<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000893538-05-000107
<TYPE>4/A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20051108
<FILING-DATE>20051114
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20051114
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BICKLE LARRY W
<CIK>0000939252
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4/A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-31539
<FILM-NUMBER>051200880
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>200 WESTLAKE PARK BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE 1000
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77079-2908
</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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
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    <periodOfReport>2005-11-08</periodOfReport>

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        <issuerName>ST MARY LAND &amp; EXPLORATION CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SM</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerName>BICKLE LARRY W</rptOwnerName>
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            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 WESTLAKE PARK BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77079-2908</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
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    </reportingOwner>

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            </transactionDate>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>6.2188</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1996-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1997-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>6542</value>
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                    <value>6542</value>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This line item was inadvertently not included in Mr. Bickle's Form 4 filed on November 10, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option vested in four equal installments on December 31, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option vested in four equal installments on December 31, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The option vested in four equal installments on December 31, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The option vested in four equal installments on December 31, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The option vested in four equal installments on December 31, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Karin M. Writer (Attorney in Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
