General Migratory Bird Seasons, Shooting Hours, & Bag Limits

South Carolina Hunting & Fishing

Season Dates
Species	Dates
Mourning Doves	September 5, 2020 – October 11, 2020 November 14, 2020 – November 28, 2020 December 25, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Early Teal (Blue & Green Winged)	September 11, 2020 – September 26, 2020
Ducks (Including Sea Ducks), American Coots (There is no Open Season on Harlequin Ducks)	November 21, 2020 – November 28, 2020 December 12, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Canada Geese See below for Restrictions.	September 1, 2020 – September 30, 2020 November 21, 2020 – November 28, 2020 December 12, 2020 – January 31, 2021 February 14, 2021 – March 1, 2021
White-fronted Geese & Snow Geese	November 21, 2020 – November 28, 2020 December 12, 2020 – January 31, 2021 February 14, 2021 – March 1, 2021
Marsh Hens/Rails, Common Moorhens & Purple Gallinules	September 15, 2020 – September 20, 2020 October 1, 2020 – December 3, 2020
Common Snipe	November 14, 2020 – February 28, 2021
Woodcock	December 18, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Brant	December 13, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Swans	No Open Season
Scaup (Greater & Lesser)	2/day November 21, 2020 – November 28, 2020 December 12, 2020 – December 23, 2020 1/day December 24, 2020 – January 31, 2021

Shooting Hours
Species	Shooting Hours
Mourning Dove (September 5, 2020 – September 7, 2020)	12 Noon until Sunset
Mourning Dove (Remainder of Season)	½ Hour before Sunrise until Sunset
Early Teal	Sunrise until Sunset
Ducks, Geese, American Coots, Mergansers, Marsh Hens, Snipe, Woodcock & Brant	½ Hour before Sunrise until Sunset

Daily Bag Limits
Species	Daily Limits
Mourning Doves	15 Total
Early Teal (Blue & Green-winged)	6 Total
Ducks	6 Total including those species not named below. Including no more than 4 each of the following: Eiders, Scoters, Long-tailed ducks. Including no more than 3 each of the following: Wood Ducks. Including no more than 2 each of the following: Mallards (no more than 1 hen), Redheads, Scaup (2/day, 11/21-28, 12/12-23); (1/day, 12/24 – 1/31), Canvasback. Including no more than 1 each of the following: Pintails, Fulvous whistling duck, Black-bellied whistling duck. For Black Ducks or Mottled Ducks, see note below.
Canada Geese (September 1—September 30)	15 Total
Canada Geese & White-Fronted Geese (Remainder of Season)	5 Total No More than 2 White-Fronted Geese
Snow Geese	25 Total
American Coots	15 Total
Mergansers	5 Total, No more than 1 Hooded Merganser
Marsh Hens/Rails	King and Clapper—15 Total
Marsh Hens/Rails	Sora and Virginia—25 Total
Common Moorhens & Purple Gallinules	15 Total
Common Snipe	8 Total
Woodcock	3 Total
Brant	2 Total
The black duck/mottled duck bag limit is as follows: 1) for areas east and south of Interstate #95 – one black or one mottled duck in the total bag; 2) for areas west and north of Interstate #95 – two black ducks or one black duck and one mottled duck in the total bag. The possession limit is three times the daily bag for each group or individual species as listed above except there is no possession limit for snow geese.

Canada Goose Hunting Area: During the September 1—September 30 segment hunting for Canada Geese is allowed statewide. During the remaining three segments, the hunting area excludes that portion of Clarendon County bounded to the north by S-14-25; to the east by Hwy 260; and to the south by the markers delineating the channel of the Santee River. It also excludes that portion of Clarendon County bounded on the north by S-14-26 and extending southward to that portion of Orangeburg County bordered by Hwy #6.

State Youth Day: Nov. 14, 2020 (Legal Species: Ducks, mergansers, coots, ) Only youth who are 17 years of age or younger may hunt, but they must be accompanied by an adult of at least 21 years of age who is fully licensed. Youth who are 16 and 17 years of age, who hunt on this day, must possess a Migratory Bird Permit and a valid Federal Waterfowl Stamp. Daily and possession bag limits are the same as indicated for regular seasons, except only one scaup.

Federal Youth Days: Feb. 6 and Feb. 13, 2021 (Legal Species: Ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules.) Only hunters 17 of age or younger may hunt on these days but must be accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age. Youth who are 16 and 17 years of age, who hunt on these days, must possess a valid South Carolina hunting license and Migratory Bird Permit and a valid Federal Waterfowl Stamp. Daily and possession bag limits are the same as indicated for regular seasons except scaup limit is two.

Veteran/ Active Duty Military Days: Feb. 6 and Feb. 13, 2021 (Legal Species: Ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules.) Veterans and active duty military who hunt on these dates must possess a valid South Carolina hunting license and Migratory Bird Permit and a valid Federal Waterfowl Stamp. Daily and possession bag limits are the same as indicated for regular seasons except scaup limit is two.

Sea Duck Area and Duck Limits Within this Area: The sea duck area is the Atlantic Ocean waters separated from any shore, island or emergent vegetation by at least one mile of open water. In this area, the sea duck limit is 5 with no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders or 4 long-tailed ducks. In addition and within this area, a hunter may take up to 6 other ducks as described for the rest of the state but not including sea ducks. The shooting of crippled waterfowl from a vessel under motor power in the sea duck area is allowed.

Extended Falconry Season: Falconry is a permitted means of taking ducks, coots and mergansers in South Carolina. The extended season for falconry shall be November 2, 2020 through Nov. 20, 2020 and Dec. 1, 2020 through Dec. 11, 2020. Daily bag and possession limits for these birds shall not exceed 3 and 9 birds, respectively, singly or in the aggregate. Statewide hunting hours shall be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.