Unit-by-unit draw odds from official South Dakota wildlife-agency data. Use applicant counts and tags available to gauge real competition before you burn points.
9
with draw data
8.3%
2026 season
0
units ≥100% odds
2026
most recent
Across South Dakota's 9 mountain lion units with published draw data, odds range widely. The most sought-after limited-entry units can take years of preference points to pull, while others draw closer to every year. That split is the heart of a South Dakota mountain lion strategy: bank points for a low-odds trophy tag, or hunt a high-odds unit this season.
Draw odds are the ratio of tags available to applicants, so a low number means heavy competition, not a bad hunt. Read them next to the applicants and points required before you commit. Every figure below comes from official South Dakota wildlife-agency draw results; the table sorts hardest-draw first.
What are the draw odds for South Dakota mountain lion?
Across the 9 South Dakota mountain lion units with published draw data, average draw odds are 8.3% for the 2026 season. Odds vary widely by unit, so review each unit's applicants and tags available before applying. Figures come from official South Dakota wildlife-agency draw results.
Which South Dakota mountain lion unit is the hardest to draw?
Unit AP277 is among the hardest South Dakota mountain lion draws, at roughly 0.3% odds in 2026. Low-odds units typically produce higher-quality animals but take years of points to draw.
What is the easiest South Dakota mountain lion unit to draw?
Unit AP576 has among the best South Dakota mountain lion draw odds, around 25.4% in 2025. Higher-odds units are good options for hunters who want to hunt sooner rather than bank points for a premium tag.
Want point projections and a draw timeline for this species?
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Last updated Apr 25, 2026 from official South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks draw results.
| AP477 |
| 0.4% |
| 687 |
| 3 |
| – |
| +2.3% |
| AP577 | 0.5% | 578 | 3 | – | +4.0% |
| AP376 | 13.3% | 113 | 15 | – | -4.5% |
| AP276 | 14.4% | 104 | 15 | – | +19.2% |
| AP476 | 19.2% | 78 | 15 | – | +2.6% |
| AP576 | 25.4% | 59 | 15 | – | +20.3% |
