Regions
South Dakota’s four main land regions are the Drift Prairie, the Dissected Till Plains, the Great Plains, and the Black Hills.
Agriculture
Agriculture continues to be South Dakota’s top industry, generating $8.8 billion in revenues. There are approximately 31,500 farms, covering 43.2 million acres of the Mount Rushmore state. The average size farm comprises 1,300 acres. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to all 66 counties.
South Dakota’s most valuable crops are corn and soybeans. The state also grows substantial quantities of hay, wheat, and even leads the nation in growing sunflowers. Most of the cropland is found in the eastern part of the state.
Wildlife
South Dakota wildlife is abundant on both land and water. The state is home to bison, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, pronghorn, coyote, and prairie dogs.
Diverse fishing opportunities across the state include Northern pike, walleye, sturgeon, paddlefish, carp, and gar.
South Dakota is committed to conserving and restoring its native grasslands, waters, and wildlife habitats to allow for greater sustainability of natural resources.
Major Rivers and Lakes
The three longest rivers in South Dakota are the Missouri River, James River, and White River. Their main tributaries include the Grand River, Moreau River, and Cheyenne River.
Lake Oahe, the largest lake in South Dakota, is located on the Missouri River. The lake spans from South Dakota to North Dakota. The surface area of this lake is approximately 369,920 acres (578 square miles). Other significant lakes include Lake Francis Case and Lake Sharpe, which exceed 158,899 surface area acres.
State and National Parks
South Dakota has 63 state parks and 7 national parks.
National Parks:
- Badlands National Park
- Jewel Cave National Monument
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
- Missouri National Recreational River
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Wind Cave National Park
Largest LakeLake Oahe
| State Summary | |
| Nickname | The Mount Rushmore State |
| Neighboring States | North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana |
| Regions | Drift Prairie, Dissected Till Plains, Great Plains, and Black Hills |
| State Flower | American Pasque |
| State Bird | Ring-necked Pheasant |
| Big Game | Deer, antelope, elk, turkey, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and mountain lion |
| Small Game | Pheasant, grouse, partridge, quail, dove, rabbit, and squirrel |
| Freshwater Fish | Northern pike, muskellunge, rainbow smelt, flathead catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass, sunfish, and crappies |
| Saltwater Fish | N/A |
| Hunting Information | https://gfp.sd.gov/hunt/ |
| Total Acreage | 49.3 million acres |
| Total Public Land Acreage | 2.6 million acres |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 23 inches |
| Farmland by Acreage | 43.2 million acres |
| Woodlands by Acreage | 1.7 million acres |
| Coastline | N/A |
| Conservation Program | https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/sd/programs/ |
| Primary Crops | Corn and Soybeans |
| Other Lakes | Lake Francis Case, Lake Sharpe, and Lewis and Clark Lake |
| Major Rivers | Missouri River, James River, and White River |
| Other Tributaries | Grand River, Moreau River, and Cheyenne River |
Our Rural Real Estate Offices
Mossy Oak Properties South Dakota began with the goal of becoming a trusted resource for folks looking to buy or sell rural land for sale in South Dakota. Our land brokers and agents understand what people are looking for in rural property because we share the same lifestyle and love for the land as you do. We understand the importance of honor and integrity and that buying or selling land is an emotional and life-changing experience for consumers.
Only Mossy Oak Properties South Dakota can provide the powerful combination of brand strength, local expertise, quality service, and national exposure. Whether you want to buy or sell rural real estate, a Mossy Oak Properties land specialist is a must-have on your team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes South Dakota a top state for rural land buyers seeking hunting and agriculture?
South Dakota is the absolute best pheasant hunting state in the country and they easily pull in the largest wild pheasant harvest in North America every single year. The mix of tall conservation grass wetland ponds thick tree lines and unharvested crops gives the birds the absolute perfect place to live in the north central counties.
The state also has some of the absolute cheapest and most productive farm dirt in the Northern Great Plains for growing corn soybeans and wheat. Out in western South Dakota you get incredible mule deer and whitetail hunting in the Black Hills and the deep river cuts along the Missouri River. The perfect mix of world class bird hunting and highly productive farm dirt at prices much cheaper than nearby Iowa and Minnesota makes South Dakota a totally amazing place to buy land.
What are typical land prices across South Dakota?
According to the 2025 South Dakota State University Extension Farm Real Estate Survey land values have stayed strong across the state. Eastern South Dakota corn and soybean dirt in Moody Brookings and Kingsbury counties sells for $5,000 to $9,000 per acre. Central South Dakota mixed crop and hay dirt runs $2,500 to $5,000 per acre.
According to the same 2025 survey the statewide average for pasture land jumped to $1,720 per acre so West River cattle range in Meade Pennington and Fall River counties usually runs $1,000 to $2,000 per acre. Black Hills hunting land in Lawrence and Pennington counties runs $2,000 to $5,000 per acre depending on the timber value and how good the elk or deer hunting actually is. Overall South Dakota dirt is consistently much cheaper than similar farm dirt in Minnesota and Iowa.
What property taxes should South Dakota rural landowners expect?
South Dakota has absolutely zero state income tax which is a massive advantage for buyers who make serious investment or rental money off their property. Property taxes on farm dirt are figured out using a productivity formula that values the land based on the crops it can grow rather than its full market selling price.
This keeps the yearly tax bill sitting far below what you would normally pay. South Dakota also has zero inheritance tax which makes passing a family farm down to your kids incredibly easy and cheap. The overall tax burden on rural dirt here is some of the absolute lowest in the Northern Great Plains making it a fantastic state to hold land for the long term without bleeding money every year.
What should buyers know about hunting access and land use in South Dakota?
The South Dakota Walk In Area program pays landowners a yearly fee to let the public hunt their private land for free. This program opens up a massive amount of dirt for public hunting but it also means the absolute best private land stays out of the program so the owners can keep it totally exclusive. When it comes to out of state hunters getting a license the rules are mixed.
According to the 2026 South Dakota Game Fish and Parks regulations out of state hunters can buy pheasant licenses right over the counter. However all non resident deer tags for firearm seasons and public land archery hunts are completely locked behind a strict lottery draw system. The only deer tags out of state hunters can buy over the counter are archery tags restricted entirely to private land. This easy access to pheasant tags and private land deer tags makes South Dakota an incredible place for out of state buyers who want to hunt their own dirt right away.
