South Carolina Hunting Calendar 2025-2026

Planning your outdoor adventures in the Palmetto State requires knowing when and where you can pursue various wildlife. South Carolina offers diverse opportunities for sportsmen and women across its picturesque landscape – from the mountainous upstate to the coastal lowlands. This comprehensive guide provides everything you need about the latest hunting regulations, season dates, and licensing requirements for South Carolina’s 2025 sporting calendar.

📋 South Carolina Hunting Seasons at a Glance

Whether you’re tracking whitetail deer through hardwood forests, calling wild turkeys in spring, or pursuing waterfowl along coastal wetlands, South Carolina offers something for every outdoor enthusiast. The state divides hunting regulations across four distinct game zones, each with specific dates and requirements to manage wildlife populations effectively.

Species	Season Dates	Method	Daily Limit
🦌 White-tailed Deer	Aug 15 – Jan 1 (varies by zone)	Archery/Gun	2 per day
🦃 Wild Turkey (Spring)	April 3 – May 3, 2025	Gun/Archery	1 per day, 2 total
🐻 Black Bear	Oct 17-30, 2025 (Game Zone 1)	Gun/Archery	1 per hunter
🕊️ Mourning Dove	Sept 1 – Jan 31 (split seasons)	Shotgun	15 per day
🦆 Ducks	Nov 22-29, Dec 12 – Jan 31	Shotgun	6 total
🐰 Rabbit	Nov 28 – March 1	Gun/Dogs	5 per day

🏹 Big Game: Archery & Rifle Adventures

White-tailed Deer 🦌

The crown jewel of Carolina wildlife pursuits offers some of the longest opportunities in the nation. Each game zone provides different windows, so check your location carefully!

Game Zone 1 (Mountain Region):

Primitive Weapons: October 1-10, 2025
Gun Season: October 11, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Youth Days: September 28, 2025 (antlered only) & January 4, 2026

Game Zone 2 (Piedmont):

Archery Only: September 15-30, 2025
Primitive Weapons: October 1-10, 2025
Gun Season: October 11, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Youth Days: September 14, 2025 & January 4, 2026

Game Zone 3 (Midlands):

Combined Archery & Gun: August 15, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Youth Days: August 10, 2025 & January 4, 2026

Game Zone 4 (Coastal Plain):

Archery Only: August 15-31, 2025
Gun Season: September 1, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Youth Days: August 10, 2025 & January 4, 2026

📋 Bag Limits & Tags:

Residents: 2 antlered per day, 5 total all methods
Non-residents: 2 antlered per day, 4 total all methods
Antlerless deer require Individual Antlerless Tags 🎟️

Black Bear 🐻

Carolina’s bruins offer thrilling opportunities in designated zones with specific methods and quotas.

Game Zone 1:

Still Hunt (No Dogs): October 17-23, 2025
Party Dog Hunts: October 24-30, 2025
Registration required by September 1st for dog hunts

Game Zone 2:

Still Hunt Only: October 17-30, 2025

Game Zone 4:

Still Hunt Only: October 17-30, 2025
30 bear quota limit for the entire area

Bear permits and tags are required, with specific regulations varying by hunting method and zone.

🦃 Turkey Season: Spring, Fall & Youth

Spring Gobbler Chase 2025

Statewide Private Lands: April 3 – May 3, 2025 Wildlife Management Areas: April 3 – May 3, 2025

Some WMAs have additional restrictions
NEW REGULATION: No jake harvesting (beard less than 6 inches)
NEW REGULATION: No “reaping” or stalking behind decoys/tail fans on private land

Bag Limits: 2 gobblers per year, 1 per day, max 1 before April 10th

Youth Turkey Weekends 🎯

March 29-30, 2025 & May 10-11, 2025
Ages 17 and younger
No license required on youth days
1 gobbler total for both weekends combined

🎟️ Turkey Tags: $25 residents, $125 non-residents (set of 2 tags)

🦫 Furbearers & Trappers

The state’s diverse furbearer populations provide excellent opportunities for both recreation and wildlife management.

Season Dates (All Game Zones):

Other Furbearers (Bobcat, Otter, Mink, Muskrat, Skunk, Weasel): November 28, 2025 – March 1, 2026
Fox: March 2 – November 26, 2025 (dogs only), November 28, 2025 – March 1, 2026 (guns & dogs)
Beaver: Year-round on private land, October 1 – March 1 on WMAs
Raccoon & Opossum: March 16 – September 14, 2025 (dogs only), September 15, 2025 – March 15, 2026 (guns & dogs)

🐦 Upland Birds

Bobwhite Quail

Private Lands: March 2 – November 23, 2025 (dogs only), November 25, 2025 – March 1, 2026 (guns & dogs)
WMAs: September 1-15 (dogs only), November 25 – March 1 (guns & dogs)
Daily Limit: 12 birds
Youth Day: November 23, 2025

Grouse (Game Zone 1 Only)

Season: November 28, 2025 – March 1, 2026
Daily Limit: 3 birds

🐿️ Upland Animals

Gray & Fox Squirrels

Private Lands: March 2 – September 30, 2025 (dogs only), October 1, 2025 – March 1, 2026 (guns & dogs)
WMAs: September 1-15 (dogs only), October 1 – March 1 (guns & dogs)
Daily Limit: 10 squirrels
Youth Day: September 28, 2025

Cottontail Rabbits 🐰

Private Lands: March 2 – November 26, 2025 (dogs only), November 28, 2025 – March 1, 2026 (guns & dogs)
WMAs: September 1-15 (dogs only), November 28 – March 1 (guns & dogs)
Daily Limit: 5 rabbits
Youth Day: March 8, 2025

🕊️ Other Small Game

Species	Season Dates	Daily Limit
Mourning Dove	Sept 1-Oct 4, Nov 15-29, Dec 22-Jan 31	15
Crow	November 1 – March 1	No limit
Raccoon	Sept 15 – March 15	3 per party
Opossum	Sept 15 – March 15	No limit

🦆 Migratory Birds

The coastal state offers exceptional waterfowl opportunities with federal seasons carefully timed for peak migrations.

Early Teal September Special

Dates: September 20-28, 2025
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Daily Limit: 6 teal
Possession: 18 teal

Mourning Dove (Split Seasons)

September 1 – October 4, 2025
November 15-29, 2025
December 22, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Daily Limit: 15 birds, 45 possession

🦆 Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers & Geese

Regular Duck Season

November 22-29, 2025
December 12, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Daily Limit: 6 ducks total with species restrictions
Special Scaup Limits: 2 scaup Nov 15, 22-29, Dec 12-22, Feb 7 & 14; 1 scaup Dec 23 – Jan 31

Mergansers

Same dates as ducks
Daily Limit: 5 (max 1 Hooded Merganser)
Possession: 15 (max 3 Hooded Mergansers)

Canada Geese (Late Season)

November 22-29, 2025
December 12, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Daily Limit: 5 (max 2 white-fronted geese)

Snow & Blue Geese

Same dates as Canada geese
Daily Limit: 25 birds
Possession: 45 birds

🦆 Other Waterfowls

Early Canada Geese

September 1-30, 2025
Daily Limit: 15 birds

Woodcock

December 18, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Daily Limit: 3 birds

Wilson’s Snipe

November 14, 2025 – February 28, 2026
Daily Limit: 8 birds

Coots

November 22-29, 2025
December 12, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Daily Limit: 15 birds

Rails & Gallinules

September 8-12, October 6 – December 9, 2025
Daily Limit: 15 (King & Clapper), 25 (Sora & Virginia)

Brant

January 2-31, 2026
February 15 – March 1, 2026
Daily Limit: 1 bird

🐊 More Games & Special Opportunities

Alligator 🐊

South Carolina’s premier lottery draw opportunity runs annually with high demand.

Application Period: June 1 – July 15, 2025
Draw Results: August 2025
Season Dates: September 13 – October 12, 2025 (noon to noon)
Application Fee: $10 (non-refundable)
Permit Fee: $100 if selected ($200 additional for non-residents)
Management Units: Southern Coastal, Middle Coast, Midlands, Pee Dee
Limit: 1 alligator per successful applicant

Special Youth Days 🎯

Multiple species offer dedicated youth opportunities throughout the year:

Deer: Various dates by game zone (ages 17 and younger)
Turkey: March 29-30 & May 10-11, 2025
Small Game: Species-specific dates in fall 2024/spring 2025
Waterfowl: November 15, 2025; February 7 & 14, 2026

Extended Falconry Opportunities 🦅

Ducks, Coots, Mergansers: November 3-21 & December 1-11, 2025
Daily Limit: 3 birds, 9 possession

🔗 Important Links & Resources:

🗺️ South Carolina Hunting Zones

South Carolina is divided into four game zones, each with specific regulations and seasons:

Game Zone 1: Mountain regions of Oconee, Pickens, and Greenville counties
Game Zone 2: Piedmont region including Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, and other upstate counties
Game Zone 3: Midlands and coastal plain including Aiken, Allendale, Berkeley, Charleston, and other counties
Game Zone 4: Pee Dee region including Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, and other northeastern counties

You can view detailed maps of these zones on the SCDNR website or through their mobile app.

🎟️ License Requirements and Costs

All hunters need appropriate licenses and permits before heading afield. Here’s what you need to know:

Resident License Options:

Annual State Hunting License: $12
Big Game Permit: $6 (required for deer, turkey, and bear)
Wildlife Management Area Permit: $30.50 (for hunting WMA lands)
Combination License (hunting, big game, freshwater fishing): $25
Sportsman License (includes WMA permit): $50

Non-Resident License Fees:

Annual Hunting License: $125
10-Day Hunting License: $75
Big Game Permit: $100
Wildlife Management Area Permit: $76

Youth Licenses:

Junior Sportsman License (16-17 years): $16
Children under 16: No license required when accompanied by a licensed adult

Special Licenses:

Senior Lifetime License (64+): $9
Disability Licenses: Available at no cost with proper documentation

Licenses can be purchased online through the SC DNR Go Outdoors portal, at authorized license agents, or by calling 1-866-714-3611.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need hunter education certification?

A: Yes, if you were born after June 30, 1979, you must complete a hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license.

Q: Can I hunt on Sundays in South Carolina?

A: Yes, Sunday hunting is allowed on private lands. Some WMAs may have restrictions.

Q: Are there special seasons for youth hunters?

A: Yes, South Carolina offers Youth Hunting Days for deer, turkey, and waterfowl. These provide opportunities for young hunters under adult supervision before the regular seasons.

Q: Is night hunting allowed in South Carolina?

A: Night hunting is prohibited for most game species. However, raccoons, opossums, foxes, mink, and skunk may be hunted at night. Coyotes and hogs may be hunted at night on private lands with certain restrictions.

Q: Can I bait deer in South Carolina?

A: Yes, baiting is legal on private lands in all game zones.

Related Resources

Looking for more information? Check out these related resources:

Plan Your South Carolina Hunting Adventure Today

From the challenging mountain terrain in the northwest to the sprawling coastal marshes in the east, South Carolina offers diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife for hunters of all experience levels. Remember to always check the latest regulations, obtain appropriate permits, and scout your hunting areas well in advance.

Whether you’re pursuing whitetails in October, calling spring turkeys, or wading for waterfowl, the Palmetto State provides memorable outdoor experiences throughout the year. Get your gear ready, purchase your licenses, and experience the sporting traditions that make South Carolina such a special destination for hunters.

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