South Carolina turkey hunters are preparing for spring turkey season in 2023 as the weather warms and the flowers bloom. Everyone, from seasoned hunters to first-timers, can expect an interesting exciting time during the upcoming South Carolina turkey season. This post will explore what South Carolina turkey hunters may anticipate during the 2023 season, including the dates, bag limits, and regulations for a successful Turkey hunt in South Carolina 2023.
SC Turkey Season 2023
In South Carolina, the normal season for turkey hunting begins in the spring and lasts through April. In April, there is a unique two-day hunting season for kids. Depending on the place of residence, hunters are only permitted to capture a certain number of gobblers and up to one bearded or male turkey during the normal season. To better manage resources for the projected 50,000 hunters, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has instituted computerized harvest reporting and other measures.
SC Spring Turkey Season
| SC Turkey Area | Season Dates |
|---|---|
| Private lands Game Zone 1 | April 1 – May 10 |
| Private lands Game Zone 2 | April 1 – May 10 |
| Private lands Game Zone 3 | March 22 – April 30 |
| Private lands Game Zone 4 | March 22 – April 30 |
| WMA lands statewide | April 1 – April 29 |
SC Youth Hunting Weekend
| Statewide Youth Hunting Weekend | Game Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 17 years old and younger | Game Zones 1 and 2 | March 25-26 |
| 17 years old and younger | Game Zones 3 and 4 | March 18-19 |
Bag Limits
| Residents | Non-Residents | |
|---|---|---|
| Season Limit | 3 gobblers per season | 2 gobblers per season |
| Daily Limit | 1 per day | 1 per day |
Turkey Licenses
| Type of Licenses | Duration | Residents | Nonresidents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Game Permit | 3 Year | 18 | n/a |
| Big Game Permit | Annual | 6 | 100 |
| Combination License | 3 Year | 75 | n/a |
| Combination License | Annual | 25 | n/a |
| Junior Sportsman License | Annual | 16 | n/a |
| Sportsman License | 3 Year | 150 | n/a |
| Sportsman License | Annual | 50 | n/a |
| State Hunting License | 3 Year | 36 | n/a |
| State Hunting License | Annual | 12 | 125 |
| State Hunting License | 10 Day | n/a | 75 |
| State Hunting License | 3 Day | n/a | 40 |
Tagging a Turkey
In South Carolina, free turkey tags have been discontinued. Except on specified youth days, hunters must have a current hunting license, a large game permit, and a set of turkey tags to hunt turkeys. South Carolina residents pay $5 for a set of three tags, while non-residents pay $100. While Lifetime/Senior/Gratis/Disability Licensees obtain tags for free each year after making a single request, Youth Hunters and 3-year Disability Licensees must request them yearly.
Turkey tags may be ordered online or at license providers; mailings begin in the middle of February. Starting in late February, they are also be sold in person at SCDNR regional offices. Referring to the Deer Rules & Regulations, hunters may download and print temporary tags if they urgently require turkey tags.
| Type of Hunter | Fees for Turkey Tags |
|---|---|
| South Carolina Resident | $5 per set of three (3) tags |
| Non-Resident | $100 per set of two (2) tags |
| Youth (Free) | Must request tags annually |
| 3-year Disability Licensee | Must request tags annually |
| Lifetime/Senior/Gratis/Disability Licensee | Receive tags for free annually after requesting them one time |
Reporting a Harvest
When taking a turkey in South Carolina, hunters are required to report their take using one of four methods: using the free Go Outdoors SC mobile app to log the harvest into Game Check, entering the take via Game Check on the web, texting “Harvest” to 1-833-472-4263, calling the SC Game Check reporting phone line at 1-833-4SC-GAME, or entering the take over the phone. With turkey tags and on the SCDNR website, comprehensive instructions on harvest reporting and SC Game Check will be accessible. With or without a mobile phone connection, you may report a harvested turkey using the free Go Outdoors SC app for iPhone and Android smartphones.
Regulations for Hunting
- Youth hunters need to have hunting education to follow these regulations. A 21-year-old adult must accompany such hunters. No license or tags are necessary for the child or the accompanying adult on designated youth hunting days. The kid can take the game, but the adult may lead or call. The weekend bag limit for junior hunters is one gobbler, which counts towards the season quota.
- Except on youth hunting days, South Carolina hunters must have turkey tags. Before leaving the kill site, a harvested turkey must be marked and authenticated. Each person is allowed one set of turkey tags.
- Private property in South Carolina allows Sunday hunting. Sunday hunting is prohibited on WMA property.
- Hunters who have expended their turkey tags may guide or summon other hunters using their tag form. Shotguns, muzzleloaders, bows, and crossbows are authorized for turkey hunting. Rifles, pistols, slugs, buckshot, and all other firearms are banned.
- Hunting turkeys using dogs, live decoys, or electronic calls in South Carolina is illegal. It is also forbidden to kill a turkey between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before dawn, remove a bird from a vehicle on a public road, trap or snare a wild turkey, or capture a wild turkey from a watercraft.
- Hunting or capturing wild turkeys using bait or on a baited location is banned in South Carolina. Turkeys are baited with salt, maize, wheat, oats, or other grains. Ten days after bait removal, an area is baited. Planting or manipulating chufa to reveal tubers, mowing standing grain crops, top seeding grains, or using bait or feed for other species might create a baited area and are forbidden during turkey season.
- Fanning or reaping turkeys in South Carolina Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) is illegal. Fanning or reaping is hunting or stalking wild turkeys using a tail fan, a partial or complete decoy with a tail fan, or a tail fan fitted to a rifle for concealment. This rule encompasses actual or synthetic feather tail fans, or a picture of a tail fan affixed on any material. However, this legislation does not apply to private land.
Note: You may also review the complete Turkey hunting regulations in South Carolina at the SCDNR website.
Turkey hunting season in South Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
What permits and tags are required for turkey hunting in South Carolina?
All turkey hunters, including minors, must have turkey tags when hunting, save on days designated for youth, in addition to the appropriate hunting license and large game permit. Residents of South Carolina pay $5 for each set of three tags, whereas non-residents pay $100 for each set of two tags.
When does the turkey hunting season in South Carolina start?
The South Carolina’s turkey hunting season runs from April 1 to May 10 on private property in Game Zones 1 and 2. The season opens on March 22 and closes on April 30 on private property in Game Zones 3 and 4. Season runs from April 1 to April 29 over all of the state’s WMAs, with two exceptions: Game Zones 1 and 2 (March 25-26) and Game Zones 3 and 4 (March 18-19) provide special youth-only hunting days.
Do I need a hunting license to hunt turkeys in South Carolina?
A hunting license, a large game permit, and turkey tags are needed in South Carolina to hunt turkeys.
Can I use a rifle for hunting turkeys in South Carolina?
No, hunting turkeys with a gun is not allowed in South Carolina. Only shotguns and bows are permitted.
