National Wildlife 

Refuge

Lacreek

Hunting and Fishing 

Information

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Welcome to Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is managed 

by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Refuge is 

one of over 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge 

System – a network of lands set aside to conserve wildlife 

and habitat for people today and for generations to come. 

The Refuge is located 12 miles southeast of Martin, 

South Dakota. The Refuge headquarters is open from 

7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, except on 

Federal holidays.

Designated areas of the Refuge are open to hunting 

and fishing, and all South Dakota regulations, license 

requirements, seasons, and bag limits apply unless 

otherwise specified in this brochure. Please see 

the map for areas open to hunting and fishing.

General Information

■ Hunters may hunt only in areas open to hunting

as shown on the map. 

■ Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying

firearms on National Wildlife Refuge System lands 

must comply with all provisions of State and local 

law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in 

accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 

and specific regulations in 50 CFR Part 32). 

■ Motor vehicles are permitted only on designated

roads and in hunter parking areas. Hunters 

must access and exit hunting areas from 

designated hunter parking areas only. 

■ Hunters may leave portable tree stands and

free-standing platforms on the Refuge from 

the first Saturday after August 25 through 

February 15. All other personal property 

must be removed at the end of each day. 

■ Overnight use and camping is permitted in the

Little White River Recreation Area only. All other 

Refuge lands are closed to these activities. 

■ Hunters must close any gate opened for access.

Game Species

Pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, and deer may be 

hunted on Lacreek NWR. All other animals are 

protected. Additional game species may be hunted 

only in the Little White River Recreation Area and 

include goose, duck, common snipe, sandhill crane, 

American crow, mourning dove, pheasant, and turkey. 

Closed to all hunting

Pheasant, grouse, and deer; 

Consult regulations

Deer only; Consult regulations

Little White River Recreation 

Area; Special regulations apply

SD Game, Fish and Parks Land

Refuge headquarters

Pool 

7

Martin

Tuthill

Trout

Ponds

Pool

8

Pool 

9

Pool

10

Little White River

Recreation Area

Little White River

Lake Creek

Prairie Dog

Observation 

Area 

18

18 73

73

Refuge boundary

Designated access road

Federal Highway

State Highway

County Road

Designated hunter parking

Information

Restroom

Linked symbols indicate 

accessible facilities

Observation area

Fishing

Campground

Lacreek

National Wildlife Refuge

0 1 Miles 3 4

0 1 Kilometers 3 4

Pelican

Island

Observation

Area

N

Refuge Road

228 Avenue 228 Avenue

227 Avenue

291 Street

293 Street

292 Street

Project Road

296 Street

220 Avenue

221 Avenue

297 Street

298

Street

229 Avenue

298 Street

Cedar Creek Road

231 Avenue

225 Avenue

Pheasant Road

18

224 Avenue

Robin Road

to

Merriman,

NE

to

Eli, NE

to Highway

18

to

Mission, SD

to

Pine Ridge,

SD

222 Avenue

Lake

Cre e k

73

Pool 4

Pool 3
Deer Hunting

Hunting for white-tailed and mule deer is permitted in 

designated areas of the Refuge as shown on the map. 

Muzzleloader hunters are required to possess a valid 

State muzzleloader deer hunting license specific to 

Lacreek NWR. Deer hunters may only access the Refuge 

1 hour before legal shooting time and until 1 hour after 

legal shooting time ends. Legal shooting times are posted 

in the South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook. 

Archery hunters must possess, sign, and carry a 

Refuge deer hunting permit, in addition to a valid State 

archery license. Archery permits are free of charge and 

available at the Refuge headquarters. The Refuge is 

closed to archery deer hunting during Lacreek NWR 

muzzleloader seasons. Refer to the South Dakota 

Game, Fish and Parks Refuge Deer Application 

form for muzzleloader season dates. The Refuge is 

closed to archery deer hunting after December 31.

Pheasant and Sharp-tailed Grouse Hunting

Hunting for pheasants and sharp-tailed grouse is 

permitted in designated areas of the Refuge as shown 

on the map. Non-toxic shot is required while hunting on 

Lacreek NWR, and the possession of toxic shot in the 

field is prohibited. Pheasant and grouse hunters may 

remain on the Refuge until one-half hour after legal 

shooting time ends. Legal shooting times are posted in the 

South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook. 

Prohibited Activities

■ Accessing the public hunting area from other than

a designated hunter parking area

■ Entering the Refuge to retrieve game that was shot

from adjacent lands

■ Shooting over Refuge property from adjacent road

rights-of-way or private land

■ Hunting from or with the aid of vehicles except for

hunters possessing a Disabled Hunter Permit and a 

special use permit issued by the Refuge Manager 

■ Use of electronic or photographic trail monitoring

cameras or other devices

■ Carrying, possessing, or discharging fireworks

or explosives

■ Possession of alcoholic beverages

■ Use or possession of air guns, spears, gigs,

or other weapons

■ Open fires on the Refuge, except in designated sites

at the Little White River Recreation Area

Signs and Boundaries

These signs will help you find your location on the Refuge. 

The wording of the sign applies to the area located behind 

the sign, except for parking signs. Please respect the 

following signs:

Refuge Boundary – Authorized activities 

only. All Refuge areas are considered 

closed to public entry unless opened by 

public notice, regulation, brochure, or 

by special permit. Entry permitted in 

accordance with Refuge regulations.

Hunting, weapons, and game retrieval 

prohibited.

The entire Refuge is closed to the retrieval 

of game shot from adjacent lands. Shooting 

over Refuge property from adjacent road 

rights-of-way or private land is prohibited. 

Hunters must park in front of 

this sign in designated locations. 

Hunters must access and exit the 

hunting area from designated 

hunter parking areas only.

Fishing

The Refuge is open to fishing at the Trout Ponds, Little 

White River Recreation Area, and Pools 3, 4, 7, and 10. 

Rainbow trout are stocked at the Trout Ponds. Channel 

catfish, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and 

yellow perch are included in the fish species found at the 

Little White River Recreation Area. Designated fishing 

areas are open one-half hour before legal sunrise until 

one-half hour after legal sunset except at Little White 

River Recreation Area. The use or possession of live 

minnows or bait fish is prohibited on the Refuge except 

at Little White River Recreation Area. Snapping turtles 

may be harvested in areas open to fishing and within 

300 feet of any road open to public travel.
Accessibility

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from 

programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service is available to all individuals regardless of 

physical or mental ability. Dial 711 for a free connection 

to the State transfer relay service for TTY and voice 

calls to and from the speech and hearing impaired. For 

more information or to address accessibility needs, 

please contact the Refuge staff at 605 / 685 6508, or 

the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Equal 

Opportunity, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge

29746 Bird Road

Martin, SD 57551-6006

605 / 685 6508

lacreek@fws.gov

http://www.fws.gov/lacreek

For State relay service

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information

1 800 / 344 WILD

October 2012