June 7, 2025:
The 2025 Nest Predator Bounty Program, has closed as 50,000 tails have been submitted.
“The participation in this program from youth, families and seasoned trappers has been incredible this year,” said South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department Secretary, Kevin Robling. “It is amazing to see people out on the landscape, managing nest predators, and enjoying our outdoor resources.”
“I would like to thank all of the participants in this program. This program began in 2019 to help reduce localized populations of nest predators and increase participation in trapping. Hitting the benchmark of 50,000 tail submissions this quickly, and having nearly 30% of the tails submitted being youth participants are testaments to the trapping heritage of South Dakotans.”
March 7, 2025:
The 7th season of South Dakota’s Nest Predator Bounty Program is open (March 1, 2025) for kids that are under 18 years of age.
The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks program pays $10 per tail from raccoon, striped skunk, badger, red fox and opossum. There’s a maximum total payout limit of $500,000. Tails can be harvested via trapping or hunting, but they must be harvested during the open period to be eligible.
GFP Secretary Kevin Robling says his agency will also once again offer a weekly youth trap giveaway. One participating youth under the age of 18 will be drawn weekly to receive a raccoon trapping starter kit, trapping handbook, a knife and a write-up explaining Benton Howe’s love for the outdoors. All participating youth will also be given the National Trapper’s Association Trapping Handbook.
The program opens to all South Dakota residents April 1.
Robling says participants need a hunting, furbearer or fishing license to be eligible to participate in the bounty program. However, landowners harvesting nest predators for the program on their own land and youth under 18 are exempt from this license requirement.
Complete program details as well as dates, times and locations for tail submissions can be found on the GFP website.
For bounty submissions outside of the listed office locations and times, please contact your local wildlife conservation officer or wildlife damage specialist.
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