[h=2]
I can tell you that ND had 107,000+ applicants for 54,500 for rifle in 2017, I cannot find SD numbers but did find this information below from a Outdoor Life source for what it's worth, look like SD harvests a much higher # of deer and able to maintain a steady or increasing population of deer. It could be tougher winters up here, the habitat available for cover and many other factor as discussed in past, less CRP, less tree rows and disease have really hurt us and many reasons but we are struggling to maintain or increase out population up here.
South Dakota[/h]
Species: Whitetails and mule deer
Estimated population: no estimate
Fall 2016-’17 harvest: whitetails: about 28,000 bucks, 18,900 does (46,900 total); muleys: about 5,300 bucks, 1,200 does (6,500 total)
Overall outlook: Andy Lindbloom, senior big-game biologist with the
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, reports that state mule deer numbers are increasing slowly. “Growth rates have been low, and in some areas, mule deer herds are stable to slightly decreasing,” he said.
Meanwhile, whitetail numbers are increasing at a faster pace.
“Still, some areas have been set back by severe winter weather and epizootic hemorrhagic disease outbreaks,” says Lindbloom.
[h=2]North Dakota[/h]
Species: Whitetails and mule deer
Estimated population: no estimate
Fall 2016-’17 harvest: 24,870 whitetails and 4,431 mule deer (or about 29,300 total deer)
Overall outlook: Bill Jensen, big-game biologist for the
North Dakota Game and Fish Department, reports that deer numbers are stable across the state.
We have a one tag system in sodak. I got one tag for any whitetail west river I got one tag for any whitetail east river I got one tag for archery I got on tag for any antlerless whitetail muzzleloader. If I wanted I would have one tag for Black hills deer.
Serious question I hunt with on 40 miles of the nd border and there are less deer but I still see a bunch. What is the difference between the two states?