Archery Equipment Requirements: Arrows and Arrowheads

Your arrows and arrowheads must meet these requirements.

Arrows

When bowhunting, it is illegal to use or possess:

• An arrow that is less than 26 inches long when measured from the notch of the nock to the end of the shaft, not including the blunt point or broadhead.
• An arrow, including the attached broadhead, that weighs less than 275 grains when you are hunting big game animals.

Arrowheads

When bowhunting, the arrowheads that you may legally use or posses depend on what you are doing.

• When hunting a big game animal, you must use a fixed or mechanical broadhead with at least two metal cutting edges. Also, South Dakota GFP encourages you to use broadheads that have a cutting diameter of at least ⅞".
• When hunting turkeys, the arrowheads attached to your arrows must be:
• Fixed or mechanical broadheads with at least two metal cutting edges or…
• Blunt points.
• When hunting small game, the arrowheads attached to your arrows must be:
• Fixed or mechanical broadheads with at least two metal cutting edges or…
• Field points or…
• Blunt points.
• When practicing, the arrows you use or possess may have:
  • Fixed or mechanical broadheads with at least two metal cutting edges or …
  • Field points or …
  • Blunt points.

It is illegal use or possess explosive, poisonous, hydraulic, or pneumatic points.