South Carolina is divided into four game zones by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). In addition to the 4 game zones, most hunting is done on private lands or on WMAs (wildlife managed areas). Be sure to read the entire 2016 – 2017 regulations for methods of harvest and bag limits and other restrictions.

2016 – 2017 South Carolina Deer Hunting Season Dates

Dates are different for “private lands”, “Other WMAs”, and “Named WMAs”.

Private Lands Hunting Dates:

Game Zone 1 – Private Lands

• Deer Primitive Weapons: October 1-10 – Muzzleloader is buck only
• Gun Hunts: October 11 – January 1
  
• Either-Sex Days: November 12, 19, 26

Game Zone 2 – Private Lands

• Archery Only: September 15 – 30
• Primitive Weapons: October 1 – 10
• Gun Hunts: October 11 – January 1
• Either-Sex Days: October 15, November 12, 19, 26; December 31; January 1

Game Zone 3 – Private Lands

• Archery and Gun Hunts: August 15 – January 1
• Either-Sex Days: October 1, 8, 15; November 12, 19, 26; December 31; January 1

Game Zone 4 – Private Lands

• Archery Only: August 15-31 – Buck only.
• Gun Hunts: September 1 – January 1 -Buck only, except on either-sex days or with individual antlerless deer tags beginning September 15. 1 antlerless deer per day.
• Either-Sex Days: October 1, 8, 15; November 12, 19, 26; December 31; January 1

“Other” WMAs Hunting Dates:

Game Zone 1 – Other WMAs

Game Zone 2 – Other WMAs

Game Zone 3 – Other WMAs

There are special restrictions depending on the WMA. These dates are not valid for all WMAs in Game Zone 3.

Game Zone 4 – Other WMAs

Named WMAs Hunting Dates

Dates vary from WMA to WMA. Please refer to the official regulations for the deer hunting season dates, harvest and bag limits and other restrictions.

South Carolina’s 4 game zones

All of SC’s counties are in one of the regions. Some counties are in 2 regions. I am hoping to rearrage this by region soon. For now, here is a list of counties:

Abbeville County SC, Aiken County SC, Allendale County SC, Anderson County SC, Bamberg County SC, Barnwell County SC, Beaufort County SC, Berkeley County SC, Calhoun County SC, Charleston County SC, Cherokee County SC, Chester County SC, Chesterfield County SC, Clarendon County SC, Colleton County SC, Darlington County SC, Dillon County SC, Dorchester County SC, Edgefield County SC, Fairfield County SC, Florence County SC, Georgetown County SC, Greenville County SC, Greenwood County SC, Hampton County SC, Horry County SC, Jasper County SC, Kershaw County SC, Lancaster County SC, Laurens County SC, Lee County SC, Lexington County SC, Marion County SC, Marlboro County SC, McCormick County SC, Newberry County SC, Oconee County SC, Orangeburg County SC, Pickens County SC, Richland County SC, Saluda County SC, Spartanburg County SC, Sumter County SC, Union County SC, Williamsburg County SC, York County SC.

What are primitive weapons in South Carolina?

For special primitive weapons seasons, primitive weapons include bow and arrow, crossbows and muzzleloading shotguns of twenty gauge or larger, and rifles of .36 caliber or larger with open or peep sights or scopes, which use black powder or a black powder substitute that does not contain nitrocellulose or nitro-glycerin components as the propellant charge. There are no restrictions on ignition systems including flintstone, percussion cap, shotgun primer, disk, or electronic.

Can I hunt with a crossbow in South Carolina?

As mentioned above, a crossbow is considered a primitive weapon in SC. There are blade restrictions for tips on bolts.

Types of WMAs

Two types of property are included in South Carolina’s Wildlife Management Area Program: “specific” named WMAs and “other” unnamed WMAs.

• Other WMA lands occur as scattered tracts, often leased from private landowners and the forest industry. The hunting seasons for these unnamed properties are set by Game Zone with all the “other” WMA tracts within a particular Game Zone having the same seasons. These “other” WMA lands are shown as unlabeled green tracts on the WMA maps.
• Specific WMAs are generally larger tracts of land, most of which are owned and managed by SCDNR and have special seasons. These “named” WMAs are shown as labeled dark green tracts on the WMA maps. The hunting seasons for named WMAs are listed within each Game Zone.