Welcome to 2022-23 South Carolina Hunting
What’s New - Hunting
Act 198 (H.4986)
Furbearer Trapping
This act allows trapping of certain furbearing animals on private lands for noncommerial purposes with only a hunting license. Seasons vary by species. See Seasons section on Trapping & Commercial Fur Harvesting.
Effective July 15, 2022
Regulations
Tree Stands on WMA Lands
On *ALL* WMA Lands, construction or use of tree stands is prohibited if the tree stand is constructed by driving nails or other devices into trees or if wire is wrapped around trees. Other tree stands are permitted provided they are not permanently affixed or embedded in the tree. Excluding deer stands erected by the Department on WMA lands for the purpose of special hunts, no deer stands or temporary climbing devices may be placed on WMA lands prior to August 10 in any given year and must be removed by January 15 of the succeeding calendar year. All deer stands and temporary climbing devices must be labeled with the SCDNR Customer ID number of the person responsible for the stand or climbing device in a conspicuous location using an identification tag, etching, or permanent marker.
Waterfowl Hunting on Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests
Francis Marion National Forest and Sumter National Forests are open for waterfowl hunting Wednesdays and Saturdays in the A.M. only during the Waterfowl Season. See WMA Waterfowl on Management Areas.
What’s New - General
Act 219 (H.3291)
Trespassing Notice – “Purple Paint Law”
Amends Section 16-11-600 to allow landowners to mark property boundaries for trespass notice purposes with a “clearly visible, purple-painted marking,” consisting of one vertical line not less than 8” long and 2” wide, and the bottom of the mark not less than 3’ nor more than 6’ from the ground or normal water surface. The marks must be affixed to immovable, permanent objects that are not more than 100 yards apart and readily visible to any person approaching the property.
Effective May 23, 2022
Indian Creek Quail Focal Area
The area is defined as that area of the Sumter National Forest Enoree Ranger District in Newberry County, bounded on the south by Old Whitmire Highway, private lands, and SC Highway 176; on the east by Brazzelman’s Bridge Road, and private lands; on the northeast by the Enoree River; on the north by Wallace Road and private lands; on the west by SC Highway 121 and private lands; and on the southeast by Indian Creek to its intersection with SC Highway 121.
