South Carolina Bear Season 2026
South Carolina bear season dates start with Oct 11-23, 2026. The table below keeps every listed bear row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
South Carolina's listed 2026 bear season runs Oct 11-23, 2026.
Still Hunt (No Dogs) Black Bear opens Oct 12, 2026 and closes Oct 16, 2026.
Still Hunt (No Dogs) Black Bear opens Oct 17, 2026 and closes Oct 30, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to South Carolina DNR.
Bear
Black Bear
Still Hunt (No Dogs)
Tag required. Harvest must be reported by midnight on day of harvest.
Zone: Game Zone 1 - Private Lands
Black Bear
Still Hunt (No Dogs)
No Sunday hunting for bear on WMA. Tag required.
Zone: Game Zone 1 - WMA
Black Bear
Still Hunt (No Dogs)
Private land only in Greenville, Oconee, Pickens counties south of GZ1 and all of Anderson and Spartanburg. Season closes 24 hours after quota met.
Zone: Game Zone 2 - Private Lands
Black Bear
Still Hunt (No Dogs)
Tagging & Reporting required.
Zone: Wee Tee WMA, Williamsburg & Georgetown Counties
Black Bear
Dog Hunt
Tag required. Harvest must be reported by midnight on day of harvest.
Zone: Game Zone 1 - Private Lands
Black Bear
Still Hunt (No Dogs)
Tagging & reporting required. Horseback riding prohibited during all big game hunts including turkey.
Zone: Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve WMA, Horry County
Black Bear
Dog Hunt - WMA
Hogs also allowed during dog bear hunts. No Sunday hunting for bear on WMA.
Zone: Game Zone 1 - WMA
Black Bear
Still Hunt (No Dogs)
Tagging & Reporting required.
Zone: Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve (HP) River Complex, Horry & Marion Counties
Black Bear
Still Hunt (No Dogs)
Tagging & reporting required.
Zone: Cartwheel Bay Heritage Preserve WMA, Horry County
Black Bear
Still Hunt (No Dogs)
Tagging & Reporting required.
Zone: Waccamaw River Heritage Preserve WMA, Horry County
Black Bear
Still Hunt (No Dogs)
On private land only bears may be hunted over unprocessed bait. Season closes 24 hours after quota met. On WMA, weapons limited to those allowed for current deer season.
Zone: Game Zone 4 - Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Williamsburg counties
Black Bear
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Bear tag cost $25 resident/$100 nonresident. Youth 15 and under obtain tags at no cost. Full season dates not included in the extracted pages; see Alligator & Bear Regulations page 66 of full guide.
Zone: Statewide
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Nearby bear seasons
South Carolina Bear Season FAQ
When does bear season open in South Carolina?
October 11, 2026 is the earliest listed bear opener in South Carolina — still hunt (no dogs) black bear runs Oct 11-23, 2026. Confirm zone and permit details with South Carolina DNR.
What are the 2026 bear season dates in South Carolina?
South Carolina lists 11 bear season windows: Still Hunt (No Dogs) Black Bear (Oct 11-23, 2026); Still Hunt (No Dogs) Black Bear (Oct 12-16, 2026); Still Hunt (No Dogs) Black Bear (Oct 17-30, 2026); Still Hunt (No Dogs) Black Bear (Oct 17-30, 2026); Dog Hunt Black Bear (Oct 17-30, 2026); Still Hunt (No Dogs) Black Bear (Oct 17-30, 2026); Dog Hunt - WMA Black Bear (Oct 17-30, 2026); Still Hunt (No Dogs) Black Bear (Oct 17-30, 2026); and more. Always verify against South Carolina DNR before hunting.
Are there different bear seasons in South Carolina?
Yes — South Carolina lists separate bear seasons for Still Hunt (No Dogs) Black Bear, Dog Hunt Black Bear, Dog Hunt - WMA Black Bear. Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and South Carolina DNR.
Do I need a license to hunt bear in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and bear hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with South Carolina DNR.