Talking the ongoing mountain lion season

The 2025 Black Hills Forest District mountain lion season came to an end April 30. The season runs from Dec. 26 through April 30. Its a little confusing because Dec. 26 is 2024 and the season runs into 2025 and will start up again in 2025 on Dec. 26. Does that make sense?

The harvest limit was 60 lions taken or 40 female lions taken, whichever comes first. All harvested mountain lions must be presented to Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) for inspection within 24 hours of harvest. Mountain lions harvested in the Black Hills must be reported to a GFP office and checked in to the Rapid City GFP Regional Office at 4130 Adventure Trail Outdoor Campus or at the park headquarters at Custer State Park.

Once a lion is harvested, you can call either office or after normal business hours, call state radio at 605-393-8121. During the season, you can call in to check on the lion count at 066-895-9067. This past season 52 lions were harvested, 29 females and 23 males.

My youngest son harvested the first lion this past season. He did that one other year a few years ago. In between, he was deployed with his National Guard unit to Africa.

Outside the Black Hills National Forest the season is continuing. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding our lion season.

1. Question: How do I get a license? Answer: Every South Dakota citizen that is eligible for a hunting license can be issued a lion license providing they apply and pay the $28 fee.

2. Question: Can I use dogs? Answer: Dogs are allowed over the entire state with the exception of the Black Hills Forest District where it is a boot season only. No dogs.

3. Question: Can I use electronic calls to call in a lion? Answer:

Yes, electronic calls are legal.

4. Question: Once I harvest a lion and get it checked in with GFP, can I eat the lion? Answer: Yes. Lion meat tastes like pork. It’s actually very tasty!

For a ton of information, there is a Facebook page under Black Hills Mountain Lion hunters. This is an excellent resource to gain lion hunting knowledge and share with other lion hunters. Also, snow, weather conditions and the like are discussed on this page.

We just finished the 20th lion season with great conservation results. Game, Fish and Parks does an excellent job administering this season. So, come Dec. 26, have you application in for this excellent outdoor activity that might actually cause you to be addicted to lion hunting.