In South Carolina you can hunt white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, black bear, American alligator, small game (squirrel, rabbit, quail, raccoon, and opossum), migratory birds (dove, ducks, and geese), and unprotected species including feral hogs, coyotes, and armadillos. Each species has its own season dates, bag limits, and permit requirements set by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and seasons vary by game zone and by whether you’re on private land or a Wildlife Management Area.
White-Tailed Deer
Deer are the state’s most popular big game. South Carolina is divided into four game zones, and private-land season dates differ in each one. The earliest opener is August 15 in Game Zones 3 and 4. Game Zones 1 and 2 don’t open until October 1 (with an archery segment starting September 15 in Zone 2). Every zone closes on January 1, and SCDNR has specifically warned that any source listing a January 15 close date is incorrect.1South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Wildlife – Deer
Private-land deer seasons by zone:
- Game Zone 1: primitive weapons Oct. 1–10; gun Oct. 11–Jan. 1
- Game Zone 2: archery only Sept. 15–30; primitive weapons Oct. 1–10; gun Oct. 11–Jan. 1
- Game Zone 3: archery and gun Aug. 15–Jan. 1
- Game Zone 4: archery only Aug. 15–31; gun Sept. 1–Jan. 1
Residents can take up to 2 antlered deer per day and 5 for the season across all methods. Non-residents are limited to 2 per day and 4 for the season. Antlerless deer are capped at 2 per day and require an individual antlerless tag. Only three individual antlerless tags may be used in Game Zone 1, and antlerless tags don’t become valid until October 1 in Zone 1 and September 15 in Zones 2, 3, and 4. WMA deer seasons are generally shorter than private-land seasons and vary by area, so check the specific WMA rules before heading out.
Eastern Wild Turkey
Turkey hunting is spring-only. Private-land season statewide runs April 3 through May 3. WMA seasons close a day earlier on May 2, and individual WMAs may be more restrictive. The statewide limit is 2 gobblers per season with no more than one per day, and you can’t take more than one gobbler before April 10 — a rule meant to protect breeding toms early in the season.3eRegulations. South Carolina Turkey Regulations A turkey tag is required on top of your hunting license and big game permit, and after you tag the bird you must report it electronically by midnight the same day.4South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Order Your Wild Turkey Tags Online
Black Bear
Bear hunting is tightly controlled. It’s allowed only in Game Zones 1, 2, and 4, with a statewide bag limit of one bear no matter how many zones you hunt. Sows with cubs and bears weighing 100 pounds or less may not be taken. You need a separate bear tag ($25 resident, $100 non-resident) in addition to a hunting license and big game permit, and each hunter can purchase only one tag.5South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Bear Hunting
Game Zones 2 and 4 operate under harvest quotas, meaning the season can close early once the quota is met. In 2025, Game Zone 4’s season shut down on October 23. If you’re planning a bear hunt, watch SCDNR announcements closely.
Alligator
Alligator tags are issued by lottery. Applications open June 1 and close July 15, with a $10 non-refundable application fee. If you’re drawn, the alligator hunting permit costs $100. Non-residents pay an additional $200 on top of the permit and license, and non-resident assistants age 16 or older must pay the same $200 surcharge.6South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Alligator Draw Hunt Information Fail to pay the $100 after being drawn and you lose that year’s hunt and any accumulated preference points.
Small Game
Small game in South Carolina covers squirrel, rabbit, quail, raccoon, and opossum. You only need a hunting license for these species. No big game permit, no tags.7South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. SC Hunting License Seasons generally run as a dogs-only period on private land followed by a guns-and-dogs period that aligns with WMA season dates:
- Gray and fox squirrel: dogs only Mar. 2–Sept. 30 on private land; guns and dogs Oct. 1–Feb. 28 on WMAs. Daily limit 10.
- Rabbit: dogs only Mar. 2–Nov. 25 on private land; guns and dogs Nov. 27–Feb. 28 on WMAs. Daily limit 5.
- Quail: dogs only Mar. 2–Nov. 22 on private land; guns and dogs Nov. 24–Feb. 28 on WMAs. Daily limit 12.
- Raccoon: guns and dogs Sept. 15–Mar. 15 on private land; dogs only Mar. 16–Sept. 14; night only on WMAs. Three per party per day.
- Opossum: same seasons as raccoon. No bag limit.
Migratory Birds
Migratory bird seasons are set each year based on federal frameworks and approved by the SCDNR Board. Waterfowl hunters need a Federal Duck Stamp ($25 for the 2025–2026 season) and state migratory bird permits in addition to a hunting license.
Mourning Dove
Dove season for 2025–2026 is split into three segments: September 1–October 4, November 15–29, and December 22–January 31. Daily bag limit is 15, possession limit 45.9South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 2025-2026 Migratory Bird Seasons
Ducks and Geese
Duck season runs November 22–29 and December 12–January 31, with a daily bag limit of 6 that includes species-specific sub-limits. Canada goose and white-fronted goose seasons follow similar split dates plus a late period February 15–March 1, with a daily limit of 5. Snow and blue geese share those dates with a daily limit of 25 and no possession cap.9South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 2025-2026 Migratory Bird Seasons
Waterfowl rules are the most complicated in all of hunting. Duck species sub-limits shift mid-season for scaup, and black duck and mottled duck limits differ depending on whether you’re east or west of I-95. Read the full SCDNR migratory bird regulations before each season, because errors here can trigger a federal violation on top of a state one.
Feral Hogs, Coyotes, and Armadillos
These three species are unprotected, which means dramatically looser rules. Feral hogs have no closed season and no bag limit on private land.10South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Wild Hog Information On WMAs, hogs may be taken during any open game season using the weapons allowed for that season, with no bag limit, and no live hogs may be transported off a WMA.11South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 123-40 Regulations Applicable to Wildlife Management Areas Coyotes can be hunted year-round with a valid hunting license, and electronic calls are legal statewide.12South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Mammal – Species – Coyote
Night Hunting
You can hunt feral hogs, coyotes, and armadillos at night, but only on properties registered with SCDNR. Night hunting these species on unregistered property is illegal unless you hold a DNR depredation permit. Registration is annual and requires your DNR Customer ID, parcel number, county, acreage, and bordering road descriptions, and you must file an annual activity report through December 31 to re-register the following year.13South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Night Hunting
On registered property, artificial lights and night-vision devices are permitted with any legal firearm, bow, or crossbow. You cannot shoot from, on, or across a public paved road at night, and you cannot hunt within 300 yards of a residence without the occupant’s permission unless you’re on your own land. Anyone convicted of night hunting deer, bear, or turkey within the past five years is barred from night hunting altogether.
Licenses, Permits, and Hunter Education
Every hunter in South Carolina needs a state hunting license. A resident annual license is $12. To pursue deer, bear, or turkey you also need a big game permit ($6) plus the appropriate tags for each species.14South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. SC Resident Fishing and Hunting License Pricing Non-resident licenses cost significantly more. You can buy everything through the Go Outdoors SC app, online, at authorized vendors, or at SCDNR offices.7South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. SC Hunting License
If you were born after June 30, 1979, you must complete an SCDNR-approved hunter education course before you can buy a hunting license.15South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. SC Recreational Fishing and Hunting License Free instructor-led classroom courses are offered, along with online self-study options that may carry a fee.
Haven’t finished the course yet? You get one shot at an apprentice license. It’s a one-time exemption that lets you hunt while accompanied by a licensed, non-apprentice hunter who is at least 21, has no hunting violations on record, and stays close enough to maintain constant visual and verbal contact with you.
Youth hunters get designated days on both private and WMA lands. For 2025–2026, youth deer days fall in August or September depending on the game zone, and again on January 3, 2026. South Carolina residents who have been declared disabled and receive benefits from the Social Security Administration, VA, or Medicaid can apply for a free disability license, valid three years. Hunters who are paraplegic, quadriplegic, or legally blind can qualify for a lifetime disability license with a doctor’s statement.16South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Disability License Information
Where You Can Hunt
Private land is where most South Carolina hunting happens, and you must have the landowner’s or manager’s permission before entering. Sunday hunting on private land is legal statewide for all game. Baiting deer on private land is legal anywhere in the state after a 2013 law removed the last restrictions in Game Zones 1 and 2.17South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. A Retrospective on Hunting Deer Over Bait in South Carolina
Wildlife Management Areas provide extensive public hunting across South Carolina. A WMA permit is required in addition to your hunting license. WMAs typically have tighter seasons, weapon restrictions, and bag limits than private lands, and Sunday hunting is prohibited on WMAs unless specifically authorized for a particular area.18eRegulations. South Carolina Hunting General Rules and Regulations Baiting is illegal on all WMAs statewide.
National Wildlife Refuges in South Carolina allow hunting but operate under their own federal permit systems, often including drawn quota hunts for turkey; state hunting regulations still apply alongside the refuge rules. Cultural Heritage Preserves managed by SCDNR are closed to hunting entirely.19Heritage Trust – South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Laws
Penalties for Hunting Without a License
Hunting without a valid license, permit, or required tags is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of $50 to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both.20South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 50 Chapter 9 Hunting without the landowner’s consent is a separate misdemeanor. A first offense carries up to $500 in fines or 30 days in jail. A second offense within ten years raises the minimum fine to $500 and the maximum to $1,000. A third or subsequent offense within ten years can mean up to $2,500 in fines, six months in jail, or both.21South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 50-1-90 Violations such as night hunting illegally or exceeding bag limits stack additional charges on top.