S.C. Code Regs. § 123-53 - Bear Hunting Rules and Seasons

1. In Game Zone 4, the open season for taking bear in Florence, Georgetown County, Horry County, Marion County and Williamsburg County on private and WMA land for still gun hunts is October 17 - October 30. Bear hunting is allowed on the following WMAs in those counties: Cartwheel Bay Heritage Preserve WMA, Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve WMA, Little Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve Complex, Waccamaw River Heritage Preserve WMA, and Wee Tee WMA.

2. In Game Zone 2 the open season for taking bear on private land in Spartanburg County and those portions of Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, and Greenville counties south of Game Zone 1 for still gun hunts is October 17 - October 30.

3. Legal weapons for bear hunting on private lands include archery equipment, muzzleloaders (.36 caliber or greater), centerfire rifles, centerfire handguns and shotguns with slugs or buckshot.

4. On WMA lands, weapons used to hunt bear are limited to the weapons that are allowed for the current open season for deer on each WMA.

5. Harvested bear must be reported to SCDNR by midnight of the day of harvest as prescribed by the Department.

6. All harvested bears must be tagged immediately after harvest and before being moved from the point of kill and the tag must be validated as prescribed by the SCDNR.

7. The harvest quota for areas open in Game Zone 4 is 30 bears for all counties and WMAs combined. The harvest quota for areas open in Game Zone 2 is 20 bears for all counties combined. If the bear quota is met in a Game Zone prior to October 30, the season will close in that Game Zone 24 hours following a season closure notice. Hunters are responsible for monitoring the season status as prescribed by the Department.

Notes

S.C. Code Regs. § 123-53

Amended by State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, eff 6/27/2014; State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/26/2015; State Register Volume 42, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/25/2018; State Register Volume 43, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/24/2019; State Register Volume 47, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/26/2023.