Best South Dakota Elk Units (2026)
These are the top South Dakota elk units by hunter success rate, drawn from real harvest reports across 38 units (the state average is about 37%). Only units with a meaningful sample are ranked, so a unit that went two-for-two doesn't outrank a proven producer.
Harvest figures are the most recent reported season and vary year to year — confirm current regulations with the state wildlife agency before applying.
| # | Unit | Success rate | Latest harvest | Yrs tracked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H7A | 62% | 34 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 2 | 11D | 60% | 18 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 3 | H1A | 58% | 73 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 4 | H2A | 56% | 307 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 5 | 35B | 54% | 26 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 6 | CU1 | 51% | 18 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 7 | 27A | 50% | 35 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 8 | H1B | 48% | 48 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 9 | 49A | 48% | 12 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 10 | H3B | 47% | 21 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 11 | H3A | 44% | 84 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 12 | H4A | 38% | 23 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 13 | H2C | 35% | 36 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 14 | H3F | 35% | 21 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 15 | H9B | 35% | 14 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 16 | H3E | 34% | 21 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 17 | H7B | 30% | 15 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 18 | H2B | 29% | 29 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 19 | H2F | 27% | 34 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 20 | H4B | 25% | 10 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 21 | 35A | 25% | 10 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 22 | H3C | 24% | 11 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 23 | H3D | 24% | 11 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 24 | H2G | 22% | 28 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
| 25 | WRA | 21% | 23 · 2024 | 1 | Details → |
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