35D?
In South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks's official regulations: https://gfp.sd.gov/big-game-regulations/
Which units are next to Prairie elk unit 35D?
In the same unit system: Prairie elk unit 35A, Prairie elk unit 35B, Prairie elk unit 35C, Prairie elk unit 35E, Prairie elk unit 35F and Prairie elk unit WRA (West River).
More on huntgrid.net
Sources
Unit boundary: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (unit definitions); U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Geological Survey; USDA Forest Service. Licence: Units defined in ARSD 41:06:26:02, 41:06:43:02 and 41:06:59:02; geometry public domain (U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line, USGS NHD, USDA Forest Service, USGS PAD-US). Boundaries for the 2026 season.
HuntGrid isn't affiliated with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. The official regulations and maps have the final word.