<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000893538-04-000076
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040630
<FILING-DATE>20040630
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ST MARY LAND & EXPLORATION CO
<CIK>0000893538
<ASSIGNED-SIC>1311
<IRS-NUMBER>410518430
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1776 LINCOLN ST STE 700
<CITY>DENVER
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>80203
<PHONE>303-861-8140
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HONEYFIELD DAVID
<CIK>0001196791
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-31539
<FILM-NUMBER>04892650
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CIIRMAREX ENERGY CO
<STREET2>707 17TH ST. #3300
<CITY>DENVER
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>80202-3404
<PHONE>3032353995
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CIIRMAREX ENERGY CO
<STREET2>707 17TH ST. #3300
<CITY>DENVER
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>80202-3404
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000893538</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ST MARY LAND &amp; EXPLORATION CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196791</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HONEYFIELD DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CIIRMAREX ENERGY CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>707 17TH ST. #3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80202-3404</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP-Finance,Secretary&amp;Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1944</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock; $.01 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1944</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1944</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of SM common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The restricted stock units vest in four equal annual installments beginning on June 30, 2004.  Vested shares will be issued to the reporting person on June 30, 2007, at which time all restrictions lapse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James C. Robertson (Attorney-In-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
