South Carolina offers generous deer seasons and excellent hunting across Lowcountry swamps, piedmont forests, and mountain terrain, with strong white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and feral hog populations.
South Carolina hunting seasons cover 38 season dates statewide for White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Feral Hog and more. Most seasons are open to any licensed hunter within the posted dates. Use the tables below for exact opening and closing dates by species and zone.
Season data sourced from the South Carolina wildlife agency. Always verify dates and regulations on the official site before hunting—regulations can change during the season.
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muzzleloader | Oct 1 — Oct 10 | — | — |
| 1 | Archery | Oct 1 — Oct 10 | — | — |
| 1 | Rifle | Oct 11 — Jan 1 | — | — |
| 2 | Archery | Sep 15 — Sep 30 | — | — |
| 2 | Muzzleloader | Oct 1 — Oct 10 | — | — |
| 2 | Rifle | Oct 11 — Jan 1 | — | — |
+ 4 more Deer seasons
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shotgun | Sep 1 — Oct 4 | — | — |
| 1 | Shotgun | Dec 22 — Jan 31 | — | — |
| 2 | Shotgun | Sep 1 — Oct 4 | — | — |
| 2 | Shotgun | Dec 22 — Jan 31 | — | — |
| 3 | Shotgun | Sep 1 — Oct 4 | — | — |
| 3 | Shotgun | Dec 22 — Jan 31 | — | — |
+ 2 more Dove seasons
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rifle | Oct 17 — Oct 30 | — | — |
| 2 | Rifle | Oct 17 — Oct 30 | — | — |
| 3 | Rifle | Oct 17 — Oct 30 | — | — |
| 4 | Rifle | Oct 17 — Oct 30 | — | — |
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shotgun | Nov 17 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| 2 | Shotgun | Nov 17 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| 3 | Shotgun | Nov 17 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| 4 | Shotgun | Nov 17 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Any Legal | Nov 24 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| 2 | Any Legal | Nov 24 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| 3 | Any Legal | Nov 24 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| 4 | Any Legal | Nov 24 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Any Legal | Oct 1 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| 2 | Any Legal | Oct 1 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| 3 | Any Legal | Oct 1 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| 4 | Any Legal | Oct 1 — Mar 1 | — | — |
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shotgun | Apr 3 — May 3 | — | — |
| 2 | Shotgun | Apr 3 — May 3 | — | — |
| 3 | Shotgun | Apr 3 — May 3 | — | — |
| 4 | Shotgun | Apr 3 — May 3 | — | — |
South Carolina season dates vary by species and zone. Archery seasons typically open first, followed by firearms and muzzleloader. This page lists 38 South Carolina season dates—check the species tables above for exact opening and closing dates.
South Carolina offers hunting for 7 species, including White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Feral Hog and more. Each species has its own season dates, weapon rules and bag limits.
Always verify season dates and regulations with the official state wildlife agency:
South Carolina Official Hunting Regulations →See GMU boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas for South Carolina on our interactive hunting map.
Hunting in Canada? Explore Crown Land Maps, Hunting Seasons, Licence Guide, and Regulations for Canadian provinces.