S.C. Code § 123-51 - Turkey Hunting Rules and Seasons

State Regulations
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1. Total limit of 2 turkeys statewide per person, 1 per day, gobblers (male turkeys) only. A hunter may take no more than one turkey prior to April 10. Total statewide limit includes turkeys harvested on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). Small unnamed WMAs are open for turkey hunting under statewide season and bag limit. Turkey seasons and bag limits for Wildlife Management Area lands are as follows:

A. Game Zone 1 1. Other WMAs

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

B. Game Zone 2

1. Other WMAs

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

2. Keowee WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(c) Shotguns only -north of Hwy 123 and west of the Keowee Arm of Lake Hartwell and west of Hwy 291. Archery only on other sections.

3. Draper WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

4. Belfast WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 1

5. Worth Mountain WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

6. McCalla WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag Limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

7. Fants Grove WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag Limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

8. Liberty Hill WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag Limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

9. Delta South WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Hunters by drawing only

10. Forty Acre Rock HP WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag Limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

C. Game Zone 3

1. Other WMAs

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

2. Crackerneck WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(d) Sign in and out at the gate required.

(e) Main gate opens at 4:30 am and closes at 1:00 pm.

3. Aiken Gopher Tortoise HP WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

4. Francis Marion National Forest

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(1) Apr. 3 - May 3

(2) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(3) Special hunts for youth or mobility impaired hunters as published by SCDNR.

5. Moultrie

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(d) Bluefield WMA

(1) Apr. 3 - May 3

(2) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(3) Adult/Youth only

(e) Hall WMA

(1) Apr. 3 - May 3

(2) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

6. Santee Cooper WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 1

(d) Youth only

7. Webb, Palachucola and Hamilton Ridge WMAs

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

8. Donnelley WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 1

9. Bonneau Ferry WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 1

(d) Youth only

(e) Closed to public access during hunts.

10. Santee Coastal Reserve WMA

(a) Saturdays only from Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 1

11. Edisto River WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

12. Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

13. Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

14. Botany Bay Plantation WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 1

15. Wateree River HP WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 1

D. Game Zone 4

1. Other WMAs

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

2. Marsh WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(d) Sign in and out at the kiosk required.

3. Sand Hills State Forest WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

4. McBee WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

5. Little Pee Dee Complex WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

6. Pee Dee Station Site WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(d) All hunters must sign in and sign out at kiosk.

7. Woodbury WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(d) All hunters must sign in and sign out at kiosk.

8. Great Pee Dee Heritage Preserve WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

(d) All hunters must sign in and sign out at kiosk.

9. Longleaf Pine Heritage Preserve WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

10. Manchester State Forest WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

11. Hickory Top WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

12. Oak Lea WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

13. Santee Dam WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

14. Wee Tee WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

15. Cartwheel Bay Heritage Preserve WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

16. Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

17. Waccamaw River Heritage Preserve WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

18. Samworth WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 1

19. Liberty Hill WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag Limit 2, no more than one may be taken prior to April 10.

20. Bobwhite Hills WMA

(a) Apr. 3 - May 3

(b) Bag limit 1

E. Statewide Turkey Hunting Regulations and Youth Turkey Hunting Day on WMAs

1. The statewide youth turkey hunting day on designated WMA lands shall be the Saturday immediately preceding April 3

(a) The daily bag limit during the statewide youth turkey hunting day on WMAs is one (1) which counts toward the season limit.

(b) A person less than 18 years of age is considered a youth turkey hunter.

2. The following regulations apply statewide. No turkey hunting permitted on Turkey Restoration Sites which have not been formally opened by the Department.

(a) During the spring turkey hunting season, only turkey gobblers (male birds) may be taken.

(b) Shotguns, muzzleloader shotguns, or archery equipment are permitted. All other weapons and methods of taking are prohibited including rifles, pistols, buckshot and slugs.

(d) Live decoys are prohibited.

(e) A tag issued by the Department must be placed around a harvested bird's leg before the bird is moved from the point of kill and the tag must be validated by the hunter as prescribed by the Department. A valid tag must remain on the carcass until it is processed (cut up).

(f) On all WMA lands, it is prohibited to hunt or stalk wild turkeys while holding or using for hunter concealment any of the following items: a tail fan, a partial or full decoy with a tail fan, or a tail fan mounted to a firearm. Tail fans include those made of real or synthetic feathers or an image or likeness of a tail fan applied to any material.

3. Electronic Harvest Reporting of Turkeys on Private and WMA Lands.

(a) Methods of electronic harvest reporting include telephone, internet, and mobile device application. Applicable telephone numbers and internet addresses are as posted on the Department's website and in the annual Hunting and Fishing Regulations Guide.

(b) Hunters must provide their Department issued Customer Identification Number to access the reporting system and provide the county of kill, whether the property on which the turkey was taken was private or WMA land including the name of the WMA, whether the turkey was an adult gobbler or juvenile (jake), and whether the turkey was taken in the morning or afternoon.

(c) As part of the reporting process a Department issued confirmation number will be generated. Hunters must document and maintain this confirmation number as prescribed.

Notes

S.C. Code § 123-51

Added by State Register Volume 26, Issue No. 5, Part 2, eff May 24, 2002. Amended by State Register Volume 27, Issue No. 6, Part 2, eff June 27, 2003; State Register Volume 28, Issue No. 5, eff May 28, 2004; State Register Volume 29, Issue No. 5, eff May 27, 2005; State Register Volume 30, Issue No. 4, eff April 28, 2006; State Register Volume 31, Issue No. 6, eff June 22, 2007; State Register Volume 31, Issue No. 7, eff July 27, 2007; State Register 32, Issue No. 5, eff May 23, 2008; State Register Volume 33, Issue No. 6, eff June 26, 2009; State Register Volume 34, Issue No. 4, eff April 23, 2010; State Register Volume 35, Issue No. 5, eff May 27, 2011; State Register Volume 37, Issue No. 6, eff June 28, 2013; 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 41, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/23/2017; 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 44, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/26/2020; State Register Volume 45, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/28/2021; State Register Volume 48, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/24/2024; State Register Volume 49, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/23/2025.

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