by L. Woodrow Ross

Created on: June 30, 2010

If  you are a deer hunter and would like to extend your season, look no further than South Carolina. Granted, you might not take the trophy of a lifetime, but the season is the longest of the nation. Lucky hunters get to start their season in the coastal areas as early as August 15 and the season is open in areas of the state to January 1. 

In addition to deer, while on the stand, you can legally take wild hogs or coyotes. In fact, there is no closed season on feral hogs or coyotes. A new law goes into effect for 2010/11 season that allows hogs to be hunted at night, but only handguns with iron sights may be used. Dogs can be used for hog hunting.

The new regulation does not change the fact that on game management land, hogs or coyotes may only be hunted with centerfire weapons during deer season. Private land has no closed season for these two species.

Some coastal areas allow dog hunts for deer and this is a dying sport in most areas. It may not be what most sportsmen are looking for in a deer hunt, but it is unique and an unusual experience with a great tradition in the deep south.

Bow season opens early in August or September, depending on the location in the state. Bow season is first, muzzleloaders next and regular gun season next. This allows devotees of archery and muzzleloaders a jump on the regular rifle season. The deer woods are not as crowded and opportunities are improved. Bow hunters may take a doe or buck and two deer a day are allowed. Muzzleloaders are restricted to bucks only.

Some areas are restricted to harvest of mature bucks only, with 4 points on one side or antler spread wider than the ears. Due to the population density, doe harvest is allowed on specified days in most areas. The state population had exceeded 1,000,000 in the recent past years, but currently has been reduced to between 700,000 and 800,000 animals.

Game zone 1 in the northwest corner of the state offers a season for black bears. It runs for almost two weeks, with part being specified for still hunts (no dogs) and part for party dog hunts. Bears exceeding 500 pound have been harvested in the state.

Wild turkeys have been in a slight decline in the state, but are found in all counties and the upstate seems to have greater numbers at this time. The season is open somewhere in the state from mid-March to the end of April.

The generous big game season and an abundance of small game such as quail, rabbits and squirrels make South Carolina a state that should be on any dedicated hunters list of possibilities.

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