When does deer season start in South Carolina?

No current deer opener is listed for South Carolina yet. Check South Carolina DNR for the latest published dates.

When is South Carolina's firearm deer season?

South Carolina does not have a firearm deer row in the current data set yet. Check South Carolina DNR for firearm, rifle, or general deer season details.

When does spring turkey open in South Carolina?

A current spring turkey opener is not listed for South Carolina yet. Check South Carolina DNR for the latest turkey dates.

Do I need a license to hunt in South Carolina?

Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate South Carolina hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with South Carolina DNR.

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South Carolina Waterfowl Season 2025-26

South Carolina waterfowl season dates start with Dec 12, 2025-Jan 31, 2026. The table below keeps every listed waterfowl row together with zones and notes where available.

Quick answer

South Carolina's listed 2025-26 waterfowl season runs Dec 12, 2025-Jan 31, 2026.

Regular Season - Split 2 Ducks (Including Sea Ducks), American Coots opens Dec 12, 2025 and closes Jan 31, 2026.

Regular Season - Split 2 White-fronted Geese & Snow Geese opens Dec 12, 2025 and closes Jan 31, 2026.

The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to South Carolina DNR.

Last verified: June 15, 2026 · Source: South Carolina DNR

Waterfowl

25 listed rows

Brant

Regular Season

Closed

—

Jan 2-31, 2026

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.

Canada Geese

Early Season

Closed

—

Sep 1-30, 2025

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset

Canada Geese

Regular Season - Split 1

Closed

—

Nov 22-29, 2025

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset

Canada Geese

Regular Season - Split 2

Closed

—

Dec 12, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset

Canada Geese

Regular Season - Split 3

Closed

—

Feb 15-Mar 1, 2026

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset.

Canada Geese

Late Season

Closed

—

Feb 15-Mar 1, 2026

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset

Ducks (Including Sea Ducks), American Coots

Regular Season - Split 1

Closed

—

Nov 22-29, 2025

No Open Season on Harlequin Ducks. Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. Scaup: 2/day this split. Black duck/mottled duck bag limit varies by location relative to I-95.

Ducks (Including Sea Ducks), American Coots

Regular Season - Split 2

Closed

—

Dec 12, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

No Open Season on Harlequin Ducks. Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. Scaup: 2/day Dec 12-22, 1/day Dec 23-Jan 31. Black duck/mottled duck bag limit varies by location relative to I-95.

Ducks, Coots, Mergansers

Extended Falconry Season - Split 1

Closed

—

Nov 3-21, 2025

Falconry is a permitted means of taking ducks, coots and mergansers. Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.

Ducks, Coots, Mergansers

Extended Falconry Season

Closed

—

Nov 3-Dec 11, 2025

Extended falconry season: Nov 3-21, 2025 and Dec 1-11, 2025. Daily bag and possession limits shall not exceed 3 and 9 birds respectively. Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.

Ducks, Coots, Mergansers

Extended Falconry Season - Split 2

Closed

—

Dec 1-11, 2025

Falconry is a permitted means of taking ducks, coots and mergansers. Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.

Ducks, Geese, Mergansers, Coots, Gallinules

Federal Youth Day

Closed

—

Feb 7-14, 2026

Federal Youth Days: Feb. 7 and Feb. 14, 2026. Youth 17 or younger must be accompanied by person 18+. Also open to Veterans/Active Duty Military. Scaup limit is two.

Show 13 more waterfowl rows

Ducks, Geese, Mergansers, Coots, Gallinules

Veteran/Active Duty Military Day

Closed

—

Feb 7-14, 2026

Veterans and active duty military must possess valid SC hunting license, Migratory Bird Permit, migratory waterfowl permit, and Federal Waterfowl Stamp. Two separate days: Feb. 7 and Feb. 14.

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots

State Youth Day

Closed

—

Nov 15-15, 2025

Legal species: Ducks, mergansers, coots. Youth 17 or younger must be accompanied by adult 21+. Youth 16-17 must possess Migratory Bird Permit and Federal Waterfowl Stamp.

Early Teal (Blue & Green Winged)

Early Teal Season

Closed

—

Sep 20-28, 2025

Shooting hours: Sunrise until Sunset

Early Teal (Blue & Green-Winged)

Early Teal Season

Closed

—

Sep 20-28, 2025

Shooting hours: Sunrise until sunset.

Scaup (Greater & Lesser)

Regular Season - 2/day Split

Closed

—

Nov 22-Dec 22, 2025

Scaup counted within overall duck limit of 6. Dates include Nov 22-29 and Dec 12-22 splits.

Scaup (Greater & Lesser)

Regular Season - Split 1 (2/day)

Closed

—

Nov 22-Dec 22, 2025

Scaup counted within duck daily bag limit of 6. November 15 youth day scaup limit is 2.

Scaup (Greater & Lesser)

Regular Season - 1/day Split

Closed

—

Dec 23, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Scaup counted within overall duck limit of 6.

Scaup (Greater & Lesser)

Regular Season - Split 2 (1/day)

Closed

—

Dec 23, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Scaup counted within duck daily bag limit of 6. Feb. 7 and 14 youth/veteran days scaup limit is 2.

Swans

Regular Season

Closed

—

dates not listed

Exact dates not listed in the current data.

No Open Season on Swans

White-fronted Geese & Snow Geese

Regular Season - Split 1

Closed

—

Nov 22-29, 2025

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. No possession limit for snow geese.

White-fronted Geese & Snow Geese

Regular Season - Split 2

Closed

—

Dec 12, 2025-Jan 31, 2026

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. No possession limit for snow geese.

White-fronted Geese & Snow Geese

Regular Season - Split 3

Closed

—

Feb 15-Mar 1, 2026

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. No possession limit for snow geese.

White-fronted Geese & Snow Geese

Late Season

Closed

—

Feb 15-Mar 1, 2026

Shooting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. No possession limit for snow geese.