<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000893538-05-000102
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20050613
<FILING-DATE>20051110
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20051110
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NANCE ROBERT L
<CIK>0001195488
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-31539
<FILM-NUMBER>051192672
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>NANCE PETROLEUM CORPORATION
<STREET2>PO BOX 7168
<CITY>BILLINGS
<STATE>MT
<ZIP>59103-7168
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<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>2005-06-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195488</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NANCE ROBERT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NANCE PETROLEUM CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 7168</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BILLINGS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>59103-7168</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock; $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>109100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>794098</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Self as Trustee for Robert L. Nance TTEE for Robert S. Nance Financial Mgt. Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock; $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.9539</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>780098</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Self as Trustee for Robert L. Nance TTEE for Robert S. Nance Financial Mgt. Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock; $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.931</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>774098</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Self as Trustee for Robert L. Nance TTEE for Robert S. Nance Financial Mgt. Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Nance's son gifted the shares to a trust for which Mr. Nance is a trustee. Mr. Nance has an indirect pecuniary interest in the trust as he is a trustee of the trust and his son is a beneficiary of the trust.  Mr. Nance has no beneficiary economic benefit that is derived from this trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Total includes the following corrections of math errors in Column 5 of Table 1 on previously filed Form 5s: subtraction of 490 shares on the Form 5 for the year 2000, subtraction of 550 shares on the Form 5 for the year 2001 and the addition of 2 shares on the Form 5 for the year 2004.  Total also includes 1,040 shares acquired during 1999 and 964 shares acquired during 2003 under the St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  These corrections are presented on a post split basis (2 for 1 stock split on 8-21-00 and 2 for 1 stock split on 3-31-05)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares were sold by a trust for which Mr. Nance is a trustee.  Mr. Nance has an indirect pecuniary interest in the trust as he is a trustee of the trust and his son is a beneficiary of the trust.  Mr. Nance has no beneficiary economic benefit that is derived from this trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Karin M. Writer (Attorney-In-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>nancepoasec.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE> </TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#ffffff" style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'>




<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:right;'>Exhibit 24</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:0.55in;text-align:left;'>Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Brenda L. Schohn, James C. Robertson and Karin M. Writer, or any one of them acting singly, and with full power of substitution, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-left:0.5in; text-indent:0.51in;text-align:justify;'>(1)<font face="Arial" size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font>execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company (the &#147;Company&#148;), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-left:0.5in;text-align:justify;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-left:0.5in; text-indent:0.51in;text-align:justify;'>(2)<font face="Arial" size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font>do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, complete and execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and timely file such form with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any securities exchange or similar authority; and</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-left:0.5in;text-align:justify;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-left:0.5in; text-indent:0.51in;text-align:justify;'>(3)<font face="Arial" size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font>take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:0.5in;text-align:justify;'>The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact&#146;s substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned&#146;s responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:0.5in;text-align:justify;'>This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.  </p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:0.5in;text-align:justify;'>IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 8th day of September, 2005.</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>


<table border="0" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="644" style='border-collapse:collapse'>
    <tr >
        <td width="360" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
        <td  nowrap colspan="2" valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><u>/s/ Robert L. Nance_________________</u></p> </td> </tr>
    <tr >
        <td width="360" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
        <td width="83" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'>Signature</p> </td>
        <td  width="201">
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></td> </tr></table>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>


<table border="0" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="644" style='border-collapse:collapse'>
    <tr >
        <td width="360" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
        <td  nowrap colspan="2" valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><u>Robert L. Nance___  </u></p> </td>
        <td width="133" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'>______________</p> </td> </tr>
    <tr >
        <td width="360" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p> </td>
        <td width="109" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'>Printed Name</p> </td>
        <td   colspan="2">
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></td> </tr>
    <tr>
        <td width="360" ></td>

        <td width="109" ></td>

        <td width="41" ></td>

        <td width="133" ></td> </tr> </table>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style='page-break-before:always'></p>
<pAGE>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;'>
<B>CONFIRMING STATEMENT</B></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt; text-indent:0.55in;text-align:justify;line-height: 150%;'>This Statement confirms that the undersigned, Robert L. Nance, has authorized and designated each of Brenda L. Schohn, Karin M. Writer and James C. Robertson, signing singly, to execute and file on the undersigned's behalf all Forms 3,<i><b> </b></i>4, and 5 (including any amendments thereto) that the undersigned may be required to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a result of the undersigned's ownership of or transactions in securities of St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company. The authority of each of Brenda L. Schohn, Karin M. Writer and James C. Robertson under this Statement shall continue until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with regard to the undersigned&#146;s ownership of or transactions in securities of<i> </i>St. Mary Land &amp; Exploration Company, unless earlier revoked in writing. The undersigned acknowledges
that neither Brenda L. Schohn, Karin M. Writer, nor James C. Robertson is assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>


<table border="0" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="668" style='border-collapse:collapse'>
    <tr >
        <td width="475" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'>Dated:  September 8, 2005</p> </td>
        <td  nowrap colspan="2" valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><u>/s/ Robert L. Nance____</u></p> </td> </tr>
    <tr >
        <td width="475" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></p>  </td>
        <td width="136" nowrap valign=top >
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'>Robert L. Nance</p>  </td>
        <td  width="57">
            <p style='margin-left:0pt;text-indent:0pt;text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt'><font size=1>&nbsp;</font></td> </tr></table>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'>&nbsp;</p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font face="Arial" size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>


<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style=' margin-bottom:0pt; margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;'><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></p>



</BODY>
</HTML>

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