2026–27 planning guides
Choose a species for date windows, limits, permit reminders, and the official regulation you should verify before hunting.
Private-land deer dates and methods differ by game zone. WMA properties can use different, property-specific dates.
Season: Private-land seasons vary across Game Zones 1–4 from Aug. 15, 2026 through Jan. 1, 2027.
Limit: Statewide antlered limits and zone-specific antlerless limits apply; every deer requires the correct tag.
Open guide →Spring turkey dates are statewide, but some WMAs restrict hunt days, access, or total limits.
Season: Private and WMA spring seasons are April 3–May 3, 2027, subject to WMA-specific restrictions.
Limit: Two gobblers per season, no more than one per day and no more than one before April 10; some WMAs are stricter.
Open guide →Migratory bird dates, shooting hours, stamps, and daily bag limits are species-specific and federally influenced.
Season: Dove begins Sept. 5, early teal Sept. 19, and regular duck segments begin Nov. 21 and Dec. 12 in 2026.
Limit: Dove: 15 daily. Early teal: 6 daily. Duck limits are a six-bird aggregate with species sublimits.
Open guide →Rabbit, squirrel, quail, furbearer, and other small-game dates differ by species and between private and WMA land.
Season: Most gun-and-dog seasons begin between Oct. 1 and Nov. 26, 2026; dog-training windows begin earlier.
Limit: Examples: squirrel 10 daily, rabbit 5 daily, quail 12 daily. Other species use different limits.
Open guide →Bear opportunities are limited by game zone, county, method, tag requirements, and in some areas a quota that can close early.
Season: Zone 1 still hunts Oct. 11–23 and dog hunts Oct. 17–30; Zone 2 still hunts Oct. 17–30 on specified private lands.
Limit: Statewide limit one bear; size and family-group restrictions apply.
Open guide →Public alligator hunting is a limited-entry opportunity selected through an SCDNR lottery, not a general open season.
Season: Lottery dates and hunt-unit details must be confirmed in the selected hunter’s official SCDNR materials.
Limit: One issued tag; tag type can restrict eligible alligator size and allowed capture equipment.
Open guide →