South Dakota Health Officials Issue Hunting Safety Rules

State officials are urging hunters to follow firearm safety protocols following a decade-long increase in injury reports.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Hunting

Screen-print poster illustration showing a solitary wooden hunting blind in an open prairie, evoking rural safety in South Dakota. — The South Dakota Department of Health is promoting four mandatory firearm safety practices following a decade-long increase in hunting-related injuries across the state. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe stricter adherence to firearm safety rules is necessary for local hunters?

The South Dakota Department of Health is promoting mandatory firearm safety practices after reporting a steady rise in injury cases over the last ten years. Residents are encouraged to adhere to four fundamental safety rules during the current hunting season.

Why it matters

Firearm-related incidents have become an increasing concern for local communities across the state, prompting this targeted public safety campaign. Officials aim to reduce unintentional injuries by emphasizing responsible gun handling in the field.

Between 2016 and 2025, 1,243 South Dakotans died from firearm-related injuries. In 2025 alone, 70% of the 166 nonfatal firearm injuries reported were unintentional.

The players

South Dakota Department of Health

This state agency is responsible for overseeing public health initiatives, tracking injury statistics, and promoting safety protocols for residents.

The details

The Department of Health advises hunters to treat every firearm as if it were loaded and to always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Additionally, individuals must keep their fingers off the trigger until they are ready to shoot and verify their target along with what lies beyond it.

2016: 107 firearm deaths were recorded.
2016-2025: A total of 1,243 firearm-related deaths occurred in the state.
2025: 148 deaths and 166 nonfatal injuries were reported.
October 2026: The Department of Health issued the formal safety reminder.

Culture Shift

This public health outreach follows the pattern set by the decade-long trend of rising firearm-related injuries in South Dakota. The initiative reflects a broader societal shift toward prioritizing accident prevention in outdoor and sporting activities.

Hunters across the state are encouraged to incorporate these four safety pillars into their routine to prevent accidents in the field. Adopting these specific handling habits can directly reduce the risk of unintentional injuries during the upcoming hunting season.

The takeaway

Responsible gun ownership requires consistent adherence to safety rules regardless of an individual's experience level. By checking the target and beyond before firing, hunters can play a direct role in lowering the state's unintentional injury rate.