South Dakota

Resident Small Game Stamps

Resident small game stamps were required of all resident sportsmen intending to hunt for various species of birds and small game, including waterfowl, starting in 1960. Note there was a separate stamp printed for non-resident hunters each year that was not required to hunt for waterfowl. Although this is sometimes confused by collectors and dealers, the fact is that non-residents were not allowed to hunt waterfowl in South Dakota from 1947 through 1969. When non-residents were finally allowed to hunt waterfowl, they were not required to purchase a small game stamp.

In 1960 and 1961, the resident small game stamps were cut into sheets of ten (2x5). The sheets were plain rouletted 5 1/2 horizontally and color rouletted (red) 6 1/2 vertically between the stamps and straight edged on all four sides. The stamps were serial numbered in red and featured dry gum. The sheets of 1960 stamps included two constant printing varieties; stamps from positions one, two and four have curved year date tablets, while stamps from positions three and five have the right tablet only curved.

From 1962 through 1998, all resident small game stamps were printed in booklet panes of five (1x5) with a tab at the top. Two panes were stapled together between printed card stock covers to form a booklet. Panes from 1962, 1963 and 1964, as well as from 1990 through 1998, were rouletted between the stamps and between the stamps and the tabs. Panes from 1965 through 1989 were perforated between the stamps and between the stamps and the tabs. One pane only of 1993 stamps has been recorded perforated 11 3/4. Stamps from 1962 through 1978, with the exception of 1977, had serial numbers printed in red. Stamps from 1977, as well as 1979 through 1998, had serial numbers printed in black. All booklet-type stamps (1962-1998) featured dry gum.

Stamps from many different years have been recorded with different sizes or styles of serial numbers. Stamps from 1968 through 1978 are most commonly found with serial numbers 4.5 mm tall. For some years, more than one size of serial number has been recorded on the same pane — indicating a typesetting error. For other years, it is believed that different serial numbers were a product of different printings, and that all of the stamps from a specific printing had serial numbers which were identical in size and style. Further analysis may allow for more detailed serial number information in future editions of this catalog.