South Carolina Hunting

Only one (1) alligator can be taken per permit. Alligator must be four (4) feet or greater in length. Others may assist permittee, but all participants (including permittee) must be licensed SC hunters.

It is unlawful to feed or entice an American alligator with food (50-11-750), or possess any live alligator without a permit (50-15-40).

• Hunters are selected by a preference-based computer drawing and may apply online beginning May 1 of each year. A $10 nonre- fundable application fee is required to par- ticipate in the drawing and applicants must be at least 16 years old in order to apply. If selected, the permit/tag fee is $100, and if not selected, the applicant will be awarded one preference point for future alligator lottery hunts. All selected hunters are required to possess a SC Hunting License in addition to the $100 permit/tag fee. Any nonresident al- ligator hunter chosen must pay an additional $200 Nonresident Alligator Hunting Fee along with the permit/tag fee, and must possess a SC Nonresident Hunting License.
• Anyone may assist a permitted hunter dur- ing the hunt, but all assistants must possess a hunting license unless they are under the age of 16. In addition, ALL nonresident al- ligator hunting assistants (16 years of age or older) must pay the $200 Nonresident Alligator Hunting Fee and possess a SC Nonresident Hunting License, available from any license sales vendor. The deadline for applying for each year’s Public Alligator Hunting Season is June 15th at 5:00pm.
• The application link and other details may be found on the SCDNR website. For informa- tion regarding the Alligator Program, and licensing requirements for taking, possessing, and sale of alligators or their products, call 843-546-6062 or 803-734-3886 (the Nonresident Alligator Hunting fee for nonresident alligator hunters and nonresident assistants may be paid at any license vendor location, online at www.dnr.sc.gov, or by phone at 1-866-714-3611).

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

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). Falconry Allowed

Pneumatic weapons including those that shoot arrows may be used on private and WMA Lands statewide during firearms sea- sons only. On WMAs restrictions found in WMA Regulation 3.1 and 3.3 apply to pneu- matic weapons.

Statewide Limit: 1 bear; no sow with cubs, no bears 100 lbs. or less.

Antlered Deer Limit: Statewide limits apply.

Antlerless Limit: 2 per day, 3 total all seasons and methods combined.

Primitive Weapons: Oct. 1-10

Gun Hunts: Oct. 11-Jan. 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days:

• September 24, Antlered deer only, limit 1.
• January 7, Either-sex, limit 2.
• Tags not required.

Antlered Deer Limit: Statewide limits apply.

Antlerless Limit: 2 per day, 5 total all seasons and methods combined.

Archery Only: Sept. 15-30

Primitive Weapons: Oct. 1-10

Gun Hunts: Oct. 11-Jan. 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days:

• September 10, Antlered deer only, limit 1.
• January 7 Either-sex, limit 2.
• Tags not required.

Antlered Deer Limit: Statewide limits apply.

Antlerless Limit: 2 per day. 8 total all seasons and methods combined.

Archery & Gun Hunts: Aug. 15- Jan. 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days:

• August 13, Antlered deer only, limit 1.
• January 7, Either-sex, limit 2.
• Tags not required.

Antlered Deer Limit: Statewide limits apply.

Antlerless limit: 2 per day. 8 total all seasons and methods combined.

Archery Only: Aug. 15-31

Gun Hunts: Sept. 1-Jan. 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days:

• August 13, Antlered deer only, limit 1.
• January 7, Either-sex, limit 2.
• Tags not required.

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

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). Falconry Allowed

Pneumatic weapons including those that shoot arrows may be used on private and WMA Lands statewide during firearms sea- sons only. On WMAs restrictions found in WMA Regulation 3.1 and 3.3 apply to pneu- matic weapons.

Antlered deer statewide limit:

• Residents – 2 per day, 5 total all seasons and methods combined.
• Nonresidents – 2 per day, 4 total all seasons and methods combined.

15 total

Opening day:12 Noon until Sunset; rest of season: 1⁄2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset

1⁄2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset

King and Clapper—15 Total

Sora and Virginia—25 Total

8 total

3 total

Raccoons, opossums, foxes, mink, and skunk may be hunted at night during the open hunting season for those species; however, they may not be hunted with artificial lights except when treed or cornered with dogs and no buckshot or any shot larger than #4, or any rifle ammunition larger than a twenty-two rimfire may be used. Devices that amplify light using any type of power source including any having an electronic screen other or similar digital viewfinder, are considered artificial light (including night vision or infrared/thermal imaging equipment). This does not include traditional illuminated scope reticles or dots. (50-11-120, 50-11-710, 50-11-1080, 50-11-2540) A hunting license is required to hunt coyotes at night. In addition, the landowner must register their property with DNR for night hunting. Coyotes may not be hunted at night on any unregistered property, except with a DNR-issued depredation permit. On registered properties, coyotes may be hunted at night with artificial lights and nightvision devices using any legal firearm, bow, or crossbow. Registered properties may also hunt armadillos and feral hogs at night using the same weapons and devices. It is unlawful to hunt coyotes (or armadillos or feral hogs) at night within 300 yards of a residence without the permission of the occupant. This yardage restriction does not apply to the landowner hunting their own property, or under the authority of a DNR-issued depredation permit. It is unlawful to shoot or attempt to shoot a coyote (or armadillo or feral hog), at night, from, on, or across any public paved road. Property registration to the DNR is required once annually as prescribed by DNR for each property. A brief, annual report of each registered property’s night hunting activities is required to re-register a property the following year. Persons convicted of certain night hunting violations during the previous five years are ineligible to hunt coyotes at night. (50-11-1080, 50-11-700 et seq.)

All game Zones- 12 per day

All game zones- 5 per day

All game zones- 10 per day

All game zones- No limit

All game zones- No limit

Game zone 1 only- 3 per day

All game zones- 3 per party, per day

No limit for opossum

All Game Zones- No Limit

All game zones- No limit

• Sunday hunting allowed on private lands (SC 50-11-555). No Sunday hunting allowed on WMA land (Reg. 123-51).
• Statewide limit of 3 gobblers for residents and 2 for nonresidents, no more than 1 per day (SC Code 50-11-580). Bearded hens are not legal.
• All hunters, including hunters younger than 16 or those who are calling or guid- ing must possess a valid set of turkey tags except on designated youth days. Except on designated youth days, all harvested turkeys must be tagged and validated as prescribed on the tag form before being moved from the point of kill. No person may possess more than one set of turkey tags (SC 50-11-544).
• Hunters who have used all their tags may call or guide for other hunters provided they possess their tag form.
• Legal weapons – shotguns, muzzleloading shotguns, bows and crossbows. All other weapons or methods are prohibited including rifles, pistols, slugs, and buckshot (SC 50-11-500, Reg. 123-51).
• Turkeys may not be hunted with dogs, live decoys or electronic calls (SC 50-11-40, Reg. 123-51).
• Unlawful to shoot any turkey between 30 minutes after official sunset and 30 minutes before official sunrise. Unlawful to take or attempt to take a wild turkey from a vehicle on a public road. Unlawful to trap or snare a wild turkey. Unlawful to take wild turkey from a watercraft (SC 50-11-500).
• Unlawful to hunt or take a wild turkey by means of bait or on or over any baited area (SC 50-11-510). Bait means placing, depositing, exposing, distributing, or scattering of salt, corn, wheat, or other grain, or foodstuffs to constitute a lure or attraction for wild turkeys. An area remains a baited area for ten days following the complete removal of all bait. NOTE: The following activities can result in a baited area if done prior to or during turkey season: planting, discing or manipulating chufa to expose the tubers; mowing or manipulating standing grain crops where grain is scattered or exposed; top sowing of any grains; bait or feed intended for other species.
• On WMA lands the practice of fanning or reaping is prohibited. Fanning/reaping is defined as hunting or stalking wild turkeys while holding or using for hunter concealment any of the following items: a tail fan, a partial or full decoy with a tail fan, or a tail fan mounted to a firearm. Tail fans include those made of real or synthetic feathers or an image or likeness of a tail fan applied to any material (Reg. 123-51). This regulation does not apply on private land.

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.

1⁄2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset

Sunrise to Sunset

Daily Bag Limit: 6

Daily Bag Limit: 6 Total including those species not named below.

• Including no more than 3 each of the following: WoodDucks.
• Including no more than 2 each of the following: Mallards(no more than 1 hen), Redheads, Scaup(2/day, 11/13, 11/20-27, 12/12-22); (1/day, 12/23 – 1/31), Canvasback.
• Including no more than 1 each of the following: Pintails, Fulvous whistling duck, Black-bellied whistling duck.

5 Total for Sea Ducks.

• Including no more than 4 each of the following: Elders, Scoters, Long-tailedducks

Daily Bag Limit: 15

Daily Bag Limit: 5 Total

No More than 2 White-Fronted Geese

Daily Bag Limit: 25

Daily Bag Limit: 25

Daily Bag Limit: 5 Total, No more than 1 Hooded Merganser

Daily Bag Limit: 2