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South Carolina

Hunting

Hunting

Point & Suspension Systems

Table A
Game & Fish Points

#

Violation

Pt.

1

Resisting arrest by force, violence, or weapons against the person of any law enforcement officer enforcing natural resource laws

18

2

Attempting escape after arrest

14

3

Hunting or fishing in a state sanctuary

14

4

Hunting, fishing, or trapping out of season

10

5

Unlawful selling of game or game fish

14

6

Using a borrowed or altered hunting or fishing license, permit, stamp, or tag

10

7

Taking more than the legal limit of game or fish (except striped bass)

8

8

Hunting or fishing without a proper license, permit, stamp, or tag

6

9

Trespassing to hunt, fish, or trap

14

10

Intentional trespassing to hunt, fish, or trap

18

11

Violating Wildlife Management Area regulations

8

12

Unlawful hunting, taking, possessing, or selling alligators

14

13

Killing or attempting to kill or molest deer from a motorboat

14

14

Night hunting deer or bear

18

15

Unlawful transportation of furs or hides and possession of untagged hides

10

16

Trapping quail or turkeys

10

17

Unlawful hunting over bait

8

18

Unlawful killing or possession of antlerless deer

14

19

Unlawful night hunting other game, except deer or bear, or hunting during prohibited or after hours

8

20

Unlawful possession of buckshot

5

21

Hunting migratory birds with an unplugged gun

4

22

Killing or possession of wild turkey during the closed season

18

23

Killing or possession of a hen turkey during the spring gobbler season

14

24

Roost shooting turkey between one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise

18

25

Shooting turkey over bait (game taken)

18

26

Hunting turkey over bait (no game taken)

10

27

Failing to report the harvest of a wild turkey

6

28

Trespassing to hunt waterfowl

18

29

Hunting waterfowl over bait

10

30

Shooting waterfowl over bait (game taken)

10

31

Hunting waterfowl out of season

15

32

Taking or possession of more than one waterfowl over the legal limit

15

33

Unlawful possession, taking, or attempt­ing to take raccoons during the season for hunting without firearms

14

34

Trapping, netting, or seining game fish unlawfully

10

35

Taking game or fish in any illegal manner not specifically mentioned elsewhere in the point systems

8

36

Taking or possessing an undersized striped bass

14

37

Taking or possessing more than the legal limit of striped bass

14

38

Taking or possessing more than the legal creel or size limit of blue catfish.

14

Table B

Saltwater Points

Saltwater points are assessed in two categories: Recreational and Commercial. Upon an accumulation of eighteen (18) or more points in a category, the privileges of that category will be suspended for one year. While under Recreational Suspension, a person found guilty of a commercial saltwater violation will have all saltwater privileges suspended for one year. While under Commercial Suspension, a person found guilty of a recreational violation will have all saltwater privileges suspended for one year.

#

Violation

Pt.

1

Failing to keep records or make reports as required by law, permit or regulation

4

2

Violations of law pertaining to crab size limit or sponge crabs

4

3

Violations of a section of Title 50 per­taining to saltwater fisheries not men­tioned specifically in this section

(NOTE: This point assessment applies to all other convictions that are not specifically mentioned herein. Any conviction for a violation of a saltwater fisheries law will be assessed a minimum of 6 points).

6

4

Taking, attempting to take, or possessing fish, shellfish or crustaceans in an unlawful manner, in unlawful or closed areas, during unlawful hours, or during the closed season except trawling violations

8

5

Selling or offering for sale fish, shellfish, crustaceans, or other seafood or marine products without a proper license, permit, stamp, or tag

8

6

Violating Department of Health and Environmental Control regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 44-1-140 related to the harvesting and handling of shellfish resulting in adulterated product as defined in Regulation 61-47

10

7

Unlawfully buying fish, shellfish, crustaceans or other seafood or marine products without a proper license, permit, stamp or tag

8

8

Trawling inside the General Trawling Zone other than in restricted areas:

(a) more than one quarter nautical mile during the closed season

(b) more than one quarter nautical mile at a time more than ten minutes before daily opening or ten minutes after daily closing times during the open season

10

10

9

Trawling in a restricted area during the closed season

10

10

Trawling outside the General Trawling Zone:

(a) one hundred yards or less distance from the nearest point of the General Trawling Zone during the open season

(b) more than one hundred yards distance from the nearest point of the General Trawling Zone during the open season

(c) during the closed season

10

18

18

11

Taking or attempting to take fish, shellfish or crustaceans for a commer­cial purpose without a proper license, permit, stamp or tag

10

12

Captain or crew of a boat failing to cooperate with an enforcement officer

18

13

Channel netting in an area closed to channel netting or during closed season for channel netting

18

14

Applying for or obtaining any resident license as provided in this chapter using a falsified application or supporting documentation, or simultaneously possessing any current, valid South Carolina resident license as provided in this chapter while possessing any resident license from another state

18

Table C

Statutory Suspensions

Many laws pertaining to natural resources and boating contain mandatory suspensions. These suspensions start upon conviction and run for specified times according to law. These suspensions will affect privileges and may affect licenses, permits, stamps, tags or registrations. Examples of violations for which suspensions are mandated include, but are not limited to:

A

Hunting from a public road

1 year

B

Unlawfully taking a wild turkey

1 year

C

Conspiracy to violate natural resource laws

1 year

D

Obtaining a license, permit, stamp, or tag by fraud

1 year

E

Altering, post dating, borrowing, or lending a license, permit, stamp, or tag

1 year

F

Criminal, negligent use of a firearm

1 to 5 years

G

Boating under the influence

6 months to 5 years

H

Trawling violations

1 year

I

Killing a Bald Eagle

5 years

J

Failure to pay fines or restitution

Suspended until payment is received

K

Third (3) offense negligent operation of a watercraft

6 months

L

Bear violations

3 years

M

Impeding the right to hunt, fish, or trap

1 year