Throughout South Carolina hunting seasons 2023-2024, it provides a selection of hunting opportunities. Hunters must know the regulations, bag restrictions, license requirements, and useful links to participate. Hunting is permitted in South Carolina during the deer season from one hour before dawn to one hour after sunset. It is crucial to remember that hunting, shooting, or targeting deer is prohibited when any of the animal’s parts are immersed in water. Hunters must get licenses and permissions to conduct hunting activities lawfully. Besides the deer season, South Carolina also offers pleasant small-game hunts.
Hunting permits for South Carolina can be obtained over the phone by contacting the state’s Department of Natural Resources, online at the DNR’s website, or in person at any of the state’s 500 licensing offices. The same procedures can be used to obtain licenses for non-residents, but be prepared to pay nonresident fees.
South Carolina Hunting Seasons 2023-2024
Content Highlights
There are four unique hunting zones in South Carolina (in the past, the state was divided into six areas). Each zone’s hunting seasons are listed in detail on the right. Details for each zone’s seasons, which may overlap, are provided below.
An undiscovered hunting treasure is South Carolina. This state is a terrific hunting destination because of the warm southern hospitality, beautiful landscape in the mountain foothills, and breathtaking vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. Once the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) releases the precise dates, the hunting calendar for South Carolina in 2023 will be updated. The dates provided below are based on last year’s season dates and should be used as a reference until the updated schedule is available. Please note that these dates may be subject to change, so it’s essential to remain informed by checking the SCDNR website or contacting them directly for the most precise and recent details on the hunting seasons in South Carolina.
2 per day, 3 total all seasons and methods combined
Zone 1 (Private Lands)
Antlered
11-Oct
1-Jan
Statewide limits apply
Zone 1 (Private Lands)
Antlered deer only
30-Sep
30-Sep
Limit 1, Tags not required
Zone 1 (Private Lands)
Either-sex
6-Jan
6-Jan
Limit 2, Tags not required
Zone 2 (Private Lands)
Antlerless
15-Sep
30-Sep
2 per day, 5 total all seasons and methods combined
Zone 2 (Private Lands)
Antlered
1-Oct
10-Oct
Statewide limits apply
Zone 2 (Private Lands)
Antlered
11-Oct
1-Jan
Statewide limits apply
Zone 2 (Private Lands)
Antlered deer only
9-Sep
9-Sep
Limit 1, Tags not required
Zone 2 (Private Lands)
Either-sex
6-Jan
6-Jan
Limit 2, Tags not required
Zone 3 (Private Lands)
Antlerless
15-Aug
1-Jan
2 per day 8 total all seasons and methods combined
Zone 3 (Private Lands)
Antlered
15-Aug
1-Jan
Statewide limits apply
Zone 3 (Private Lands)
Antlered deer only
12-Aug
12-Aug
Limit 1, Tags not required
Zone 3 (Private Lands)
Either-sex
6-Jan
6-Jan
Limit 2, Tags not required
Zone 4 (Private Lands)
Antlerless
15-Aug
31-Aug
2 per day 8 total all seasons and methods combined
Zone 4 (Private Lands)
Antlered
1-Sep
1-Jan
Statewide limits apply
Zone 4 (Private Lands)
Antlered deer only
12-Aug
12-Aug
Limit 1, Tags not required
Zone 4 (Private Lands)
Either-sex
6-Jan
6-Jan
Limit 2, Tags not required
SC Deer Season
For complete details on youth Deer hunting you may read our article ‘SC Youth Day Deer Hunt‘.
Regulations for deer hunting.
Every deer killed in a hunting area must have a valid deer tag attached to it before being removed from the killing area. The tag has to remain on until the deer is quartered or the body is sent to a processor.
The authorized time to shoot deer is from 12 hours before sunrise to 12 hours after dusk (50-11-710).
The use of dogs to track deer is prohibited in Game Zones 1 and 2. (50-11-310).
No motorboat, raft, or other watercraft may be used for hunting, shooting, or killing a deer.
Any deer whose head has been removed while the animal is being taken from the site of the crime is illegal to possess (50-11-400).
Hunting deer within 300 yards of a residence with a rifle within 10 feet of the ground is banned unless permission is given by the owner and the occupants. The provisions of this section do not apply to landowners who hunt on their own property or who take deer with the authorization of a department permit.
Archery, muzzleloaders, crossbows, and pneumatic weapons are all fair game during gun hunts.
Bear hunting seasons in South Carolina.
Species
Type
Hunting Start Dates
Hunting End Dates
Location
Bag Limits
Black Bear
Hunting Methods
17-Oct-23
30-Oct-23
South Carolina, Game Zones 1 and 4
Varies by zone and method
Hog Hunting Seasons
Zones
Area
Special Still Hunting Start Dates
Special Still Hunting End Dates
Special Hunts with Dogs Start Dates
Special Hunts with Dogs End Dates
Zone 1
WMAs ~ Greenville, Oconee, Pickens (portions of Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens north of Game Zone 2 line), except Mill Shoals WMA
2-Jan
10-Jan
20-Mar
28-Mar
Zone 2
WMAs ~ Abbeville, Anderson, Chester, Cherokee, Edgefield, Greenwood, Lancaster, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, York, (portions of Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens south of Game Zone 1 line) except Keowee & Fants Grove WMAs
2-Jan
10-Jan
20-Mar
28-Mar
Zone 3
Bear Island
7-Mar
9-Mar
Zone 3
Donnelley
7-Mar
9-Mar
Zone 3
Francis Marion Nat Forest—All WMAs
4-Mar
9-Mar
18-Mar
23-Mar
Zone 3
Hamilton Ridge
24-Aug
26-Aug
7-Mar
9-Mar
Zone 3
Hamilton Ridge
9-May
11-May
Zone 3
Hamilton Ridge
27-Jun
29-Jun
Zone 3
Hamilton Ridge
25-Jul
27-Jul
Zone 3
Palachucola
24-Aug
26-Aug
7-Mar
9-Mar
Zone 3
Palachucola
9-May
11-May
Zone 3
Palachucola
27-Jun
29-Jun
Zone 3
Palachucola
25-Jul
27-Jul
Zone 3
Santee Coastal Reserve
11-Mar
16-Mar
Zone 3
Webb
24-Aug
26-Aug
7-Mar
9-Mar
Zone 3
Webb
9-May
11-May
Zone 3
Webb
27-Jun
29-Jun
Zone 3
Webb
25-Jul
27-Jul
Zone 4
Great Pee Dee
4-Mar
9-Mar
18-Mar
23-Mar
Zone 4
Hickory Top
11-Mar
16-Mar
Zone 4
Little Pee Dee River Comp
4-Mar
9-Mar
11-Mar
16-Mar
Zone 4
Manchester SF
4-Mar
9-Mar
11-Mar
16-Mar
Zone 4
Marsh
4-Mar
9-Mar
18-Mar
23-Mar
Zone 4
Samworth (impoundments only)
11-Mar
16-Mar
Zone 4
Santee Dam
11-Mar
16-Mar
Zone 4
Santee Delta
11-Mar
16-Mar
Zone 4
Waccamaw River
4-Mar
9-Mar
11-Mar
16-Mar
Zone 4
Wee Tee
4-Mar
9-Mar
11-Mar
16-Mar
Zone 4
Woodbury
4-Mar
9-Mar
18-Mar
23-Mar
Alligator Season
Species
Type
Hunting Start Dates
Hunting End Dates
Location
Bag Limits
Alligator
Lottery
9-Sep-23
14-Oct-23
South Carolina, specific regions based on unit selection
Search for "SCDNR Hunter Education," then search by ZIP code, 29101
Accommodations
Contact refuge at 843-335-8350 by Sept. 6 for reasonable accommodations
Lunch
Participants should bring lunch or money for lunch offsite
Frequently Asked Questions on South Carolina Hunting Seasons
What can I do if I purchased my license online but didn’t print my payment receipt?
You will get an email with your license details when you buy your license online. You are free to hunt or fish with this email. You may use this license when hunting or fishing if you chose to get a copy of it by mail. Download our mobile app, Go Outdoors South Carolina, load your customer profile, and sync your licenses to the app. This serves as a valid hunting and/or fishing license if you have already purchased a license in any other way.
When does South Carolina hunting season begin and end?
The hunting season in South Carolina runs from August through February, depending on the species. Archery and rifle deer hunting seasons run from September through January. From September through November, elk and bear hunting has archery and gun seasons. Waterfowl hunting for ducks, geese, and other waterfowl occurs from September to January, while small game hunting for rabbits, squirrels, and more is from October to February.
What are the most popular South Carolina hunting species?
White-tailed deer, feral pigs (invasive), black bears (especially in the mountains), waterfowl (ducks, geese, etc.), and small game like rabbits and squirrels are the most popular game species hunted in South Carolina during the hunting season. Each species brings distinct hunting problems and possibilities. Turkeys, quail, and doves are other common South Carolina game species. The state’s species richness offers for diverse hunting experiences dependent on availability and laws.
How can I obtain a hunting license for South Carolina's hunting season?
You must be 16 and have a South Carolina driver’s license or identity card to get a hunting license for the season. Hunter education is required for anyone born after June 30, 1979. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website has the course. You may buy a hunting license online, via mail, or through a licensing agent. The license type and species you hunt determine the fee. Resident, nonresident, elderly, handicapped, and lifelong permits are available. The hunting license must be shown when hunting on public property.
Can non-residents participate in South Carolina's hunting season?
The South Carolina hunting season allows non-residents, although there are rules. Non-resident hunting permits cost extra and may not be available for all animals. Additionally, non-residents frequently have lesser tag limitations than citizens. Non-residents may be disadvantaged when drawing for hunting licenses. For current non-resident hunting rules, see the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
What are the different types of hunting methods allowed during the hunting season in South Carolina?
South Carolina hunting season allows different tactics based on species and area. Archery, shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader, handgun, and crossbow are common tactics. Hunting dogs are permitted with limits. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources offers accurate and updated information on hunting tactics, which differ per game.
Are there any youth-specific hunting opportunities during the South Carolina hunting season?
Yes, the South Carolina hunting season offers various youth-specific hunting opportunities to introduce kids to hunting safely and enjoyably. Youth Deer, Turkey, and Waterfowl Hunts are available for 16- and 15-year-olds. For youth 12 and younger, the Youth Hunting Mentoring Program matches them with seasoned hunters. Young hunters must fulfill qualifying standards, have a juvenile hunting license, and be accompanied by a licensed adult mentor.
How do I report my harvested game during the hunting season in South Carolina?
Through the SC Game Check app to report your harvested game in South Carolina during hunting season. When ready to report, input species, date and time of harvest, location, tag number (if relevant), sex, animal age (if known), and harvest technique into your personal account. You may also report to SC Game Check by mail or by phoning 1-833-4SC-GAME. You must report the kill within 24 hours with your hunting license, tags, and documentation of the kill (picture or tag). Reporting promptly and accurately helps preserve game populations.
What are the penalties for hunting violations or non-compliance with hunting regulations in South Carolina?
The severity of hunting offences in South Carolina determines the penalty. Hunting without a license, hunting out of season, using illegal weapons, killing an animal without permission, and messing with animals are common offenses. Class 1 through Class 3 offenses carry 30-day prison sentences and $1,000 fines. Violators risk hunting license suspension or revocation. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website or wildlife officers may provide current hunting restrictions and fines. Following these guidelines preserves safe and responsible hunting in the state.
John Lewis, the passionate founder of HuntingSeasons.org, is committed to promoting responsible hunting and a profound love for the wilderness. With years of expertise, his platform serves as a reliable guide for hunting enthusiasts, advocating ethical practices and nature preservation.
Is the dove opening Sept. 3 a sunday