Information

2011 - 2012 Hunting Rules & Regulations

Regulations in this section apply to both private and public lands statewide, unless otherwise specified.

Licenses and permits are required for hunting in South Carolina. All residents and nonresidents born after June 30,1979 must successfully complete a hunter education course that is approved by the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) before a hunting license can be obtained.

Basic Information on Hunting

Hunting is defined as trying to find, seek, obtain, pursue, or diligently search for game.

Game Zones & WMAs

South Carolina is divided into six game zones.

SCDNR sets and regulates the methods of harvest, bag limits and other requirements for hunting on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) statewide.

The SC General Assembly establishes seasons, limits and methods for private land statewide. SCDNR is responsible for law enforcement statewide.

Protected Game

The following species may be hunted ONLY during legally established seasons: bear, beaver, bobcat, deer, fox, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, rabbit, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, weasel, waterfowl (goose, brant and duck), bobwhite quail, mourning dove, rails (marsh hen), coot, gallinule, ruffed grouse, crow, wild turkey, common snipe and woodcock.

Protected Nongame

The following species are protected and may not be hunted, molested, caught, transported, sold or possessed in any manner: birds of prey (eagles, hawks, osprey, owls, kites and vultures) and nongame birds (except English sparrows, pigeons and starlings). Falconers must possess a SCDNR permit.

Game Species

Alligators
It is unlawful to feed or entice an American alligator with food (50-11-750).

Public Alligator Draw Hunts
Hunters will be randomly selected by computerized drawing and may only apply online. A $10 nonrefundable application fee is required to participate in the drawing. All applicants must be at least 16 years old (at the time of the hunt) in order to apply for the drawing. If selected, the permit/tag fee is $100 and all hunters are required to possess a SC Hunting License. In addition to the $100 permit fee and SC Hunting License, a $200 Nonresident Alligator Hunting Fee applies to ALL permitted nonresident alligator hunters. Anyone may assist a permitted hunter, but all assistants must posses a hunting license unless they are under the age of 16. In addition, ALL nonresident alligator hunting assistants 16 years of age or older must obtain a $200 Nonresident Alligator Hunting Fee. Endorsement, available form any license sales vendor. The deadline for applying for each year's Public Alligator Hunting Season is June 15th. Application and other details. For information regarding the Alligator Program, and licensing requirements for taking, possessing, and sale of alligators or their products, call 803-734-3938 or 803-734-4024 (the Nonresident Alligator Hunting fee for nonresident alligator hunters and nonresident assistants may be paid at any license vendor location, online, or by phone at 1-866-714-3611).

WMA Alligator Draw Hunts
There is a special WMA Alligator draw hunt, in which the person selected will be permitted to take up to three assistants and have access to either portions of Bear Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA) or Santee Coastal WMA for one hunt period (Monday at Noon to Saturday at Noon). There are four available hunt periods during the WMA alligator hunting season. All hunters must have a hunting license, WMA permit, and if a nonresident, pay the nonresident alligator hunting fee. The permit will allow the hunter to take one alligator 4 feet or greater in length from the selected WMA property. There is a $15 nonrefundable application fee to apply for the WMA Alligator Hunt Drawing and if selected the cost for the permit is $500 for residents and $800 for nonresidents.

Bear
It is unlawful to buy, sell, barter or exchange a bear or bear part or attempt to buy, sell, barter or exchange a bear or bear part. Transportation of a freshly killed bear or bear part is unlawful except during the bear season. Any person violating these offenses must be fined not more than $2,500 or imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both, and hunting and fishing privileges must be suspended for 3 years. It is unlawful to feed bears or to hunt bears by the aid of bait (50-11-430, 50- 11-440, 50-1-130, 50-1-125).

For the privilege of taking bear, in addition to the required hunting license and big game permit, a hunter must obtain a bear tag issued in his/her name at a cost of $25 for residents and $100 for nonresidents. Youth under the age of sixteen are required to obtain a youth bear tag from the department at no cost. Bear tags are available online, by mail, or for immediate pickup, at the Columbia, Florence, Charleston or Clemson Offices of SCDNR. Tags must be attached to the bear before being moved from the point of kill.

Participants in party dog hunts for bear must register by application by September 1 with SCDNR. 25 members maximum per party and hunters must provide their hunting license number to register. Write: SCDNR Bear Registration Permit, 311 Natural Resources Dr. Clemson, SC 29631. Applications for tags and for party hunt registration.

Crows
A hunting license and free Migratory Bird (HIP) Permit are required to hunt crows. Crows are migratory birds and as such, are a federally-protected species. The season is based on criteria established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The open season for crows on private lands in South Carolina is Nov. 1 - Mar. 1. There is no bag limit. During the open season on private lands, crows may be taken with any firearm, bow and arrow, or by falconry. Crow hunting on WMA lands is permitted. During the open season for small game hunting on WMAs, crows may only be hunted with weapons legal for small game. The use of electronic calls for crow hunting is permitted statewide on private land and WMA land. Crows damaging crops may be taken at any time using non-toxic shot without a federal permit (50 CFR 21.43).

Deer
Legal hunting time for deer is the time between one hour before official sunrise until one hour after official sunset (50-11-710).

In Game Zones 1 and 2 it is unlawful to pursue deer with dogs, and it is unlawful to bait for deer (50-11-310).

It is unlawful to hunt, shoot or in any way kill deer from a motorboat, raft or any other water conveyance, or to molest a deer while any part of the deer is in water (50-11-730).

Possessing any deer with the head detached while in transit from the point of kill is prohibited (50-11-400).

It is unlawful to hunt deer within 300 yards of a residence without permission of the owner and occupant, except that a landowner may hunt on his own land (50-11-355).

Archery, muzzleloaders and crossbows are allowed during gun hunts.

Antlerless Deer
An antlerless deer is defined as a deer with no antlers or an antlered deer with less than two inches of antler visible above the hairline. Antlerless deer may not be possessed, hunted, shot or in any way killed except during special seasons or by special permit (50-11-410).

Antlerless Deer Harvest Programs
Antlerless Deer Harvest Programs are conducted statewide using either-sex days and 2 optional antlerless deer tag programs. The dates for either- sex days are shown in the hunting season section.

Optional antlerless deer tag programs that hunters may choose to participate in include the Individual Antlerless Deer Tag Program and the Antlerless Deer Quota Program (ADQP).

Individual Antlerless Deer Tag Program
With the Individual Antlerless Deer Tag Program hunters may purchase up to 4 personal tags, for $5 each, which can be used on any day open to deer hunting with the following Game Zone restrictions: Tags are not valid in Game Zone 1 (Mountains). In Game Zone 2 (Piedmont) tags are valid on public and private land starting Oct.1. In Game Zones 3-6 (Coastal Plain) tags are valid on private lands and “unnamed” small WMAs starting Sept. 15. Tags are also valid on Sand Hills State Forest WMA in Chesterfield Co., North Dike WMA in Berkeley Co., Longleaf Pine WMA in Lee Co., Francis Marion National Forest in Berkeley and Charleston counties during still gun hunts for deer starting Sept. 15. Tags do not have to be used on scheduled county-wide either-sex days. Tags are not valid on properties enrolled in the Antlerless Deer Quota Program. Tags do not alter the daily or seasonal bag limits prescribed for Game Zones or alter the type of weapon allowed.

All persons purchasing tags in past years will be sent a renewal notice in August. New applicants may complete the online application or contact SCDNR Deer Project at 803-734-3886 to receive an application. The possession and use of these tags are limited to the purchaser.

Antlerless Deer Quota Program
Antlerless deer quotas are issued to qualifying landowners or lessees statewide who complete and submit an application along with a $50 fee prior to Jul. 18 each year. This program is generally better suited for landowners or lessees with larger acreages. Under the ADQP, a quota of tags is issued for a particular tract of land based on criteria including: density of the local deer population, condition of the local deer population, the size of the tract of land and the recreational and agricultural objectives of the property owner.

Utilization of tags issued under the ADQP is subject to the following Game Zone restrictions. In Game Zone 1 (Mountains) tags are valid beginning Oct. 1. in Game Zone 2 (Central & Western Piedmont) and Game Zones 3-6 (Coastal Plain) tags are valid beginning Sept. 15. Tags issued for a particular tract of land can only be used on that tract and they must be used on all antlerless deer that are harvested, including antlerless deer harvested on either-sex days or by bow and arrow in Game Zones 1 & 2. Tags do not alter the daily or seasonal bag limits or use of weapons during special weapons seasons in Game Zones 1 & 2. A harvest report must be completed by the applicant at the close of the season.

Coyotes and Armadillos
A hunting license is required to hunt coyotes and armadillos, however there is no closed season on hunting coyotes and armadillos on private lands statewide. Coyotes and armadillos may be hunted at night with an artificial light that is carried on the hunter’s person attached to a helmet or hat, or part of a belt system worn by the hunter (50-11-710). Coyotes and armadillos may be hunted at night with a rifle no larger than .22 caliber rimfire, a shotgun with a shot size no larger than size BB, or a sidearm of any caliber that has iron sights and a barrel length not exceeding nine inches. A sidearm may not have a butt stock attached so as to create a longarm. Any weapon used to hunt coyotes or armadillos at night may not be equipped with a scope, laser site, light, or light enhancing device (including night vision or thermal imaging). It is unlawful to have in one’s possession any shot size larger than a BB while hunting coyotes or armadillos at night with a shotgun, and coyotes and armadillos may not be hunted at night from a vehicle, unless specifically permitted by the department.

Coyotes and armadillos cannot be hunted at night on WMA lands but can be hunted during the day on WMAs where coyote and armadillo hunting is allowed.

On WMA lands, weapons used to hunt coyotes and armadillos are limited to the weapon(s) that are allowed for the current open season on the WMA - see WMA seasons listing in the Game Zones (Adobe PDF).

The use of electronic calls for coyote hunting is permitted statewide on private and WMA lands. Dog hunting for coyotes is allowed year-round on private lands statewide. Deer may not be hunted with dogs on any lands in Game Zones 1 & 2. On WMA lands in Game Zones 1 & 2 coyotes may not be hunted with dogs during still gun and muzzleloader hunts for deer or bear. The possession or transport of live coyotes is allowed only by permit from SCDNR.

Feral Hogs
Feral or wild hogs occur in the wild in every county of the state. They compete directly with native wildlife species, damage plants, agricultural crops and threaten public and livestock health. Those dressing feral hogs should wear rubber gloves and eye protection.

It is illegal to remove a hog from the wild alive unless it is taken pursuant to a permit issued by the SCDNR at a cost of $50 (50-16-25). All hogs taken pursuant to a permit must be tagged in each ear with tags provided by the Department and may only be released onto the same tract of land or into a permitted hog hunting enclosure within the county where the hogs were captured. Hogs taken under permit within a county cannot be transported into or through another county.

There is no closed season on hogs on private land and hogs can be hunted at night with an artificial light that is carried on the hunter's person attached to a helmet or hat, or part of a belt system worn by the hunter and with a sidearm that has iron sites, and barrel length not exceeding nine inches (50-11-710). The sidearm may not be equipped with a butt-stock, scope, laser site, or light emitting or light enhancing device. However, hogs may not be hunted at night from a vehicle, or with a centerfire rifle or shotgun, unless specifically permitted by the department.

Dogs can be used to hunt and bay hogs at night as long as the hunter(s) complies with the equipment restrictions above.

Hogs cannot be hunted at night on WMA lands but can be hunted during the day on WMAs where hog hunting is allowed. See Hog Hunting Seasons for WMAs and Heritage Preserves (Adobe PDF).

Turkey
Season dates: Game Zone 6 private land only, Mar. 15-May 1. Game Zones 1,2,3,4,5 and selected Wildlife Management Areas, Apr. 1-May 1. Season dates and regulations for WMA and private land. No Sunday hunting on WMAs.

Small Game
Small game includes the following species: quail, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, fox, beaver, bobcat, mink, muskrat, otter, skunk, grouse and weasel. Unless otherwise specified in the small game seasons charts, hunt dates for these species are from Thanksgiving day through Mar. 1.

Migratory Birds
Migratory birds include: mourning dove, marsh hens, rails, woodcock, common snipe, common moorhens, purple gallinules, ducks, mergansers, sea ducks, coots, blue & snow geese, brant, Canada geese and crows.

Effective Jul. 1,1998, anyone over 16 or all licensed hunters hunting migratory game birds in the United States must have an HIP permit and complete a short questionnaire before hunting. Permits are available from any DNR license sales vendor, DNR office or online. There is no cost for the permit.

Seasons, shooting hours, limits and other special restrictions on migratory bird hunting are set by SCDNR in accordance with guidelines set by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Detailed SCDNR South Carolina Rules & Regulations information on the seasons and restrictions is provided in a separate Migratory Bird Brochure available in September.

Listed below are frequently requested rules for hunting migratory birds.

Refer to the Migratory Bird Brochure for complete information on particular species and other restrictions.

Hunting Equipment and Methods

Archery
means a longbow, recurve bow, compound bow or crossbow (50-11-565). There are no restrictions on draw weight/length, arrow weight/length, or broad head weight, width, or style.

Bird Dog Training
Bird dogs may be trained year-round on private land. Trainers must have a valid hunting license and may only use firearms with blank ammunition during the closed season for quail. A Bird Dog Trainer’s License is available to persons engaged in the business of training bird dogs in return for money, goods or services. This license allows a trainer and two assistants to take pen-raised quail during the closed season while training dogs. Applicants must provide documentation of land areas to be used for training. For information, or to obtain a license, contact SCDNR Small Game Project at P.O. Box 167,Columbia, SC 29202 or call 803-734-3609.

Crossbows
Crossbows may be used on private lands and WMA lands statewide during all archery, muzzleloader or gun seasons for deer, bear and turkey.

Field Trials
It is unlawful to conduct or participate in any field trial unless a permit for such trial has been obtained from SCDNR. Requests for field trial permits must be submitted to SCDNR at least 14 days prior to the proposed trial date. Requests shall include payment of $5 per trial and the time and location of the proposed trial. A charter or document indicating that the trial is sanctioned by a nationally recognized field trial organization must accompany all requests for field trial permits. For information, or to obtain a permit, contact SCDNR Small Game Project at P.O. Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202 or call 803-734-3609.

Primitive Weapons
For special primitive weapons seasons, primitive weapons include bow and arrow, crossbows and muzzleloading shotguns of twenty gauge or larger, and rifles of .36 caliber or larger with open or peep sights or scopes, which use black powder or a black powder substitute that does not contain nitrocellulose or nitro-glycerin components as the propellant charge. There are no restrictions on ignition systems including flintstone, percussion cap, shotgun primer, disk, or electronic. During primitive weapons season, no revolving rifles are permitted (50-11-310).

Rabbit Boxes
It is unlawful for any person to trap rabbits, except that a landlord or tenant may use not more than five rabbit boxes on lands on which he has exclusive control during the gun season for rabbits. A hunting license is required to use rabbit boxes. Rabbit boxes are not permitted on WMA lands (50-11-160).

Unlawful Practices

Importation and Possession
It is unlawful to import, possess or transport for the purpose of release, or to introduce or bring into this state any live wildlife of the following types without a permit from the SCDNR: a member of the family Cervidae (deer, moose, elk, etc.), coyote, bear, turkey, furbearers (fox, raccoon, opossum, muskrat, mink, skunk, otter, bobcat, weasel and beaver), a nondomestic member of the families Suidae or Tayassuidae (pigs), or Bovidae (bison, antelope, mountain goat, mountain sheep) (50-16-20).

The importation or sale of live wolves is prohibited in South Carolina, except for exhibition or scientific purposes upon the approval of SCDNR as provided by regulations (50-11-1765). It is unlawful to import coyotes. The sale of coyotes is allowed only by permit from SCDNR (50-11-2630). A person may not have a live wolf in his possession without a SCDNR permit. Federal law prohibits importing, exporting, selling, buying, receiving or acquiring big cats across state lines. For information and exceptions, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, 1875 Century Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30345.

Note: SCDNR does not advocate or encourage keeping wildlife in captivity.

Calls, recorded or electronically amplified
It is illegal to hunt, catch, take, kill or attempt to hunt, catch, take or kill any game bird or game animal with the aid of recorded calls or sounds or recorded or electronically amplified imitations of calls or sounds (50-11-40). Crows, coyotes or hogs are not game birds/animals and therefore can be hunted using electronic calls on private lands and WMA lands.

Hunting from Public Roads
It is unlawful to hunt from a public road unless the hunter has permission to hunt the adjacent property. Hunting as used in this section includes possessing, carrying or having readily accessible a loaded centerfire rifle, or a shotgun loaded with shot size larger than number four. Loaded means a weapon within which any ammunition is contained. This does not include weapons contained in a closed compartment, closed vehicle trunk, or a vehicle traveling on a public road. A person convicted of unlawful road hunting forfeits hunting privileges for one year. See WMA Regulations for restrictions on WMA lands.

Negligent Hunting
It is unlawful to use a firearm or archery tackle in a criminally negligent manner while in preparation for, engaged in the act of, or returning from hunting. Criminal negligence is defined as the reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Night
Night is defined as that period of time between one hour after official sunset of a day and one hour before official sunrise of the following day (50-11-710).

Night Hunting
Night hunting is unlawful except that raccoons, opossums, foxes, mink, skunk, coyotes, armadillos and hogs may be hunted at night. Information related to hunting coyotes, armadillos and feral hogs during night.

Raccoons, opossums, foxes, mink, and skunk may not be hunted with artificial lights except when treed or cornered with dogs. Devices that amplify light using some type of power source (including night vision and infrared devices) are considered artificial light. No buckshot or any shot larger than a No. 4, or any ammunition larger than .22 rimfire may be used. It is unlawful to use artificial lights at night, except vehicle headlights while traveling in a normal manner on a public road or highway, while in possession of or with immediate access to, both ammunition of a type prohibited for use at night and a firearm capable of firing the ammunition (50-11-710). Rabbit hunting at night without weapons is lawful on private land.

Running Seasons (No gun season)
During any period when rabbits, raccoons, opossums, squirrels or fox may be hunted without firearms, it is illegal to hunt such game when carrying on one's person or in one's vehicle any firearm.

Shining
In all game zones, the use of artificial lights for the purpose of observing or harassing wildlife is unlawful, except that a property owner, lessee, or person with written permission from the property owner may use artificial lights to observe wildlife prior to 11:00 PM This section does not prohibit an owner of real property from using artificial lights for the purpose of protecting the property. This section does not prohibit the use of remote trail monitors or cameras from fixed locations on a property, nor does it prohibit a person or group, with written permission of the landowner or leaseholder of the property, from observing wildlife with the use of artificial lights who is engaged in research or documentary filming (50-11-708).

Selling Game Animals
It is unlawful to sell, except by special permit, any protected wildlife (50-1-290). Furbearing animals may be sold with a valid commercial fur harvest license. See the commercial fur harvest regulations.

Sunday Hunting
Hunting is prohibited on Sundays on all WMA lands. On private lands statewide, Sunday hunting for all game is legal.

Other Hunting Regulations

Commercial Fur Harvest
Regulations available in a separate publication.

Deer Processors
It is unlawful to keep any deer in cold storage or refrigerating plants unless the carcass is clearly marked with the hunter’s name, address and hunting license number (50-11-1700). This does not apply to storage at a private residence or to deer that have an Individual Antlerless Deer Tag Program tag attached to the hamstring since the hunter’s name, address and tag number appear on the face of the tag. Deer processors should recognize that it is unlawful to sell deer meat to regain the processing fee for deer that have not been picked-up by the owner (50-11-1910). The best practice is to take a deposit for the processing service when deer are left at the facility. If meat is not picked-up by the owner, it can be given to another individual at no charge.

Transporting Firearms
There are no SCDNR restrictions on transporting firearms by licensed hunters and fishermen in a vehicle to and from the place of hunting and fishing except on WMA lands. For regulations on WMA lands see Weapons 3.4.

Trapping
Regulations are available in a separate brochure.

Trespass
It shall be unlawful to enter upon the lands of another for the purpose of hunting, fishing, trapping or retrieval of dogs without the consent of the landowner or manager.

Youth Hunting Days
Youth Hunting Days are scheduled for many species of game and allow youth 17 years of age and under to hunt as long as they are accompanied by a licensed adult 21 years or older. Only the youth may take or attempt to take game and license requirements are waived for the youth hunter (50-9-740). Special Hunts for Youth and Mobility Impaired (Adobe PDF)

The 2011-2012 Hunting Rules and Regulations are provided in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open this file and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.

Get Adobe Reader