South Dakota § 41-8-31 - Hunting methods restricted--Violation as misdemeanor.

§ 41-8-31. Hunting methods restricted--Violation as misdemeanor.

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:

(1)    Game birds and animals may be taken with birds trained in falconry or with bow and arrow;

(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;

(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;

(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;

(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

(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.

A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: SDC 1939, § 25.0412; SL 1941, ch 109; SL 1943, ch 94; SL 1947, ch 111; SL 1953, ch 105; SL 1957, ch 105; SL 1959, ch 116; SL 1963, ch 138; SL 1969, ch 100; SL 1979, ch 283, § 5; SL 1984, ch 274; SL 1986, ch 353; SL 1991, ch 337, § 54; SL 2007, ch 243, § 1; SL 2008, ch 218, § 1; SL 2009, ch 210, § 1; SL 2010, ch 210, § 1; SL 2011, ch 192, § 1.