Updated October 31, 2025: The Can-Am Defender for Habitat Raffle successfully raised $150,000 to support habitat conservation in South Dakota! Casey Crooks was the lucky winner of the Can-Am, and everyone who participated supported grassland habitat for pheasants, deer, and other wildlife! Learn more in Can-Am Defender for Habitat Raffle Raises Over $150,000.
Habitat is the foundation to wildlife management, and whether it’s healthy fisheries, abundant pheasant populations, or trophy caliber bucks on the landscape the conversation starts and ends with habitat. Habitat and access is a top priority for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) and as hunters, anglers, and state park users there are a variety of ways for us to become further involved in habitat conservation.
This past March, GFP announced a new way to support conservation in South Dakota. This is through the Habitat Conservation License Plate! The plate itself is obtained at your local treasurer’s office, and then you can select one of four approved habitat decals that include a deer, pheasant, meadowlark, and pasque flower to place on the plate. These are obtained at your local GFP office or through Go Outdoors South Dakota.
The plate itself is $10 if your plates are not due for renewal, and a set of two decals are $50. All the proceeds from the sale of the decals will support public land habitat projects across South Dakota. These Habitat Conservation License Plates are a great way to showcase your support for conservation every time you drive down the road.
Another way to support public land habitat improvements is by purchasing tickets for the Hunt for Habitat raffle. This year, the Hunt for Habitat features four packages: (3) Any Deer and Any Elk, (1) Custer State Park Trophy Bison, (1) Custer State Park Deer, and (1) Any Deer. These licenses can be used in 2025 or 2026, and are open for any eligible unit and season that license would be valid for.
Tickets are $10 for residents and $20 for nonresidents, there is no limit to the amount of tickets nor packages that can be purchased. The more tickets you purchase, the more you support habitat improvements across the state, and of course the greater your chances are to win! Tickets are available through Go Outdoors South Dakota.
If you’d like to continue to test your luck, the Second Century Habitat Fund’s Defender for Habitat raffle is another way to support habitat across South Dakota. One lucky winner will drive home a new Can-Am Defender Max Limited, and every participant will know they have put more habitat on the landscape for helping our pheasant population.
Tickets are 1 for $20, 3 for $50, 10 for $100, and 50 for $500.
Of course, the best way to support conservation is to purchase your hunting and fishing licenses, and introduce someone new to the sport. Your license purchase directly supports wildlife management, habitat improvements, and public land access. Sharing our sport with a family member, friend, or co-worker ensures that our outdoor traditions will remain strong for generations to come!
