Title 50, Fish, Game and Watercraft

The assets of the fund may be derived from: (1) appropriations of state general funds, federal funds, donations, gifts, bond-issue receipts, securities, and other monetary instruments of value; (2) the proceeds of any gifts, grants, and contributions to the State which are design…

The fund constitutes a special trust derived from a contractual relationship between the State and contributors to the fund, including members of the public. In recognition of the special trust, the following limitations and restrictions are placed on expenditures from the fund: …

Expenditure of the income derived from the fund must be made through the board in accordance with the provisions of the general appropriations act.

The fund and income do not take the place of state appropriations or department receipts placed in the fund and must be used in accordance with Section 50-3-1040(3).

If the board of the Department of Natural Resources is dissolved, the succeeding agency shall assume the trusteeship of the fund and is bound by all the limitations and restrictions placed by this article on expenditures from the fund.

The department shall have charge of the enforcement officers of the Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division of the department and exercise supervision over the enforcement of the laws of the State, regulatory, tax, license or otherwise, in reference to birds, nonmigratory fish…

There is created in the state treasury a fund separate and distinct from the general fund of the State and all other funds styled the "Conservation Grant Fund". The income and principal of the fund must be used only to stimulate the use of conservation easements and fee simple gi…

The board of the Department of Natural Resources serves ex officio as the Conservation Grant Fund Board with full authority over the administration of the fund.

The Conservation Grant Fund shall consist of any monies appropriated to it by the General Assembly and other monies received from public or private sources.

In order for real property to be the subject of a grant under this article, the land must qualify for the tax credit allowed pursuant to Section 12-6-3515.

(A) Revenues in the Conservation Grant Fund may be used by the department only to: (1) defray the administrative costs of the department in administering the grant purpose provided for by this article; (2) provide education on conservation easements and fee simple gifts of land f…

The board shall establish the procedures and criteria for awarding grants under this article. The criteria shall focus grants on those areas, approaches, and techniques that are likely to provide the optimum positive effect on conservation. The board shall make recommendations to…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all law-enforcement personnel of the department are hereby designated enforcement officers with all the power and authority now possessed by game wardens, conservation officers, and inspectors as provided for in Chapters 1 through 19 of…

The department shall prescribe a unique and distinctive official uniform, with appropriate insignia to be worn by all uniformed enforcement officers of the Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division of the department when on duty and at such other times as the board shall order, …

In order to carry out the provisions of Sections 50-3-120 to 50-3-160 in an orderly and economical manner it is intended that all serviceable uniforms be continued in use until such time as the board deems it necessary for them to be replaced. These provisions shall also apply to…

Any violation of Sections 50-3-130 to 50-3-160 may be enjoined by the court of common pleas upon petition of the department after due notice to the person violating the provisions of Sections 50-3-130 to 50-3-160 and after a hearing on the petition.

The board shall file a quarterly report to each member of the General Assembly explaining the status of each county fish and game fund and watercraft fund, to include total funds for each county and an itemized list of expenditures for the past quarter.

(A) The Mitigation Trust Fund of South Carolina is credited for the purposes of receiving gifts, grants, contributions, and other proceeds for mitigation projects in the State. The Board of Trustees for the Mitigation Trust Fund is the chairman and the members of the South Caroli…

(A) The Chief of Wildlife shall establish a Statewide Waterfowl Program Manager within the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. The Waterfowl Program Manager shall: (1) manage all aspects of the waterfowl and wetland management program where management is directed toward t…

(A) The Waterfowl Advisory Committee is established to assist in the management of waterfowl habitats, assist in the development, protection, and propagation of waterfowl in this State, assist in prioritizing the expenditures of monies to accomplish this purpose, and review the a…

The director shall appoint the enforcement officers of the Natural Resources Enforcement Division, subject to their receiving a commission from the Governor. An enforcement officer shall be issued a commission by the Governor upon the recommendation of the director. An enforcemen…

(A) The director may appoint deputy enforcement officers who serve at the pleasure of the director without pay. The officers have statewide police power. However, the director may restrict their territorial jurisdiction. No person may be appointed as an officer who holds another …

In employing enforcement officers, the department shall use the criteria as required by the Office of Human Resources and the department. The criteria must include, but are not limited to, a written examination, physical examination, and interview. Each applicant is required to p…

The Secretary of State shall transmit to the department the commissions of all enforcement officers and the director shall deliver such commissions to the enforcement officers only after the enforcement officers have filed oaths as required by Section 50-3-330.

Every enforcement officer appointed to protect the property of the State shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe before a notary public, or other officer authorized to administer an oath, an oath to perform the duties of his office. Every officer …

The enforcement officers, when acting in their official capacity, shall have statewide authority for the enforcement of all laws relating to wildlife, marine, and natural resources.

The enforcement officers, when acting in their official capacity, shall wear a metallic shield with the words "South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Officer" inscribed thereon.

All enforcement officers shall obtain information as to all violations of the bird, nonmigratory fish, and game laws, and check all bag limits, size and specie of such birds, nonmigratory fish and game.

A duly commissioned enforcement officer, upon making an affidavit before a magistrate or in any court of the State that there exist reasonable grounds to believe that birds, fish or game are in the possession of any person or any common carrier in violation of the law, may procur…

The enforcement officers shall see that the bird, nonmigratory fish and game laws are enforced and prosecute all persons having in their possession any birds, nonmigratory fish or game contrary to the bird, fish and game laws of this State.

Enforcement officers may issue warning tickets to violators in cases of misdemeanor violations under this title. The department shall provide for the form, administration, and use of warning tickets authorized by this section.

The official summons used by enforcement officers may be used to cite violators of the provisions of Section 16-11-700 relating to littering.

The enforcement officer qualified under Sections 50-3-320 and 50-3-330 shall possess and exercise all of the power and authorities held and exercised by the constable at common law and under the statutes of this State. He shall also have the authority of inspector as provided for…

(A) Department of Natural Resources enforcement and deputy enforcement officers and officers authorized to enforce state law under the Catawba Indian Claims Settlement Act may use the official department summons for arrests for violations of laws and regulations of the Department…

Neither any officer of the Lake Wylie Marine Commission nor any enforcement officer or deputy enforcement officer of the Department of Natural Resources is subject to criminal prosecution when acting in his official capacity within his territorial jurisdiction for: (1) failing to…

The department may, subject to the provisions of this article, contract for the harvest of timber on any lands held by the department. No contract for such cutting and sale may be entered into and no timber may be cut or sold unless the board votes that the cutting and sale of th…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, lands which were used for agriculture or managed forestland before acquisition by the department must be managed and the timber harvested to provide optimum fish and wildlife habitat. The department must use Best Management Practices as…

If the sale is recommended by the State Forester, the department shall publicly advertise for bids for the timber at least three weeks before the closing of the bidding. The department has the right to reject any and all bids, either on account of the amounts of the bids or the l…

If an ecological or silviculture emergency or a natural disaster occurs that necessitates the immediate harvest of timber, upon the approval of the State Forester, the department immediately may negotiate contracts for the harvest and sale of the timber. Ecological or silvicultur…

Any deeds or contracts required in carrying out the provisions of this article may be executed and delivered on behalf of the department by the director.

Unless otherwise provided, the proceeds of the sale must be deposited with the State Treasurer to the credit of the Fish and Wildlife Protection Fund.

There is created the South Carolina Wildlife Endowment Fund, the income and principal of which must be used only for the purpose of supporting wildlife conservation programs of the State.

There is created the Board of Trustees of the Wildlife Endowment Fund of the Department of Natural Resources, with full authority over the administration of the fund, whose chairman and members are the chairman and members of the board of the Department of Natural Resources. The …

The assets of the fund are derived from: (1) the proceeds of any gifts, grants, and contributions to the State which are designated specifically for inclusion; (2) the proceeds from the sale of all lifetime privileges; (3) any amount in excess of the statutory fee for a particula…

The fund constitutes a special trust derived from a contractual relationship between the State and the members of the public whose investments contribute to the fund. In recognition of the special trust, the following limitations and restrictions are placed on expenditures from t…

The board may accumulate the investment income of the fund and may direct expenditures from the income of the fund for the purposes set out in Section 50-3-740(3).