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General Migratory Bird Seasons, Shooting Hours, & Bag Limits

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Migratory Bird Seasons
Species	Dates
Mourning Doves	September 1, 2025 - October 4, 2025 November 15, 2025 - November 29, 2025 December 22, 2025 - January 31, 2026
Early Teal (Blue & Green Winged)	September 20, 2025 - September 28, 2025
Ducks (Including Sea Ducks), American Coots (There is no Open Season on Harlequin Ducks)	November 22, 2025 - November 29, 2025 December 12, 2025 - January 31, 2026
Canada Geese	September 1, 2025- September 30, 2025 November 22, 2025 - November 29, 2025 December 12, 2025 - January 31, 2026 February 15, 2026 - March 1, 2026
White-fronted Geese & Snow Geese	November 22, 2025 - November 29, 2025 December 12, 2025 - January 31, 2026 February 15, 2026 - March 1, 2026
Marsh Hens/Rails, Common Moorhens & Purple Gallinules	September 8, 2025 - September 12, 2025 October 6, 2025 - December 9, 2025
Common Snipe	November 14, 2025 - February 28, 2026
Woodcock	December 18, 2025- January 31, 2026
Brant	January 2, 2026 - January 31, 2026
Swans	No Open Season
Scaup (Greater & Lesser)	2/day November 22, 2025 - November 29, 2025 December 12, 2025 - December 22, 2025 1/day December 23, 2025 - January 31, 2026

Migratory Bird Shooting Hours
Species	Shooting Hours
Mourning Dove	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: Pintails, Wood Ducks. Including no more than 2 each of the following: Redheads, Scaup (2/day, Nov. 15, 22-29, Dec. 12-22, Feb. 7, 14); (1/day, Dec. 23 - Jan. 31), Canvasback. Including no more than 1 each of the following: 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	1 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 15 youth day is 2. February 7 and 14 youth/veteran days is 2.

State Youth Day: Nov. 15, 2025 (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. 7 and Feb. 14, 2026 (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. 7 and Feb. 14, 2026 (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: 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. 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 Nov 3-21, 2025 and Dec. 1-11, 2025. 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.

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