elk hunting unit · South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Prairie elk unit 49A
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 49A
Prairie elk unit 49A is a elk hunting unit in South Dakota, United States, set by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. It covers about 326 km² (126 mi²). The town of Sturgis is inside it.
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
- 49A
- Area
- 326 km²
- Area (miles)
- 126 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 14 km² of public or protected land inside it, 4% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Land Management | 12 | 4% |
| Unknown | 1.8 | under 1% |
| City of Sturgis | 0.1 | under 1% |
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
Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks's regulations:
| Species | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Elk (wapiti) | Sep 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | firearm, residents, draw source |
| Elk (wapiti) | Sep 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | antlerless, firearm, residents, draw source |
The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
Other hunting units that cover part of it
- 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 49A
- 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 49A (elk hunting unit)?
About 326 km² (126 mi²), as HuntGrid maps South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Prairie elk unit 49A?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 14 km² of public or protected land, 4% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Bureau of Land Management. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Prairie elk unit 49A?
This page lists 2 seasons a person has checked against South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.
Which units are next to Prairie elk unit 49A?
In the same unit system: Black Hills elk unit H7A, Black Hills elk unit H7B 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.