Title 50, Fish, Game and Watercraft

Any person convicted of hunting deer during the closed season must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. None of the fine may be suspended.

It is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl in Georgetown County in Murrell's Inlet Creek within one hundred yards of a residence or business without written permission of the owner or occupant. As used in this section, Murrell's Inlet Creek includes the public waters in Georgetow…

Any person taking, attempting to take, or having in his possession deer illegally or taking, attempting to take, or killing deer in any way prohibited by the department on wildlife management area lands throughout the State is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be…

It is unlawful to hunt deer with a firearm within three hundred yards of a residence when less than ten feet above the ground without permission of the owner and occupant. Anyone violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fin…

It is unlawful to discharge a gun or weapon within three hundred yards of a poultry layer or broiler house containing live poultry without permission of the owner. Anyone knowingly violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be f…

It is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on Lake Keowee within two hundred yards of a dwelling. As used in this section, Lake Keowee includes all waters of Keowee River impounded by the Little River Dam at Newry and the Keowee Dam to Jocassee Dam. This includes all waters upstr…

It is unlawful to take or attempt to take elk (Cervus elaphus). A person convicted of violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than twenty-five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or …

All nonexempt persons must wear a hat, coat, or vest of solid international orange while on Wildlife Management Area lands during deer hunting season.

It is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on Broadway Lake in Anderson County within two hundred yards of a dwelling without written permission of the owner and occupant. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more t…

It is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on Lake Moultrie within two hundred yards of a dwelling without written permission of the owner and occupant. As used in this section, Lake Moultrie means all waters impounded by the Pinopolis Dam, including the Diversion Canal and those…

(A) The department may promulgate regulations to permit the taking of antlerless deer between September fifteenth and January first. (B) In all game zones, the department may issue individual tags for antlerless deer which must be used as prescribed by the department. These tags …

(A) It is unlawful for a person to hunt, take, or attempt to hunt, or take a game bird or game animal by the use or aid of recorded calls or sounds or recorded or electronically amplified imitations of calls or sounds. This section does not apply to the hunting and taking of coyo…

It is unlawful for anyone in this State to have in his possession any deer with the head detached when the person is in transit from any woods, swamps, fields, or roads. Any person convicted of transporting a deer with the head detached must be fined not more than two hundred dol…

For purposes of this chapter, antlerless deer means a female (doe) deer, a male (buck) deer not exhibiting two inch antlers visible above the natural hairline, or a male (buck) deer that has shed, broken, or otherwise lost its antlers. In South Carolina, it is unlawful to hunt, k…

Any person in whose possession recently killed venison or fresh deerskin is found during the closed season for hunting deer in that game zone by law is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars or imp…

(A)(1) The open season for hunting and taking bear in Game Zone 1 is as follows: (a) for still gun hunts, October 11 through October 23 on private land and October 11 through October 16 on wildlife management areas; and (b) for dog hunts, October 17 through October 30 on private …

It is unlawful to take or attempt to take a bear of less than one hundred pounds. A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. In addition, each …

(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to feed or entice with food any black bear (Ursus americanus) except as follows: (1) those persons feeding bears maintained in protective captivity under a permit issued by the department for education, scientific, commercial, or recreation…

In addition to weapons defined as primitive weapons by statute or regulation, a rifle, .36 caliber or larger, which uses black powder only as its propellant charge and which has a one-eighth inch nonmagnified peep site on the rear of the barrel, is a primitive weapon.

(A) For the purposes of this section, "unprocessed bait" means any natural food item harvested from a plant crop that is not modified from its raw components. Unprocessed bait includes unmodified grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. (B) Notwithstanding Section 50-11-430(E)(8) an…

(1) It is unlawful for a person to rob any wild turkey nest or own, possess, control, sell, or otherwise dispose of wild turkey eggs unless the possession of the eggs is authorized by permit issued by the department under the provisions of Section 50-11-1180. (2) It is unlawful f…

(A) It is unlawful for a person to: (1) hunt or take or attempt to hunt or take a wild turkey by means of, or aid or use of, bait or baiting; or (2) hunt or take or attempt to hunt or take a wild turkey on or over any baited area. (B) As used in this section: (1) "bait" or "baiti…

(A) An American Indian artist, who is a member of a tribe recognized by (1) Public Law 101-644, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board Act, and (2) the state's Commission on Minority Affairs pursuant to Section 1-31-40, may use wild turkey feathers in arts and crafts that are offered f…

The department may promulgate regulations for wildlife management areas, heritage trust lands, and other properties owned or leased by the department to establish seasons, dates, areas, bag limits, and other restrictions for hunting and taking of wild turkey.

The department may promulgate emergency regulations considered necessary and expedient for the proper control of the harvesting of wild turkeys in the game zones.

Any person taking, attempting to take, or having in his possession turkey illegally or taking, attempting to take, or killing turkey in any way not prescribed by the department is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more tha…

A person who hunts wild turkeys is required to possess a wild turkey tag issued by the department. All turkeys taken must be tagged before being moved from the point of kill. All tags must be validated as prescribed by the department before a turkey is moved from the point of kil…

(A) In order to document the harvest of big game species and to assist with the enforcement of seasons, methods of harvest, and bag limits, the department must implement an electronic harvest reporting system. (B) A person who harvests a big game species must report the harvest t…

As used in this chapter, archery equipment means a bow and arrow, a long bow, a recurve bow, a compound bow, or a crossbow.

Section effective May 11, 2028. See, also, section 50-11-580 effective until May 11, 2028. (A) The season for hunting and taking a male wild turkey is: (1) in Game Zones 1 and 2, April 1 through May 10; and (2) in Game Zones 3 and 4, March 22 through April 30. (B) The season bag …

Section effective until May 11, 2028. See, also, section 50-11-590 effective until May 11, 2028. (A) The Saturday and Sunday preceding April 3 and the Saturday and Sunday following May 3 is declared to be a "Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend" for youth turkey hunters under eighteen ye…

(A) Falconry is the hunting of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained bird of prey or raptor (Order Falconiformes or Order Strigiformes other than bald eagle). (B) It is unlawful to use birds of prey to take any wildlife except as authorized in this se…

(A) For purposes of this section, "training birds" means pen raised quail, chukar, pheasant, Hungarian partridge, or any other upland game birds approved by the Department of Natural Resources and identified in the Bird Dog Trainer's License required pursuant to subsection (B). (…

For purposes of this article: (1) "Night" means the period of time between one hour after official sundown of a day and one hour before official sunrise of the following day. (2) "Night hunting" means hunting during the period of time between one hour after official sundown of a …

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this article, night hunting in this State is unlawful. (B) A person who violates this section by night hunting for any animal, except for deer, bear, turkey, or an animal listed in Section 50-11-710 or 50-11-715, upon conviction, must: (1) for …

(A) It is unlawful to night hunt for raccoons, opossums, foxes, minks, or skunks in violation of the provisions of this section. (B) Raccoons, opossums, foxes, minks, and skunks may be hunted at night on property on which a person has a lawful right to hunt; however, the animals …

(A) It is unlawful to night hunt for feral hogs, coyotes, or armadillos in violation of the provisions of this section. (B)(1) Feral hogs, coyotes, and armadillos may be hunted at night on registered property on which a person has a lawful right to hunt: (a) with any legal firear…

(A) The use of artificial lights for the purpose of observing or harassing wildlife is unlawful, except that a property owner, or person with permission from the property owner, may use artificial lights to observe wildlife prior to 11:00 p.m. This section does not prohibit: (1) …

It is unlawful for any person to hunt, shoot, or in any way kill deer from a motorboat, raft, or other water conveyance or to molest deer while any part of the deer is in the water. Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon convictio…

(A) Every vehicle, boat, trailer, other means of conveyance, animal, firearm, or device used in the hunting of deer, bear, or turkey at night is forfeited to the State and must be seized by any peace officer who shall forthwith deliver it to the department. (B) "Hunting" as used …

(A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, the Department of Natural Resources may administratively release any vehicle, boat, trailer, other means of conveyance, animal, firearm, or device confiscated from a person charged with hunting of deer, bear, or turkey at night to an …

It is unlawful for any person to feed or entice with food any American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), except those persons feeding alligators maintained in protective captivity under a permit issued by the department pursuant to Section 50-15-40 for education, scientific…

(A) It is unlawful for a person to hunt from a public road or railroad right-of-way if the person does not have permission to hunt the land immediately adjacent to the public road or railroad right-of-way. (B)(1) For purposes of this section, "hunting" includes: (a) taking deer b…

(A) For purposes of this section: (1) "Hunting" includes: (a) attempting to take any game animal, hog, or coyote by occupying stands, standing, or occupying a vehicle while; and (b) possessing, carrying, or having readily accessible: (i) a centerfire rifle with ammunition capable…

No dog is required to be constrained by a leash while it is actually engaged in hunting game and under supervision. As used in this section "supervision" means that the owner of the dog or his designee is either in the vicinity of the dog or in the process of trying to retrieve t…

(A) It is unlawful to intentionally remove or destroy an electronic collar or other electronic device placed on a dog by its owner. (B) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be: (1) fined not more than five hundred dollars or imp…