South Carolina hunting seasons 2026-27

18 hunting seasons are open in South Carolina today, including deer, dove, squirrel. Dates come from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and were read today.

Dates only. Bag limits, legal methods, licences and zone boundaries: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Read today.

18open today

24species

70dated seasons

Big game

Deer Open open now, last season closes Jan 1, 2027

Turkey

Wild turkey Upcoming opens Mar 27, 2027 (Youth weekends, Private land)

Waterfowl

Duck Opens soon opens Nov 21, 2026 (General season)
Goose Opens soon opens Nov 21, 2026 (General season)
Brant Upcoming opens Jan 2, 2027 (General season)
Coot Opens soon opens Nov 21, 2026 (General season)

Migratory birds

Dove Open open now, closes Nov 28, 2026
Crow Open open now, last season closes Mar 1, 2027
Rails and gallinules Open open now, closes Nov 28, 2026
Snipe Open open now, closes Feb 28, 2027
Woodcock Upcoming opens Dec 18, 2026 (General season)

Upland birds

Quail Open open now, closes Nov 22, 2026
Grouse Opens soon opens Nov 26, 2026 (General season, Private land)

Small game

Squirrel Open open now, last season closes Mar 1, 2027
Rabbit Open open now, closes Nov 25, 2026

Furbearers

Beaver Open open now, last season closes Jun 30, 2027
Bobcat Opens soon opens Nov 26, 2026 (General season, Private land)
Fox Open open now, last season closes Nov 25, 2026
Mink Opens soon opens Nov 26, 2026 (General season, Private land)
Muskrat Opens soon opens Nov 26, 2026 (General season, Private land)
River otter Opens soon opens Nov 26, 2026 (General season, Private land)
Raccoon Open open now, closes Mar 15, 2027
Skunk Opens soon opens Nov 26, 2026 (General season, Private land)
Weasel Opens soon opens Nov 26, 2026 (General season, Private land)

18 hunting seasons are open in South Carolina on November 14: deer, dove, squirrel, rabbit, quail and beaver and more.

Opening in the next six weeks: duck general season on Nov 21, 2026, canada goose general season on Nov 21, 2026, coot general season on Nov 21, 2026 and quail guns & dogs, private land on Nov 23, 2026.

South Carolina sets different dates by zone or unit for deer and grouse; the tables list each zone's dates.

Dates come from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources's SCDNR 2026-2027 Hunting and Fishing Guide, read today. Bag limits, legal methods, licences and zone boundaries are not reproduced here; the agency's regulations govern.

Follow South Carolina Calendar of openers (.ics) Date changes (RSS)

All South Carolina season dates

Deer Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
Archery Only, Private land	Game Zone 2	Sep 15, 2026 to Sep 30, 2026	Closed closed
Primitive Weapons, Private land	Game Zone 1	Oct 1, 2026 to Oct 10, 2026	Closed closed
Primitive Weapons, Private land	Game Zone 2	Oct 1, 2026 to Oct 10, 2026	Closed closed
Gun Hunts, Private land	Game Zone 1	Oct 11, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027	Open open, closes in 48 days
Gun Hunts, Private land	Game Zone 2	Oct 11, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027	Open open, closes in 48 days
Gun Hunts, Private land	Game Zone 4	Sep 1, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027	Open open, closes in 48 days
Archery & Gun Hunts, Private land	Game Zone 3	Aug 15, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027	Open open, closes in 48 days

Wild turkey Upcoming

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
Youth weekends, Private land	Statewide	Mar 27, 2027 to Mar 28, 2027	Upcoming opens in 133 days
Youth weekends, Private land segment 2	Statewide	May 8, 2027 to May 9, 2027	Upcoming opens in 175 days
Spring, Private land	Statewide	Apr 3, 2027 to May 3, 2027	Upcoming opens in 140 days
Spring, WMA	Statewide	Apr 3, 2027 to May 3, 2027	Upcoming opens in 140 days

Duck Opens soon

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season	Statewide	Nov 21, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026	Opens soon opens in 7 days
General season segment 2	Statewide	Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027	Upcoming opens in 28 days

Goose Opens soon

Species	Season	Zone	Dates	Status
Canada goose	General season	Statewide	Sep 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2026	Closed closed
Canada goose	General season segment 2	Statewide	Nov 21, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026	Opens soon opens in 7 days
Canada goose	General season segment 3	Statewide	Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027	Upcoming opens in 28 days
Canada goose	General season segment 4	Statewide	Feb 15, 2027 to Mar 1, 2027	Upcoming opens in 93 days
Snow and Ross's goose	General season	Statewide	Nov 21, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026	Opens soon opens in 7 days
Snow and Ross's goose	General season segment 2	Statewide	Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027	Upcoming opens in 28 days
Snow and Ross's goose	General season segment 3	Statewide	Feb 15, 2027 to Mar 1, 2027	Upcoming opens in 93 days
White-fronted goose	General season	Statewide	Nov 21, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026	Opens soon opens in 7 days
White-fronted goose	General season segment 2	Statewide	Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027	Upcoming opens in 28 days
White-fronted goose	General season segment 3	Statewide	Feb 15, 2027 to Mar 1, 2027	Upcoming opens in 93 days

Brant Upcoming

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season	Statewide	Jan 2, 2027 to Jan 31, 2027	Upcoming opens in 49 days

Coot Opens soon

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season	Statewide	Nov 21, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026	Opens soon opens in 7 days
General season segment 2	Statewide	Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027	Upcoming opens in 28 days

Dove Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season	Statewide	Sep 5, 2026 to Oct 3, 2026	Closed closed
General season segment 2	Statewide	Nov 13, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026	Open open, closes in 14 days
General season segment 3	Statewide	Dec 18, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027	Upcoming opens in 34 days

Crow Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season, Private land	Statewide	Nov 1, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Open open, closes in 107 days
General season, WMA	Statewide	Nov 2, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Open open, closes in 107 days

Rails and gallinules Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season segment 2	Statewide	Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026	Open open, closes in 14 days

Snipe Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season	Statewide	Nov 14, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027	Open open, closes in 106 days

Woodcock Upcoming

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season	Statewide	Dec 18, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027	Upcoming opens in 34 days

Quail Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
dogs only, Private land	Statewide	Mar 2, 2026 to Nov 22, 2026	Open open, closes in 8 days
dogs only, Private land segment 2	Statewide	Mar 2, 2027 to Nov 21, 2027	Upcoming opens in 108 days
guns & dogs, Private land	Statewide	Nov 23, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 9 days
guns & dogs, WMA	Statewide	Nov 23, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 9 days

Grouse Opens soon

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season, Private land	Game Zone 1	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days
General season, WMA	Game Zone 1	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days

Squirrel Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
dogs only, Private land	Statewide	Mar 2, 2026 to Sep 30, 2026	Closed closed
dogs only, Private land segment 2	Statewide	Mar 2, 2027 to Sep 30, 2027	Upcoming opens in 108 days
guns & dogs, Private land	Statewide	Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Open open, closes in 107 days
guns & dogs, WMA	Statewide	Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Open open, closes in 107 days

Rabbit Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
dogs only, Private land	Statewide	Mar 2, 2026 to Nov 25, 2026	Open open, closes in 11 days
dogs only, Private land segment 2	Statewide	Mar 2, 2027 to Nov 24, 2027	Upcoming opens in 108 days
guns & dogs, Private land	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days
guns & dogs, WMA	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days

Beaver Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season, Private land	Statewide	Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027	Open open, closes in 228 days
General season, WMA	Statewide	Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Open open, closes in 107 days

Bobcat Opens soon

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season, Private land	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days
General season, WMA	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days

Fox Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
dogs only, Private land	Statewide	Mar 2, 2026 to Nov 25, 2026	Open open, closes in 11 days
dogs only, Private land segment 2	Statewide	Mar 2, 2027 to Nov 24, 2027	Upcoming opens in 108 days
dogs only, night only, WMA	Statewide	Sep 2, 2026 to Nov 25, 2026	Open open, closes in 11 days
guns & dogs, night only, WMA	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days
guns & dogs, Private land	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days

Mink Opens soon

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season, Private land	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days
General season, WMA	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days

Muskrat Opens soon

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season, Private land	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days
General season, WMA	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days

River otter Opens soon

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season, Private land	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days
General season, WMA	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days

Raccoon Open

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
dogs only, Private land segment 2	Statewide	Mar 16, 2027 to Sep 14, 2027	Upcoming opens in 122 days
dogs only, night only, WMA	Statewide	Mar 16, 2027 to Mar 31, 2027	Upcoming opens in 122 days
guns & dogs, Private land	Statewide	Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027	Open open, closes in 121 days

Skunk Opens soon

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season, Private land	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days
General season, WMA	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days

Weasel Opens soon

Season	Zone	Dates	Status
General season, Private land	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days
General season, WMA	Statewide	Nov 26, 2026 to Mar 1, 2027	Opens soon opens in 12 days

Questions

Is deer season open in South Carolina right now?

Yes. 4 deer seasons are open in South Carolina on November 14, and the last of them closes Jan 1, 2027.

When does wild turkey season open in South Carolina?

The first wild turkey season of 2026-27 in South Carolina opens Mar 27, 2027 (Youth weekends, Private land).

When does duck season open in South Carolina?

The first duck season of 2026-27 in South Carolina opens Nov 21, 2026 (General season).

When does the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources publish next year's season dates?

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has posted the coming year's dates between June and August in recent years. This page updates the day the agency's page changes.

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, SCDNR 2026-2027 Hunting and Fishing Guide. Read today.