SC Resident Fishing and Hunting License Pricing

Resident Freshwater Fishing
Duration Type of License Price Notes, Prerequisites
3 Year Freshwater Fishing License $30.00 Valid 3 years from date of purchase.
Annual Freshwater Fishing License $10.00 Valid 1 year from date of purchase.
14-day Freshwater Fishing License $5.00 Valid 14 consecutive days.
Annual Commercial Freshwater License * $50.00 Device quantity limits apply in freshwater bodies. See Nongame Areas and Limits. Expires June 30, 2024.

* To qualify for a resident commercial freshwater fishing license, one must have been a resident of this state for the past 365 consecutive days and furnish proof to the SCDNR.

A freshwater fishing license or commercial freshwater fishing license is required to use nongame devices. See Nongame Areas and Limits.

Resident Nongame Freshwater Fishing
Duration Type of License Price Notes, Prerequisites
Annual Jug Permit $5.00 1 permit per licensee; allows up to 50 jugs subjective to body of water. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Set Hook Permit $5.00 1 permit per licensee; allows up to 50 hooks subjective to body of water. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Eel Pot Tag* $5.00 Recreational limit 2 pots per licensee. Reporting Requirements apply. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Gill Net Tag* (Not for Shad or Herring) $5.00 Recreational limit 3 nets and no more than a total of 100 yds of net. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Hoop Net Tag* $10.00 Recreational limit 1 net per licensee 65 years and older on the Wateree River only. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Trap Tag* $5.00 Recreational limit 2 traps per licensee. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Trotline Tag* $2.50 Recreational limit is 1 trotline with a maximum 50 hooks. Expires June 30, 2024.

* Licensee must have the stamp or tag in possession before using this privilege. Fish tags must be secured to the nongame fishing device.

Resident Saltwater Fishing
Duration Type of License Price Notes, Prerequisites
3 Year Saltwater Fishing License $45.00 Valid 3 years from date of purchase.
Annual Saltwater Fishing License $15.00 Valid 1 year from date of purchase.
14-day Saltwater Fishing License $10.00 Valid 14 consecutive days.
Season Shrimp Baiting License & Tags* $25.00 Season dates apply, Shrimp Baiting License Application
Annual Saltwater Public Fishing Pier $150.00 100 feet or less in length, license has reporting requirements. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Saltwater Public Fishing Pier $350.00 More than 100 feet in length, license has reporting requirements. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Saltwater Charter Fishing Vessel $275.00 6 or fewer paying passengers, license has reporting requirements. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Saltwater Charter Fishing Vessel $450.00 7-49 paying passengers, license has reporting requirements. Expires June 30, 2024.
Annual Saltwater Charter Fishing Vessel $650.00 50 or more paying passengers, license has reporting requirements. Expires June 30, 2024.
Commercial Saltwater License and Gear Licenses: SCDNR License Office, P.O. Box 12559 Charleston, SC 29422-2559, 843-953-9301.

* Licensee must have the stamp or tag in possession before using this privilege. Fish tags must be secured to the nongame fishing device.

Resident Combination Freshwater Fishing & Hunting
Duration Type of License Price Notes, Prerequisites
3 Year Combination License $75.00 Includes State Hunting, Big Game & Freshwater Fishing. Valid 3 years from date of purchase.
Annual Combination License $25.00 Includes State Hunting, Big Game & Freshwater Fishing. Valid 1 year from date of purchase.
Annual Junior Sportsman License $16.00 Includes State Hunting, Big Game, Wildlife Management Areas & Freshwater Fishing, for applicants 16-17 years of age. Remains valid, regardless of age until expiration. Expires 1 year from date of purchase.
3 Year Sportsman License $150.00 Includes State Hunting, Big Game, Wildlife Management Areas & Freshwater Fishing, valid 3 years from date of purchase.
Annual Sportsman License $50.00 Includes State Hunting, Big Game, Wildlife Management Areas & Freshwater Fishing. Valid 1 year from date of purchase.
Resident Hunting **
Duration Type of License Price Notes, Prerequisites
3 Year State Hunting License $36.00 Hunting license, valid 3 years from date of purchase.
Annual State Hunting License $12.00 Hunting license, valid 1 year from date of purchase.
Annual Apprentice License (Small Game Only) $12.00 Hunting license applicants born after June 30, 1979, who do not hold a hunter education certification may take this one time exemption from the hunter education certification requirement. Rules and Regulations for other requirements. Expires one year from date of purchase.
3 Year Big Game Permit $18.00 Required to hunt bear, deer or turkey, 3 Year or Lifetime Hunting License required, valid 3 years from date of purchase.
Annual Big Game Permit $6.00 Required to hunt bear, deer or turkey, hunting license required. Valid 1 year from date of purchase.
3 Year Wildlife Management Area $91.50 Required to hunt on WMA lands, hunting license or Lifetime Hunting License required. Valid 3 years from date of purchase.
Annual Wildlife Management Area $30.50 Required to hunt on WMA lands, hunting license required.
Annual Shooting Preserve Permit $8.50 For hunting specified released species only on licensed shooting preserves. Expires June 30, 2024.
Season Deer Tags* No Cost Required in addition to a hunting license and big game permit to hunt deer. 5 tags total. 2 antlerless deer tags and 3 unrestricted antlered (buck) tags.
Season Individual Antlerless Deer Tags* (Optional) $5.00 Hunting license and big game permit required, season dates apply.
Season Restricted Antlered (Buck) Deer Tags* (Optional) $5.00 Maximum 2 tags per hunter, hunting license and big game permit required. Size restriction of 4 pts on one side or 12" inside minimum spread.
Season Bear Tag*
(Mountains/Game Zone 1 only)
$25.00 Required to take a bear in addition to the required hunting license and big game permit season dates apply, Bear Tag (Special application). Youth 15 years old or younger are required to obtain Youth Tags for bear from SCDNR designated offices at no cost.
Season Migratory Bird Permit (HIP) No Cost Season dates apply, hunting license required. Expires June 30, 2024.
Season Migratory Waterfowl Permit
(State Duck Stamp)
$15.50 Season dates apply, Migratory Bird Permit required, Federal Duck Stamp required.
Season Federal Migratory Bird Hunting & Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp)* $28.00 Season dates apply, State Migratory Waterfowl Permit required to use in SC. The electronic federal duck stamp is valid for 45 days from date of purchase. Your stamp will be mailed within 45 days. If you do not receive your stamp call 803-734-4367. Price includes $1.50 processing fee for the USFW vendor. Available at select US Post Offices, by phone at 1-800-STAMP-24 (1-800-782-6724), online at www.duckstamp.com and SCDNR Offices.
Annual Trapping and Commercial Fur Harvest License $25.00 Required to sell or trade furbearers taken during the hunting season, or to trap for sport, sale or trade during the trapping season. Required to possess 6 or more furbearers or their pelts. Hunting license required. License has reporting requirements. Expires June 30, 2020.
Season Turkey Tags* $5.00 Required in addition to a hunting license and big game permit. Includes set of 3 tags for residents. Youth hunters and Lifetime/Senior/Gratis/Disability Licensees receive tags for free by requesting them annually.

* Licensee must have the stamp or tag in possession before using this privilege. Fish tags must be secured to the nongame fishing device. Federal Duck Stamps must be signed across the face and in the licensee's possession while hunting.

** Hunter education course certification is required for anyone born after June 30, 1979.

Resident Miscellaneous
Duration Type of License Price Notes, Prerequisites
Annual Dog Registration $5.00 Provides a number to be tattoed onto the dog, transfer a registration.
Annual Dog Kennel Registration $20.00

Provides an single identification number for a kennel or multiple dogs.

Contact: SCDNR Licensing PO Box 11710 Columbia, SC 29211-1710.

Annual Turtle Permit $25.00 1 permit per person per year. To remove from the state more than 10 but not more than 20 turtles per year of specific species. Contact: SCDNR License Office, P.O. Box 11710 Columbia, SC 29211-1710.
3 Year Disability Combination License**
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Freshwater Set Hook
  • Saltwater Fishing
  • State Hunting
  • Big Game
  • Wildlife Management Area Permit
  • Migratory Waterfowl
No Cost Licensee is required to purchase any additional permits for Bear, Migratory Waterfowl Permit, and nongame fishing devices.
Disability licenses expire on the third anniversary of the date issued. If you are renewing, include a copy of your current disability license.

Include a copy of your unexpired state identification card. Include a current copy of your disability certification from one of the following programs that declares you disabled and eligible to receive disability benefits.

Social Security Administration
SC Retirement System
Railroad Retirement Board
US Department of Veteran Affairs
Federal Civil Service
Medicaid
3 Year Disability Fishing License
  • Freshwater fishing
  • Saltwater fishing
No Cost Licensee is required to purchase any additional permits for nongame fishing devices.
Disability licenses expire on the third anniversary of the date issued. If you are renewing, include a copy of your current disability license.

Include a copy of your unexpired state identification card. Include a current copy of your disability certification from one of the following programs that declares you disabled and eligible to receive disability benefits.

Social Security Administration
SC Retirement System
Railroad Retirement Board
US Department of Veteran Affairs
Federal Civil Service
Medicaid
3 Year Hunting Add-on for an existing Fishing License**
  • Statewide Hunting
  • Big Game Permit
  • Wildlife Management Area Permit
  • Migratory Waterfowl
No Cost Licensee is required to purchase any additional permits for Bear and Migratory Waterfowl Permit.
Disability licenses expire on the third anniversary of the date issued. If you are renewing, include a copy of your current disability license.

* Licensee must have the stamp or tag in possession before using this privilege. Fish tags must be secured to the nongame fishing device. Federal Duck Stamps must be signed across the face and in the licensee's possession while hunting.

** Hunter Education Certification is required for persons born after June 30, 1979 who apply for hunting privileges.

Lifetime License
Applicant Age (Years) Type of License Price
Under 2 Combination:
  • Statewide Hunting
  • Big Game Permit
  • Freshwater fishing
$300.00
Saltwater Fishing License Add-On to Combination License $120.00
Migratory Waterfowl Permit Add-On to Combination License (State Duck Stamp) Add-on $66.00
2 to 15 Combination:
  • Statewide Hunting
  • Big Game Permit
  • Freshwater fishing
$400.00
Saltwater Fishing License Add-On to Combination License $160.00
Migratory Waterfowl Permit Add-On to Combination License (State Duck Stamp) Add-on $88.00
16 to 63 State Hunting $300.00
Freshwater Fishing $300.00
Saltwater Fishing $300.00
Combination:
  • Statewide Hunting
  • Big Game Permit
  • Freshwater fishing
$500.00
Saltwater Fishing License Add-On to Combination License $200.00
Migratory Waterfowl Permit Add-On to Combination License (State Duck Stamp) Add-on $110.00
64 or older Gratis License* (Available only to residents born on or before 7/1/1940)
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Freshwater Set Hook
  • Saltwater Fishing
  • State Hunting
  • Big Game
  • Wildlife Management Area Permit
  • Migratory Waterfowl
No Cost
Senior Combination:
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Freshwater Set Hook
  • Saltwater Fishing
  • State Hunting
  • Big Game
  • Wildlife Management Area Permit
  • Migratory Waterfowl
$9.00
Senior Fishing License:
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Freshwater Set Hook
  • Saltwater Fishing
$9.00

Purchase a license

Social Security Number - The disclosure of your social security number or alien identification number is required to obtain SC hunting and fishing licenses. This complies with SC Code of Laws Section 63-14-1080 and Federal law 42 USCA 666(a)(13), which requires a licensing agency to provide this information to the Child Support Enforcement Unit of the Department of Social Services to establish, modify and enforce child support orders.

License in Possession - All licenses, permits, stamps and tags must be in possession of privilege holder while engaging in activities for which privilege documents were issued. Identification indicating name and address must also be in possession of privilege holder. Persons hunting on their own lands are required to have all applicable licenses, permits, stamps or tags in their possession.

Resident - Resident is a person who is a domiciled (permanent) resident of South Carolina. Proof of residency at license vendors is your unexpired State of South Carolina Driver's license or Identification Card. Other manners of proving residency can be submitted to a SCDNR license office.

A person licensed by another state as a resident for any purpose is not eligible to apply for, obtain, or hold any South Carolina resident license, permit or tag.

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