Last week, the 2026 South Dakota Legislative Session officially came to a close with the ringing of the Sine Die bell. It was a quiet session with only a handful of sportsmen-related bills moving through the legislative process this year.
Key Sportsmen Legislation Signed by Governor Rhoden
Governor Rhoden has signed SB 2, SB 131, HB 1047, and HB 1265 into law.
- SB 2, Deregulating Suppressors, removes firearm silencers from the state’s definition of “controlled weapons.” This important bill recognizes suppressors as essential hearing protection for hunters and marks South Dakota as a leader in protecting Second Amendment rights. While federal regulations still apply, this bill clears the path for full deregulation in the future. Signed February 10.
- SB 131, Honoring Our Heroes, authorizes specialized pheasant hunts for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients. By expanding the season and defining eligibility for those who sacrificed for our country, we are using our hunting traditions to provide healing and camaraderie to our veterans. Signed March 30.
- HB 1047, Modernizing Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, secures $8 million for the total overhaul of the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery. As the state’s only cool-water facility, Blue Dog is the engine that drives South Dakota’s Walleye, Northern Pike, and Perch populations. Upgrading this infrastructure will help ensure that the next generation of South Dakota anglers won’t face “empty water” due to equipment failure. Signed February 11.
- HB 1265, Authorizing Bird Egg Salvage, creates a legal framework for individuals to salvage and hatch certain bird eggs that would otherwise be destroyed by agricultural operations or other lawful activities. This common-sense measure allows permit holders to incubate, hatch, and release birds back into the wild, bolstering our upland game populations. Signed March 12.
Review a complete list of monitored bills via the Interactive Legislative Map.
Protecting South Dakota’s Hunting and Fishing Heritage
Even though the 2026 legislative session is over, the work never truly ends. Anti-sportsman groups are already eyeing ways to chip away at our hunting, fishing, and trapping rights and restrict access to public lands beyond the legislature. We’ve seen across the country how quickly a “win” can turn into a defensive battle if we get complacent.
Stay vigilant, stay active, and keep your boots on the ground. We cannot stand alone in this fight to protect our heritage. You must rally your family and friends to join the fight. Share with them what is at stake – our future. Together, we can protect what matters most and push back against those who threaten our values, our way of life, and our traditions.
We have the momentum, but we must always stay one step ahead of those who seek to undermine and abolish our lifestyle.
Please share this message with fellow sportsmen to help defend our hunting, fishing, and trapping heritage in the Rushmore State.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing, and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler, and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square, and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions. Stay connected to the Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
