South Carolina Hunting Seasons, 2024-2025

With a herd of about 730,00 deer and some of the lowest hunting pressure you’ll find in the South, hunting whitetail in South Carolina is an experience that hunters don’t want to miss. Archery and firearm season opens earlier than many states (mid-August), so you have plenty of time to tag out.

Because South Carolina is on the coast, it’s also an excellent place for hunting waterfowl. And, if you’re interested in hogs, there is no closed season for hunting feral hogs in the state. Bear hunting is also available in the state. 

So, whether you live in the Palmetto State or you’ve added it to your whitetail or hog hunting plans this year, you’ll want to know the season dates, bag limits, and hunting regulations for everything you want to hunt. 

SC Deer Season

Game Zone 1

Private Lands:

Primitive Weapons: October 1 – 10

Gun Hunts: October 11 – January 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days: September 30 and January 6 

WMAs:

Note: Dates can vary based on the WMA with the Game Zone

Primitive Weapons: October 2 – 10

Archery Only: October 17 – 30

Still Gun Hunts: October 11 – January 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days: January 6

Game Zone 2

Private Lands:

Archery Only: September 15 – 30

Primitive Weapons: October 1 – 10

Gun Hunts: October 11 – 16 and October 31 – January 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days: September 9 and January 6 

WMAs:

Note: Dates can vary based on the WMA with the Game Zone

Archery Only: September 15 – 30

Primitive Weapons: October 2 – 10

Still Gun Hunts: October 11 – January 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days: January

Game Zone 3

Private Lands:

Archery and Gun Hunts: August 15 – January 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days: August 12 and January 6

WMAs:

Note: Dates can vary based on the WMA with the Game Zone

Archery Only: September 15 – 30

Still Gun Hunts: October 11 – January 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days: January 6

Game Zone 4

Private Lands:

Archery Only: August 15 – 31

Gun Hunts: September 1 – January 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days: August 12 and January 6

WMAs:

Note: Dates can vary based on the WMA with the Game Zone

Archery Only: September 15 – October 10

Still Gun Hunts: October 11 – January 1

Youth Deer Hunt Days: January 6

Turkey

Spring: 

Game Zones 1 and 2 (Private Lands): April 1 – May 10

Game Zones 1 and 2 (Youth Only Private Lands): March 30 – 31

Game Zones 3 and 4 (Private Lands): March 22 – April 30

Game Zones 3 and 4 (Youth Only Private Lands): March 16 – 17

WMAs (Statewide): April 1 – 30 

Bear

Game Zone 1:

Still Hunt (No Dogs): October 17 – 23

Party Dog Hunts: October 24 – 30

Game Zone 2:

Still Hunt (No Dogs): October 17 – 30

Game Zone 4:

Still Hunt (No Dogs): October 17 – 23

Migratory Birds and Waterfowl:

Mourning Doves: September 2 – October 5, November 16 – 30, and December 22 – January 31

Early Teal: September 14 – September 29

Ducks and Coots: November 23 – 30 and December 12 – January 31

Canada Geese: September 1 – 30, November 23 – 30, December 12 – January 31, February 15 – March 1

White-fronted and Snow Geese: November 23 – 30, December 12 – January 31, February 15 – March 1

Common Snipe: November 14 – February 28 

Woodcock: December 18 – January 31 

Small Game:

Hunting season dates for small game species apply to all Game Zones, except where noted otherwise. 

Quail:

Private Lands: November 1 – March 1

WMAs: November 1 – March 1

Youth Only: November 18

Rabbit: 

Private Lands: November 23 – March 1 (guns and dogs) and March 2 – November 27 (dogs only)

WMAs: September 1 – 15 (dogs only) and November 23 – March 1 (guns and dogs)

Youth Only: March 2

Squirrels: 

Private Lands: October 1 – March 1 (guns and dogs) and March 2 – November 27 (dogs only)

WMAs: September 1 – 15 (dogs only) and November 23 – March 1 (guns and dogs)

Youth Only: September 30

Fox: 

Private Lands: November 23 – March 1 (guns and dogs) and March 2 – November 27 (dogs only)

WMAs: September 1 – 15 (dogs only) and November 23 – March 1 (guns and dogs)

Grouse (Game Zone 1 Only): 

Private Lands: November 23 – March 1

WMAs: November 23 – March 1

Alligator

By lottery only. 

Feral Hogs and Coyotes

No closed season. 

Visit the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) website for more information and the latest dates for the species noted above and others. You can also visit the eRegulations pages for South Carolina hunting information. (https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/hunting)

(Read more of this page at :https://huntwise.com/field-guide/state-hunting-guide/the-guide-to-south-carolina-hunting-seasons)