South Dakota’s Special Antelope (PSA) Buck Antelope – Private Land Only license offers hunters another opportunity to pursue pronghorn in some of the state’s best antelope habitat. Although fewer licenses are available compared to the regular Prairie Antelope draw, the Special Antelope hunt remains popular among both resident and nonresident hunters.
The 2025 draw statistics show that demand for these licenses significantly exceeded supply, making this one of the more competitive antelope draws in South Dakota.
Understanding the Special Antelope License
The PSA (Buck Antelope – Private Land Only) license is valid only on private land within designated hunt areas.
Because the number of available licenses is limited, applicants are selected through South Dakota’s preference point draw system. Hunters who are unsuccessful receive a preference point, increasing their chances in future draws.
2025 Draw Results
Resident Applicants
| Preference Group | Applicants | Licenses Issued |
| 2+ Preference Points | 74 | 50 |
| 1 Preference Point | 105 | 0 |
| 0 Preference Points | 184 | 0 |
| Total | 363 | 50 |
What the Numbers Tell Us
Competition for resident licenses was extremely strong.
Only applicants in the 2+ preference point pool received licenses. Once all 50 available tags were allocated, no licenses remained for hunters with one or zero preference points.
Overall, only 50 of 363 resident applicants were successful, resulting in an overall draw success rate of approximately 14%.
Nonresident Applicants
| Preference Group | Applicants | Licenses Issued |
| 2+ Preference Points | 73 | 50 |
| 1 Preference Point | 111 | 0 |
| 0 Preference Points | 175 | 0 |
| Total | 359 | 50 |
What the Numbers Tell Us
The nonresident draw was equally competitive.
All available licenses were issued to hunters with two or more preference points, leaving no opportunities for applicants with one or zero points.
Overall, only 50 of 359 nonresident applicants received a license, for an overall success rate of approximately 14%.
Preference Points Are Critical
Unlike some South Dakota antelope units where hunters with few or no preference points can still draw a license, the 2025 Special Antelope draw demonstrates just how important preference points have become.
Resident Draw
- Hunters with 6, 5 and 4 preference points all drew successfully.
- Applicants with 3 preference points had strong draw success, with 23 of 26 receiving licenses.
- Hunters with 2 preference points saw more limited success, with 18 of 39 drawing.
- No applicants with one or zero preference points received a license.
Nonresident Draw
The trend was similar for nonresidents.
- Applicants with 9 through 4 preference points all drew successfully.
- Hunters with 3 preference points had a 70% success rate.
- Applicants with 2 preference points had approximately 57% success.
- Hunters with one or zero preference points were unsuccessful.
The statistics clearly show that preference points are essential for hunters targeting the Special Antelope draw.
What Hunters Should Expect Going Forward
The 2025 draw statistics indicate that the Special Antelope hunt remains one of South Dakota’s more competitive antelope opportunities.
Demand Continues to Exceed Supply
With only 50 resident and 50 nonresident licenses available, demand far exceeded the number of tags issued.
This level of competition is likely to continue as more hunters discover South Dakota’s excellent pronghorn hunting opportunities.
Building Preference Points Is the Best Strategy
Unlike some regular Prairie Antelope units where applicants with few or no points can still draw, the Special Antelope draw heavily favored hunters with multiple preference points.
Hunters interested in this hunt should consider purchasing preference points annually and view the application process as a long-term strategy rather than expecting to draw immediately.
Consider Alternative Hunts
Hunters looking to experience South Dakota antelope hunting sooner may also wish to explore regular Prairie Antelope units where draw odds are more favorable and some applicants with fewer preference points are successful.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 South Dakota Special Antelope draw statistics highlight the popularity of the Private Land Only buck antelope hunt. With demand greatly exceeding the number of available licenses, applicants should expect strong competition and plan accordingly.
For hunters committed to pursuing this hunt, building preference points will significantly improve draw odds over time. Those seeking a quicker opportunity to hunt pronghorn in South Dakota may benefit from comparing the Special Antelope draw with the regular Prairie Antelope units before applying.
Understanding these annual draw statistics can help hunters make informed decisions and develop a strategy that best matches their hunting goals.