Waubay National Wildlife Refuge.
Located in the north east corner of the state, the Refuge encompasses 4,650 acres of wetlands, native tallgrass prairie, and bur oak forest that provide a wide variety of nesting habitat for more than 100 species of waterfowl, song birds, and upland game birds as well as 140 additional bird species during migrations. To get there from Sioux Falls, go north on I-29 for about 120 miles, then head go west on Highway 12 for 13 miles, then north 7 miles on Day Co 1.
Black Hills.
This large area of National Forest is located in the south western corner of the state and offers good birding at all altitudes. There are good forest birds found in the aspen and ponderosa pine groves. For higher elevation birds, try either the Spearfish Canyon National Forest Scenic Byway in the north or the Needles Highway to the south of Mount Rushmore. The nearest city is Rapid City
Lacreek National Wildlife Reserve.
A combination of wetlands, meadows and small stands of planted trees in the upland sections provide habitat for a wide variety of species. Much of the refuge has a series of low dikes that help to maintain some areas in a prolonged wetland state, incresing wildlife habitat, especially for migratory bird species. This refuge serves as an important migration stopover, and during the spring and fall migrations waterfowl numbers have peaked at 29,000 ducks and 37,000 geese. Eighteen species of hawks and eight species of owls have been documented here and to date, there have been over 280 bird species recorded at the refuge. The refuge is near Martin, in the southern part of the state, near the Nebraska border. Take the 73 south from Martin off Highway 18.