Comparison

Go Outdoors SD vs Bowhunter Specials

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Go Outdoors SD

This app allows users to access South Dakota hunting and fishing regulations, apply for licenses, and reserve campsites in state parks. It also provides GPS-enabled maps of public hunting and fishing areas.

Highlights
  • View hunting and fishing regulations
  • Apply for hunting and fishing licenses
  • Reserve state park campsites
  • View public hunting and fishing maps
  • GPS location on public lands
Features
Read full description

The SDGFP Hunt/Fish application lets users view the hunting and fishing regulations, apply for licenses to hunt and fish in South Dakota, reserve a campsite in one of the state parks, and view maps of public hunting and fishing opportunities. The maps use GPS to show the user where they are on public land. The hunting and fishing regulations are divided into sections to make it easier to find the information the user is looking for. This application is maintained by the State of South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

About

Bowhunter Specials

Access digital archives of leading bowhunting magazines, including back issues and special guides on crossbows, saddle hunting, and new gear. Enhance your hunting knowledge and gear selection with comprehensive resources.

Highlights
  • Digital back issues of Bowhunter magazine
  • Petersen's Bowhunting back issues archive
  • New Gear Guide with over 200 items
  • Crossbow Revolution special editions
  • Comprehensive saddle hunting guide
  • Archery Trade Show gear spotlights
Read full description

From the publisher of Bowhunter – The #1 Bowhunting Magazine – comes Bowhunter Specials, now including back issues of longtime rival in the Outdoor Sportsman Group media stable, Petersen’s Bowhunting. Following the brand’s merge into Bowhunter across all media platforms in the winter of ’23, we’re thrilled to offer Petersen’s Bowhunting Back Issues to fans of the magazine, with digital copies archived all the way back to 2012! You’ll also find copies of the New Gear Guide, which spotlights the best new gear introduced at this year’s Archery Trade Show, two editions of the popular Crossbow Revolution, covering the latest gear and hunting how-to for those choosing to hunt with horizontal bows, and lastly, the only comprehensive sourcebook for all things saddle hunting. Crossbow Revolution: Crossbow hunting's popularity continues to grow by leaps and bounds, and every edition of Crossbow Revolution is jam-packed with dynamic features and informative articles to help you up your crossbow-hunting game. Whether you're a crossbow-hunting newbie, or a veteran horizontal bowhunter, Crossbow Revolution is a must-read! Saddle Hunter: The first source book entirely dedicated to all aspects of mobile hunting, this magazine focuses on hunting’s fastest growing community and the tactics and gear making elevated pursuits possible. Whether you’re a novice or longtime saddle hunter, you’ll be sure to learn something new that will improve your hunting experiences and make you more successful in the saddle. Give this issue a read, and you’ll not only walk away with a more thorough understanding of saddle-use and best practices but you’ll pick up on keys to locating and setting up on game, what saddle-hunting tactics and techniques to employ and when, how to make the most of every day afield and, of course, you’ll surely add to your list of the right saddle-hunting gear for the seasons ahead. Bowhunter New Gear Guide: Bowhunters are always looking forward to the next great hunt and the next big season, and the 2024 New Gear Guide has you covered, no matter your archery-hunting passions or equipment needs. Within the guide, you'll find more than 200 'must-have' items including:New Bows and Crossbows, Arrows and Broadheads, Archery AccessoriesTrail, Cams and Optics, Saddles, Stands and Blinds, Boots and Apparel, Targets, Tools & More!

Screenshots

Go Outdoors SD4 screens
Bowhunter Specials4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Bowhunter Specials at 4.4 against Go Outdoors SD's 1.9. Bowhunter Specials also leads on review sentiment (22% vs 5%). Go Outdoors SD's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Bowhunter Specials sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Go Outdoors SD asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bowhunter Specials holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 267 and 65 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 5% of Go Outdoors SD's written reviews are positive against 22% of Bowhunter Specials's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Go Outdoors SD ships an update every 3 months, Bowhunter Specials every 6 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Go Outdoors SD versus Bowhunter Specials: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGo Outdoors SDBowhunter Specials
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.9 (267 ratings)4.4 (65 ratings) — better
Positive reviews4.7% of reviews22.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings267 — better65
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size242 MB26 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperState of South DakotaKSE Sportsman Media, Inc

Customer experience

Go Outdoors SD

All ratings240 ratings
Positive18.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews85 reviews
Positive4.7%
Neutral5.9%
Negative89.4%

Bowhunter Specials

All ratings65 ratings
Positive86.2%
Neutral3.1%
Negative10.8%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral5.6%
Negative72.2%

Bugs and requests

Go Outdoors SD

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • App crashes before loading or on homepage
  • Login credentials not recognized despite being correct
  • Profile error when retrieving user information
  • Digital backpack fails to display licenses
  • Filters reset when exiting app
Show 15 more
  • Dual verification code field not visible
  • Authentication code expires when switching screens
  • Map navigation returns to previous location when swiping
  • GPS location offset by constant 1.5 miles north
  • GPS does not update position in real-time
  • Map download errors on every attempt
  • Keyboard doesn't adjust screen for login entry
  • Payment processing fails with multiple card types
  • Licenses not syncing to phone
  • Hunting handbook displays fishing handbook content
  • Regulations data outdated (2016 data shown)
  • Hunting maps stopped displaying without update
  • Uncleared notification alerts cannot be dismissed
  • App requires login each time despite previous session
  • Website directs users to non-functional app

Requested features

13 requests
  • Offline map download capability for areas without cell service
  • GPS navigation functionality for field use
  • Persistent login with session management
  • Apple Wallet integration for driver's license and licenses
  • Dedicated 'My Licenses' tab on home screen
Show 8 more
  • Topographic map view option
  • Auto-fill and password manager support
  • Improved map transparency to see terrain features
  • Better reservation management for multiple sites
  • Profile editing and name/address correction functionality
  • Batch reservation system for groups
  • Digital license display without requiring login each time
  • Touch ID or biometric authentication

Bowhunter Specials

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Go Outdoors SD

No in-app purchases

14 purchases

Bowhunter Specials

Subscriptions1
  • 1 Year Subscription$9.991 Year
One-time13
  • February/March 2013$4.99
  • April / May 2013$4.99
  • August 2013$4.99
Show 10 more
  • September 2013$4.99
  • October 2013$4.99
  • Petersen's Bowhunting Nov/Dec 2013$4.99
  • Petersen's Bowhunting March 2014 New Gear Guide$4.99
  • Petersen's Bowhunting September 2014$4.99
  • Petersen's Bowhunting October 2014$4.99
  • March 2016$5.99
  • Nov/Dec 2023$6.99
  • Tree Saddle Hunter 2024$7.99
  • Tree Saddle Hunter 2023$7.99

Questions

Is Go Outdoors SD free?
Go Outdoors SD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bowhunter Specials free?
Bowhunter Specials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Go Outdoors SD or Bowhunter Specials?
Bowhunter Specials is rated higher. Go Outdoors SD averages 1.9 out of 5 from 267 ratings, while Bowhunter Specials averages 4.4 from 65 ratings.
Do Go Outdoors SD or Bowhunter Specials have ads?
Neither Go Outdoors SD nor Bowhunter Specials shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Go Outdoors SD or Bowhunter Specials?
Go Outdoors SD ships an update every 3 months, and Bowhunter Specials every 6 months. Most recently, Go Outdoors SD was updated on October 26, 2026 and Bowhunter Specials on October 26, 2026.

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