South Dakota Woody Habitat Program

GFP cost-shares woody wildlife habitat on South Dakota private land, including new wildlife shelterbelts (8+ rows), shelterbelt renovations, riparian shrub clumps, and hardwood release (removing competing species) in the Black Hills and native hardwood forests. Cost-share is 75% (up to $20,000 for plantings or $30,000 for renovations), rising to 100% if the land is in a public hunting access program for 5+ years. Contracts are 15 years and landowners must allow reasonable free hunting access.

• Guide: 'New plantings must be a minimum of 8 rows wide and at least 1 acre in size.'

• 'Lands converted by the current owner from native sod to cropland in the previous 5 years are not eligible.'

• 'GFP will not provide cost-share on any trees that the landowner is receiving cost share from another entity or program.'

• 'Landowners enrolled in this program retain access control to their property but are required to allow some type of reasonable free hunting access.'

'Contracts are 15 years in length.' Payment after project completion and receipts; early removal requires full reimbursement. '$5,000 of the $20,000 or $30,000 maximums can be used for cost share for temporary deer fencing protection.' Hardwood release: projects 1/2 acre+, 15-year contracts, forest management plan; protective fence at 50% up to $3.50/ft.

Published amounts: Guide p.5-7: 'GFP will reimburse landowners for 75% of costs incurred for planting woody habitat up to $20,000.' 90% for rows added to CRP tree plantings; '100% of landowner costs will be reimbursed if the landowner’s property is enrolled into a public hunting access program for 5 or more years'; '75% of landowner costs will be reimbursed for shelterbelt renovations and replanting up to $30,000.' Hardwood release: '75% cost share for mastication or hand removal of undesirable species competing with desired hardwood deciduous tree species.' '$600 maximum cost share per acre'; 'Maximum cost share of $15,000 per landowner per year.'

Send a tree plan (with landowner contact information) and color aerial photo of the project location to a GFP private lands habitat biologist by November 1.

Deadline text on the page: 2026 Guide p.5: send a tree plan and aerial photo to a GFP private lands habitat biologist 'by November 1 for planning and ensuring tree species availability. If applications do not meet annual planting objectives, this deadline may be extended.'