Title 50, Fish, Game and Watercraft

(A) In addition to a valid state hunting license, an annual commercial fur license is required of all persons who sell or take by any means, for commercial purposes, and all persons who trap or who attempt to trap any fur bearing animals. The license is issued by the department a…

(A) An applicant for an alligator propagation facility permit must remit a nonrefundable fee of five hundred dollars with the application. (B) Upon approval of an alligator propagation facility permit, the applicant must remit a fee of one hundred dollars to obtain the permit. (C…

(A) Licenses, permits, tags, and stamps issued pursuant to this title must be carried on the person while exercising the privileges of the license, permit, tag, or stamp, and the person shall produce the license, permit, tag, or stamp to a law enforcement officer upon demand. (B)…

(A) For the privilege of hunting: (1) a resident must purchase: (a) an annual statewide hunting license for twelve dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (b) a three year statewide hunting license for thirty-six dollars, three dollars of which the issui…

For the combined statewide privilege of: (1) hunting, including the privilege of hunting big game and freshwater fishing, a resident may purchase: (a) an annual combination license for twenty-five dollars, two dollars of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; or (b) a three y…

(A) A resident may obtain a lifetime statewide combination license from the department at its designated licensing locations, which grants the same privileges as an annual combination license. The license fee is based on the age of the applicant. If at the time of application the…

(A) A resident who is determined to be disabled and receiving benefits under a Social Security program, the Civil Service Retirement System, the South Carolina State Retirement System, the Railroad Retirement Board, the Veterans Administration, or Medicaid, or their successor age…

(A) A resident born before July 1, 1940, may obtain from the department at its designated licensing locations a gratis lifetime hunting and fishing license at no cost. (B) A resident born after June 30, 1940, who has attained the age of sixty-four years may obtain from the depart…

A resident who holds a lifetime hunting, lifetime combination, lifetime freshwater fishing, or lifetime saltwater recreational fishing license, upon attaining the age of sixty-four, may convert that license to a senior lifetime license for a fee of nine dollars, one dollar of whi…

(A) For the privilege of recreational statewide fishing in saltwater: (1) a resident must purchase: (a) a fourteen-day temporary saltwater fishing license for ten dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales vendor may retain; (b) an annual saltwater fishing license for fifteen…

A person taking shad, herring, or eels for recreation: (1) in the saltwaters of this State must have a recreational saltwater fishing license; if using a gill net or eel pot, must have an annual recreational saltwater license and a saltwater commercial equipment license and relat…

(A) It is unlawful to hunt, take, or possess migratory game birds without first obtaining a migratory game bird permit. Migratory game birds include mourning dove, Wilson snipe, woodcock, the Anatidae (commonly known as goose, brant, and duck), and the Rallidae (commonly known as…

It is unlawful for a person to borrow or lend a license, permit, tag, or stamp issued pursuant to this title. A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned …

(A) In addition to the licenses required for freshwater fishing, each licensee attempting to take nongame freshwater fish must obtain: (1) a tag for each eel pot, at five dollars a tag for residents and fifty dollars a tag for nonresidents; (2) a tag for each fyke net, at ten dol…

(A) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Service" means the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and its' successors. (2) "Stamp" means a Federal Migratory Hunting and Conservation Stamp. (B) For the privilege of hunting migratory waterfowl in this State, a hunter also shall…

(A) For the privilege of hunting wild turkey, in addition to the required hunting license and big game permit, a person must possess a wild turkey tag issued in the person's name. The fee for a: (1) resident is twenty-five dollars for two tags, one dollar of which may be retained…

(A)(1) For the privilege of hunting and taking deer on property with a Deer Quota Program permit, a person must obtain the required hunting license, any other required permits, and have access and authorization to utilize Deer Quota Program tags for the property on which the pers…

Except pursuant to a person operating under a depredation permit: (1) For the privilege of taking an alligator, in addition to the required hunting license, a person first must apply to the department's Alligator Draw Hunt Program. The application fee is ten dollars. Successful s…

(A) For the privilege of hunting bear, in addition to the required hunting license and big game permit the licensee must obtain a bear tag issued in his name, and the fee: (1) for a resident is twenty-five dollars per tag, one dollar of which may be retained by the license sales …

(A) For the privilege of engaging in falconry, in addition to a statewide hunting license, a person must obtain a falconry permit. The fee for the permit is one hundred dollars, and the permit expires three years from the date of its issuance. (B) A person holding a valid federal…

It is unlawful to alter a license, permit, tag, or stamp issued pursuant to this title or issue, obtain, or attempt to obtain a license, permit, tag, or stamp by fraud. A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than tw…

(A) Except as required by law, children under sixteen years of age are not required to procure or possess a hunting or fishing license or any other permit or license required for hunting or fishing unless that child engages in the taking of wildlife or fish for commercial purpose…

The following are exempt from purchasing the recreational saltwater fishing license a: (1) fisherman fishing from a licensed charter fishing vessel or from a licensed public fishing pier; (2) drop net fisherman using no more than three drop nets; (3) fold up fisherman using no mo…

(A) The department may permit physically or mentally disabled persons, residents of an orphanage or another eleemosynary institution of this State, or a Boy or Girl Scout to hunt or fish for up to three consecutive days within a county of this State without obtaining a license to…

(A) A resident is not required to possess a license or permit for recreational fishing in the freshwaters of this State on the following days: (1) the fourth day of July; and (2) the date observed by the State for National Memorial Day. (B) The department also may designate depar…

(A) The department may select one or more days to designate as a "South Carolina Youth Hunting Day", in addition to the regular seasons for a species of wild game. A youth hunting day must be held outside a regular season on a weekend, holiday, or other nonschool day when a youth…

(A) It is unlawful to purchase, acquire, or possess or attempt to purchase, acquire, or possess a license, permit, stamp, or tag while privileges allowed by the license, permit, stamp, or tag are suspended. (B) A combination license holder who has a portion of his privileges susp…

(A) The Director of the Department of Natural Resources may issue special authorization for hunting and fishing to any person not more than twenty-one years of age who has been diagnosed with a terminal or life threatening illness or injury. All licenses, tags, and fees specified…

A license, permit, or tag issued pursuant to this title may be replaced only upon affidavit from the licensee that the original was lost or destroyed and upon payment of the fee: (1) for a duplicate license or permit the fee is three dollars, one dollar of which the issuing sales…

(A) Revenue from fines and forfeitures for violations of Chapters 1 through 16 must be transmitted to the treasurer of the county where the revenue was collected. The treasurer shall transmit the revenue to the department accompanied by a statement showing the names of persons fi…

(A) Revenue generated from the sale of lifetime privileges shall be deposited in the Wildlife Endowment Fund. Text of (B) effective until December 31, 2027. See, also, text of (B) effective January 1, 2028. (B) Revenue generated from the sale of other hunting and freshwater fishi…

(A) The Fish and Wildlife Protection Fund is created for the purpose of supporting the department and its effort to conserve freshwater fisheries and wildlife. The assets of the fund are derived from the following sources: (1) revenue from the sale of freshwater fisheries and wil…

(A) The Fish and Wildlife Deferred License Fund is created for the purpose of receiving revenue generated from the sale of three year hunting and freshwater fishing licenses, permits, stamps, and tags. (B) Receipts from each license year shall be transferred to the Fish and Wildl…

(A) The Marine Resources Fund is created for the purpose of supporting the department and its effort to conserve marine fisheries. The assets of the fund are derived from the following sources: (1) revenue from the sale of saltwater licenses, permits, stamps, and tags; (2) revenu…

(A) The Marine Resources Deferred License Fund is created for the purpose of receiving revenue generated from the sale of three year saltwater licenses, permits, stamps, and tags. (B) Receipts from each license year shall be transferred to the Marine Resources Fund as follows: (1…

(A) The County Game and Fish Fund is created for the purpose of receiving revenue generated from the following sources: (1) the designated portion of each annual nonresident freshwater fishing license; (2) revenue from fines, fees, and forfeitures for violations of Chapters 1 thr…

(A) The South Carolina Conservation Education Fund is established for the purpose of connecting youth with nature through classroom and outdoor natural resource conservation education. (B) The fund is eligible to receive appropriations of state general funds, federal funds, local…

(A) The Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and its implementing regulations are the law of this State. However, the board annually may set seasons, bag limits, and methods for hunting and taking migratory birds consistent with federal law. A violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty …

(A) It is unlawful to construct a new enclosure which prevents or materially impedes the free range of the deer being hunted. For purposes of the definitions herein, "prevents or materially impedes" means erecting a fence in excess of six feet in height from ground level for the …

(A) The department, after consulting with the Director of the State Livestock-Poultry Health Division, Clemson University and after a reasonable attempt at landowner notification, may carry out operations including quarantines, destruction of wildlife, or other measures to locate…

Where wildlife is destroying property, the department, upon the request of the property owner, may issue a permit authorizing the property owner, under the supervision of the department, to take action necessary to remove the destructive wildlife from his property.

There is no closed season for hunting or taking coyotes with weapons.

The department has the authority during any season of the year to permit the taking of any game animal and prescribe the method by which they may be taken when they cause damage to crops or property or when they pose a significant human health risk. Any animal taken under these c…

The following species constitute small game animals: raccoon, opossum, rabbit, squirrel, fox, quail, bobcat, beaver, mink, muskrat, skunk, otter, grouse, and weasel.

The department may declare a closed season for not over ten days at any one time in any area in the State when it appears on account of abnormal conditions that deer or other game cannot protect themselves. The department shall give notice of the closed season so declared by publ…

When in any county of the State there exist abnormal conditions that might affect the supply of game or there is an abnormal scarcity of game, the department, upon the written request of a majority of the legislative delegation, including the Senator, from such county, may shorte…