Information

Migratory Bird Regulations 2010-2011

Restrictions

Flying DucksShooting hours are UNIFORM STATEWIDE.

NO open season on SWANS.

Hunting Waterfowl is PROHIBITED within certain distances of residences on portions or all of the following bodies of water:

  1. Gills Creek in Lancaster County (200 yards)
  2. Bear Creek in Lancaster County (200 yards)
  3. Lake Murray (200 yards - Newberry & Saluda Counties, 350 yards - Lexington & Richland Counties)
  4. Lake Greenwood (200 yards)
  5. Lake Wateree (200 yards)
  6. Lake Marion
    1. The cove immediately to the SE of the Indian Bluff Recreation site. (No Hunting)
    2. Potato Creek (200 yards)
    3. Wyboo Creek (200 yards)
    4. Public waters in Calhoun County from the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers downstream to Poplar Creek. (200 yards)
    5. The coves immediately to the East of St Julien Subd. Extension and Cypress Shores Marina. (200 yards)
    6. Deer Swamp in Clarendon County and adjacent to Santee Cooper Resort in Orangeburg County. (200 yards)
    7. Taw Caw Creek in Clarendon County (No Hunting)
  7. Murrell's Inlet Creek in Georgetown County (100 yards) Please contact your local Conservation Officer for specific information.

Special Falconry Season: Falconry is a permitted means of taking ducks, coots and mergansers in South Carolina. The season for falconry shall be:

Daily bag and possession limits for these birds shall not exceed 3 and 6 birds, respectively, singly or in the aggregate. Statewide hunting hours shall be one half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Nontoxic Shot Regulations: The possession of lead shot is prohibited for all waterfowl hunting, statewide. Nontoxic shot (steel, bismuth, or other Federally approved shot) is required for all waterfowl hunting. No shot smaller than no. 2 or larger than F shot is allowed for goose hunting.

SECTION 50-11-25.

Prohibition on taking migratory waterfowl from certain blinds or positions; construction and use of blinds; penalties.

  1. It is unlawful to take migratory waterfowl from blinds or positions where the floor level of the blind or the position is:
    1. more than ten feet above surface level in or around freshwater; or
    2. more than five feet above the mean high water in or around saltwater.
  2. A blind on public lands or waters must be constructed from biodegradable materials.
  3. Once vacated, a blind on public lands or waters may be used by persons on a "first come, first served" basis.
  4. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.

SECTION 50-21-860.

Restrictions on use of airboats. As used in this section, "airboat" means a watercraft propelled by air pressure caused by a motor mounted on the watercraft aboveboard.

  1. It is unlawful for a person to operate an airboat on the public waters of this State from the freshwater‑saltwater dividing line, established by Section 50‑17‑30, seaward.
  2. It is unlawful to operate an airboat on the waters of the Waccamaw, the Great Pee Dee, the Little Pee Dee, the Black, and the Sampit Rivers in Georgetown and Horry Counties from one hour before legal sunset to one hour after legal sunrise and anytime during the season for hunting waterfowl.
  3. It is unlawful to operate an airboat on the waters of that portion of Lake Marion and Santee Swamp west of the I‑95 bridge upstream to the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers during the season for hunting waterfowl.

A person violating the provisions of this section, upon conviction, must be punished as provided by Section 50-1-130.

The provisions of this section do not apply to the operation of airboats by law enforcement, emergency medical, civil defense, noxious weed control, military personnel, state and federally approved wildlife banding, surveying, biological research programs, and private waters.

Youth-Only Waterfowl Hunting Days:

Daily and possession bag limits are as indicated above.

State Youth Day: Dec. 4, 2010. Only hunters 17 years of age or younger may hunt waterfowl (ducks and geese) on this day. The youth(s) must be accompanied by an adult of at least 21 years of age. The adult is not allowed to carry a gun or hunt, but must be properly licensed, including state and federal duck stamps. Youth who are 16 and 17 years of age who hunt on this day are not required to be licensed or have a state waterfowl stamp but must possess a Federal Waterfowl Stamp.

Federal Youth Days: Feb. 5-6, 2011. Only hunters 15 years of age or younger may hunt waterfowl (ducks and geese) on these days. The youth(s) must be accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age. The adult is not allowed to carry a gun or hunt, and does not have to be licensed.