The Complete Seasonal Storage Calendar for South Dakota

In South Dakota, what you need changes with the season — and so does what you need to store. This month-by-month guide helps you stay ahead of the cycle, rotating gear in and out of storage so your garage, barn, and house aren’t bursting at the seams year-round.

Why Seasonal Storage Matters in South Dakota

Most states deal with seasons. South Dakota deals with extremes.

We go from -20°F blizzards to 95°F summers. From ice fishing to boating. From pheasant hunting to lake season. From harvest to planting. Every transition means a different set of gear, equipment, clothing, and supplies — and nowhere to put the stuff you’re not currently using.

If you live in the Tyndall, Springfield, Freeman, or Yankton area, you already know the shuffle. Swap the snow blower for the mower. Trade the ice auger for the fishing rod. Put the boat away, get the deer stand out.

A storage unit turns that chaos into a system. Here’s what to store and retrieve, month by month.

January: Post-Holiday Reset

Store: - Holiday decorations — Christmas tree (artificial), lights, inflatables, ornaments, yard displays - Gift wrapping supplies and extra décor - Outdoor furniture covers (if they’re taking up space inside)

Retrieve: - Tax documents and records you need for filing (if stored) - Ice fishing gear (if not already out)

What’s happening: The holidays are over, and all those decorations need a home that isn’t your living room floor. A 5x5 unit holds most families’ holiday inventory. Use sealed plastic bins, not cardboard — moisture and mice both love cardboard in winter. Read our holiday decoration storage tips.

January is also when business owners start thinking about tax prep. If your records are in storage, retrieve what you need for filing. Business storage tips here.

February: Planning Season

Store: - Nothing new typically — this is a planning month

Retrieve: - Seed catalogs, garden plans, and spring prep materials - Home renovation supplies if you’re starting a project

What’s happening: February in South Dakota is still deep winter, but it’s time to plan. If you’re renovating this spring, reserve your storage unit now before the rush. Contractors start booking up, and you’ll want your unit ready before demo day.

Schmeckfest in Freeman happens in March — if you’re a vendor or organizer, now’s the time to check your stored event supplies. Our Schmeckfest guide has the details.

March: The Thaw Begins (Maybe)

Store: - Heavy winter gear as temperatures start rising (heavy coats, snow pants, boots) - Space heaters and extra winter blankets

Retrieve: - Spring cleaning supplies - Lighter outerwear - Early garden tools (rakes, pruners)

What’s happening: March in South Dakota is unpredictable. You might get 60°F one day and a blizzard the next. Start transitioning, but don’t put the snow blower away yet.

If you’re a snowbird returning from the south, this is retrieval month. Pull your stored items out, open up the house, and settle back in. Our snowbird storage guide covers the full checklist.

April: Spring Transition

Store: - Snow blower and winter yard equipment - Ice fishing gear (auger, shanty, heaters, rods) - Winter tires (if you swap seasonally) - Heavy winter clothing and boots

Retrieve: - Lawn mower, garden tools, and outdoor furniture - Fishing gear for open water season - Motorcycle or convertible (if stored for winter) - Spring sports equipment

What’s happening: The real swap happens now. Winter gear goes in, spring/summer gear comes out. This is one of the busiest months at storage facilities — if you need a unit, don’t wait until May.

Farmers in the area are hitting pre-planting mode. If you’ve got equipment in storage for winter, it’s time to pull it out and get ready. Farm equipment storage guide.

May: Lake Season Begins

Store: - Remaining winter items you haven’t already put away - Spring cleaning purge items (things you’re keeping but don’t need daily)

Retrieve: - Boats, jet skis, and kayaks from winter storage - Camping gear and RV supplies - Outdoor entertainment items (cornhole, horseshoes, grills) - Dock sections and lake cabin supplies

What’s happening: Lewis & Clark Lake opens up, and southeast South Dakota shifts into recreation mode. If your boat has been in storage since October, it’s time to de-winterize and launch. Winter boat storage guide.

RV owners — pull your camper, run through the spring prep checklist, and get rolling. RV storage guide.

June: Summer in Full Swing

Store: - Nothing major — summer is usage season, not storage season

Retrieve: - Festival and event supplies (Czech Days in Tabor is typically the third weekend of June) - All remaining summer recreation gear

What’s happening: This is peak activity season. Lake life, festivals, farming, outdoor living. Czech Days in Tabor draws big crowds — vendors should have their gear out and ready. Festival guide.

If you haven’t done a mid-year inventory of your storage unit, now’s a good time. Make sure everything is dry and in good shape heading into the hot months.

July: Peak Summer

Store: - Spring garden equipment you’re done with (tillers, seedling supplies)

Retrieve: - Chislic Festival gear if you’re a vendor (last Saturday of July in Freeman) - Peak camping and outdoor supplies

What’s happening: The hottest month. Inside a non-climate-controlled unit, temperatures can exceed 100°F. If you’re storing anything heat-sensitive (electronics, candles, vinyl records, photos), make sure it’s in climate-controlled storage.

August: The Turn Starts

Store: - (Late August) Start thinking about where summer gear will go

Retrieve: - Back-to-school items from storage - Hunting gear — start prepping for the fall seasons - Riverboat Days in Yankton gear for vendors/organizers

What’s happening: August feels like summer but smart South Dakotans start planning for fall. Pheasant season opens in October, and serious hunters start scouting and prepping gear now.

Out-of-state hunters: if you store gear locally, August is the month to confirm your unit is in order and check your equipment. Pheasant hunting guide.

September: The Big Swap

Store: - Boats, jet skis, and water toys (after Labor Day for most people) - Summer outdoor furniture and grills (or cover them) - Lawn and garden equipment that’s done for the season - Camping gear you won’t use again until spring

Retrieve: - Hunting gear — firearms, ATVs, tree stands, decoys, blinds - Fall/winter clothing and outerwear - Harvest equipment for farmers

What’s happening: September is the busiest storage month of the year. Lake season ends, hunting season approaches, and farmers gear up for harvest. If you need a unit, book it now — demand spikes hard.

Boat owners: winterize before you store. Skipping this step costs thousands in spring repairs. Boat storage checklist.

Snowbirds: start packing and prepping your storage unit if you’re heading south in October. Snowbird checklist.

October: Hunting Season Opens

Store: - All remaining summer equipment - Snowbird belongings (if departing this month) - Vehicles being stored for winter

Retrieve: - All hunting gear — pheasant season opens mid-October - Cold weather clothing and boots - Snow removal equipment (snow blower, shovels, ice melt)

What’s happening: Pheasant season opener is the third Saturday of October. Southeast South Dakota fills up with hunters. If you’ve got gear in storage, get it out by early October so you’re ready for opening day. Hunting gear storage guide.

Snowbirds are departing. Lock up your unit, set up auto-pay, and head south with peace of mind.

November: Settling Into Winter

Store: - Final fall items (rakes, fall decorations) - Vehicles and toys going away for winter (motorcycles, classic cars, convertibles)

Retrieve: - Deer season gear (November is prime deer hunting in SD) - Holiday decorations — Thanksgiving first, then Christmas - Winter emergency supplies

What’s happening: The cold is here for real. Deer season keeps hunters active. The holiday season starts, and those decoration bins come out of storage.

If you stored a vehicle, check on it once before deep winter sets in. Top off the fuel stabilizer, verify the battery tender is working, and make sure no critters have moved in.

December: Holiday and Hunker Down

Store: - Hunting gear (as seasons close) - Items from fall cleanout that you’re keeping but don’t need

Retrieve: - All holiday decorations and entertaining supplies - Gift storage (if you buy early and store gifts) - Extra seating, dishes, and serving items for holiday gatherings

What’s happening: December is about holidays and surviving winter. Not much changes in storage — you’re in maintenance mode. Keep an eye on your unit if you visit, check for any moisture issues, and ride out the cold.

Start thinking about January’s post-holiday purge. Anything you didn’t use this holiday season probably isn’t worth keeping.

The Annual Storage Rhythm

If you zoom out, here’s the pattern:

The busiest months at storage facilities: September, October, and April. Book ahead during these months or you’ll be choosing from whatever’s left.

Make the Rotation Easy

Lock N’ Leave It Storage in Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman is built for the South Dakota seasonal cycle. Month-to-month leases mean you can scale up during busy transitions and scale down when things settle. Convenient access hours mean you can swap gear on your schedule, not ours.

Whether you’re storing a boat in October or pulling out hunting gear at dawn before opening day, we make it easy.

Check unit availability at your nearest location. Need help figuring out what size handles your seasonal rotation? Give us a call — we deal with this every day and we’ll get you sorted.