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South CarolinaH 3813126th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-11-430, RELATING TO BEAR HUNTING, SO AS TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO A REGISTERED PARTY DOG HUNT IN GAME ZONE 1.

Sponsored By: William M. "Bill" Hixon (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Bear hunting

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 1 mixed.

Permit required to keep captive bears

Beginning May 12, 2025, you may not keep a captive bear without a permit from the department. Breaking permit terms can lead to permit revocation and a civil penalty up to $5,000. Appeals follow the state Administrative Procedures Act.

Tough penalties for bear violations

Beginning May 12, 2025, each listed bear‑hunting offense is a misdemeanor. On conviction, you face up to a $2,500 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both. Your hunting and fishing privileges are suspended for three years. You must also pay at least $1,500 in restitution for each bear or bear part involved.

No trading or out‑of‑season transport

Beginning May 12, 2025, you may not possess or transport a freshly killed bear or bear part outside the open season. This does not apply to bears legally taken in other states. The department can issue a special permit for out‑of‑season possession or transport. You may not buy, sell, barter, or trade a bear or any bear part in South Carolina.

Stricter rules on hunting methods

Beginning May 12, 2025, you may not pursue a bear with dogs except during the open dog‑hunt season. You may not hunt by using bait or on a baited area; normal farming practices like standing crops are exempt. You may not take a bear from a boat or other watercraft, or molest or try to take a swimming bear in a lake or river.

Tag, report, and one-bear limit

Beginning May 12, 2025, if you take a bear, you must attach a valid bear tag before moving it and report the harvest by midnight that day. You may take only one bear per person during all seasons. In Game Zone 1, you may still join a dog hunt after taking a bear if your license shows the bear tag, but you cannot take a second bear.

Bear seasons and quotas set

Beginning May 12, 2025, the state sets bear seasons and closures. In Game Zone 1, still‑gun season is Oct 11–23 on private land and Oct 11–16 on wildlife areas. Dog‑hunt season is Oct 17–30 on private land and wildlife areas. In Zones 2–4, the department runs a bear‑management program, sets rules, and sets a harvest quota by zone or county when it opens a season. It can close a season with at least 24 hours’ public notice.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • William M. "Bill" Hixon

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 463 • No: 103

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

(Bear hunting)to adopt the free conference report

Yes: 45 • No: 0

House vote • 5/6/2025

(Bear hunting)Grant Free Conference Powers

Yes: 114 • No: 0

House vote • 5/6/2025

(Bear hunting)Adopt Free Conference Report

Yes: 111 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

(Bear hunting)to grant free conference powers

Yes: 45 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2025

(Bear hunting)Concur in Senate Amendments

Yes: 0 • No: 103

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

(Bear hunting)2nd Reading

Yes: 41 • No: 0

House vote • 2/18/2025

(Bear hunting)Passage of Bill

Yes: 107 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 46

    5/19/2025legislature

  2. Effective date 05/12/25

    5/19/2025legislature

  3. Signed By Governor

    5/12/2025Governor

  4. Ratified R 65

    5/8/2025legislature

  5. Ordered enrolled for ratification

    5/8/2025House

  6. Scrivener's error corrected

    5/7/2025legislature

  7. Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0

    5/6/2025Senate

  8. Free conference report adopted

    5/6/2025Senate

  9. Free conference committee appointed Campsen, Ott, Turner

    5/6/2025Senate

  10. Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0

    5/6/2025Senate

  11. Free conference powers granted

    5/6/2025Senate

  12. Roll call Yeas-111 Nays-0

    5/6/2025House

  13. Free conference report adopted

    5/6/2025House

  14. Free conference committee appointed Hixon, Hiott, McDaniels

    5/6/2025House

  15. Roll call Yeas-114 Nays-0

    5/6/2025House

  16. Free conference powers granted

    5/6/2025House

  17. Conference committee appointed Hixon, Hiott, McDaniel

    5/1/2025House

  18. Senate insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Campsen, Turner, Ott

    4/30/2025Senate

  19. Roll call Yeas-0 Nays-103

    4/23/2025House

  20. Non-concurrence in Senate amendment

    4/23/2025House

  21. Read third time and returned to House with amendments

    4/16/2025Senate

  22. Roll call Ayes-41 Nays-0

    4/15/2025Senate

  23. Read second time

    4/15/2025Senate

  24. Amended

    4/15/2025Senate

  25. Committee report: Favorable Fish, Game and Forestry

    4/2/2025Senate

Bill Text

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