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General Migratory Bird Seasons, Shooting Hours, & Bag Limits

Name: eRegulations
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Migratory Bird Seasons
Species	Dates
Mourning Doves	September 2, 2023 - October 7, 2023 November 11, 2023 - November 25, 2023 December 24, 2023 - January 31, 2024
Early Teal (Blue & Green Winged)	September 15, 2023 - September 30, 2023
Ducks (Including Sea Ducks), American Coots (There is no Open Season on Harlequin Ducks)	November 18, 2023 - November 25, 2023 December 12, 2023 - January 31, 2024
Canada Geese See Migratory Bird General Regulations for Restrictions.	September 1, 2023 - September 30, 2023 November 18, 2023 - November 25, 2023 December 12, 2023 - January 31, 2024 February 15, 2024 - March 1, 2024
White-fronted Geese & Snow Geese	November 18, 2023 - November 25, 2023 December 12, 2023 - January 31, 2024 February 15, 2024 - March 1, 2024
Marsh Hens/Rails, Common Moorhens & Purple Gallinules	September 1, 2023 - September 4, 2023 September 27, 2023 - December 1, 2023
Common Snipe	November 12, 2023 - February 26, 2024
Woodcock	December 18, 2023- January 31, 2024
Brant	January 2, 2024 - January 31, 2024
Swans	No Open Season
Scaup (Greater & Lesser)	2/day November 18, 2023 - November 25, 2023 December 12, 2023 - December 22, 2023 1/day December 23, 2023 - January 31, 2024

Migratory Bird Shooting Hours
Species	Shooting Hours
Mourning Dove (September 2, 2023 - September 4, 2023)	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

Migratory Bird 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: Mallards (no more than 2 hens), Including no more than 3 each of the following: Wood Ducks. Including no more than 2 each of the following: Redheads, Scaup (2/day, Nov.11, 18-25, Dec. 12-22, Feb. 3,10); (1/day, Dec. 23 - Jan. 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. Including no more than 4 Total for Sea Ducks. No more than 3 each of the following: Eiders (only 1 hen) Scoters Long-tailed ducks
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. The scaup limit on the November 11 youth day is 2. February 3 and 10 youth/veteran days is 2.

State Youth Day: Nov. 11, 2023 (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.

Federal Youth Days: Feb. 3 and Feb. 10, 2024 (Legal Species: Ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, 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, Migratory Bird Permit, migratory waterfowl 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. 3 and Feb. 10, 2024 (Legal Species: Ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, gallinules). Veterans and active duty military who hunt on these dates must possess a valid South Carolina hunting license, Migratory Bird Permit, migratory waterfowl 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 all areas, the sea duck limit is 4 with no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders (only 1 hen) or 3 long-tailed 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 October 30, 2023 through Nov. 17, 2023 and Dec. 1, 2023 through Dec. 11, 2023. 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.