SD Game Fish adn Parks otter
The 2025 river otter season harvest limit of 30 otters was reached on Friday, November 21 at 9:15 central time, and the season is now closed. River otters captured in existing traps in the next 24 hours are legal catches. Harvesting river otters by hunting is illegal now that the harvest limit has been reached.
Furbearer license holders now have until Saturday, November 22 at 9:15 central time (24 hours since the season closed) to report any trapped river otters to GFP by calling 605.353.7319. After this time, any harvested river otter is considered an incidental take and must be surrendered to GFP.
If the incidentally trapped river otter is alive, the trapper must immediately release the river otter and should notify a GFP representative.
If the incidentally captured river otter is found dead in a trap, the trapper is required to leave the river otter undisturbed and contact a GFP representative within 12 hours.
All river otter pelts must be tagged through the eyeholes with a CITES tag provided by GFP within five days of harvest and the carcass must be surrendered to GFP.
A person may only possess, purchase, or sell raw river otter pelts tagged by GFP or, if taken from another jurisdiction, properly and securely tagged with a tag supplied by the governmental entity issuing the license. If the governmental entity issuing the license does not issue a tag, other proof that the river otter has been lawfully taken is required.
South Dakota’s river otter trapping season began at sunrise on November 1 and marked the sixth season in the state. This trapping season was initiated in 2020 to create a new and exciting opportunity for trappers during the fall.
For more information about the river otter season, please visit the GFP website at gfp.sd.gov/river-otter/.
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