South Carolina hunting license

How much is a South Carolina hunting license?

A resident South Carolina hunting license (State Hunting) costs $12 a year, as listed by SCDNR for the current license year, and nonresidents pay $125 for the annual version. On its own, this license covers small game only.

Deer, bear and turkey add layers. Residents buy the $6 Big Game Permit, then the right tags: turkey tags are $25 and a bear tag is $25, while the base set of deer tags costs nothing. Hunting on Wildlife Management Area land takes a WMA permit, $30.50 a year for residents.

Many residents skip the stacking and buy the annual Sportsman License for $50, which bundles state hunting, big game, WMA access and freshwater fishing. Add it up: $12 plus $6 plus $30.50 already comes to $48.50 before any fishing, so a deer hunter who uses public WMA land usually saves by choosing the Sportsman.

Turkey hunters should budget for the $25 tag set on top of the license and Big Game Permit. Waterfowl hunters face their own stamps and permits, so read SCDNR's resident pricing page before you check out, because it lists every item and what each one requires.

Who needs hunter education for a South Carolina hunting license?

Anyone born after June 30, 1979, resident or nonresident, must complete hunter education before getting a license. If your birthday is on or before that date, the course is not required to buy.

SCDNR's preferred path is a free, instructor-led eight-hour class, recommended for students 12 and older because the material assumes some reading skill and comfort with firearms. The other route is the approved online course through Hunter-Ed.com, which charges its own fee and lets you print a temporary certificate when you pass. Class listings are on the SCDNR hunter education page.

Not ready for the class? The Apprentice License is a one-time exemption for small game only. Residents pay $12 and it lasts a year; nonresidents pay $50 for three days. It does not cover deer, bear or turkey.

Where can you buy a hunting license in South Carolina?

Licenses are sold online through Go Outdoors South Carolina (license.gooutdoorssouthcarolina.com), in the Go Outdoors SC app for iPhone and Android, and by license vendors around the state. For problems with a purchase, SCDNR's licensing customer service answers at licensing@dnr.sc.gov on weekdays.

Most items are dated from the day you buy them, so there is no rush to renew on a fixed date. Seasonal tags and some permits expire June 30 instead, which matters if you buy turkey tags late in the year.

Three-year options exist for residents who would rather not renew every season, and residents 64 and older should look at the senior and lifetime choices in the rules section below before paying for an annual license. Nonresidents choose between the annual, 10-day and 3-day licenses depending on how long they plan to stay.

1. Finish hunter education if you were born after June 30, 1979, or pick the small-game Apprentice License.
2. Open Go Outdoors South Carolina or the Go Outdoors SC app, or visit a license vendor.
3. Choose State Hunting, add the Big Game Permit and tags, or buy the Sportsman License.
4. Carry your license, permits and tags (on paper or your phone) plus ID while hunting.

Buy a South Carolina hunting license on the official site

How do deer, turkey and bear tags work in South Carolina?

To hunt deer, bear or turkey you need three things: a hunting license, the Big Game Permit and species tags. For deer, residents receive a free base set of tags. Under Act 231, that set is 6 tags from July 1, 2026 (3 antlerless and 3 antlered), according to the 2026-27 digest.

Every harvested deer must be reported through SC Game Check by midnight on the day of harvest. You can log it in the Go Outdoors SC app, and you will get a confirmation number to keep with your records. The deer rules page explains each reporting method and what a processor needs from you.

South Carolina has no big game draw for deer or turkey; both are bought over the counter with the permit and tags. Lotteries do exist for alligator and some WMA hunts, so check SCDNR before planning one of those trips.

Do kids need a license to hunt in South Carolina?

No license or permit is required until age 16, but young hunters still need tags for deer, turkey and bear. Youth turkey tags are free when requested each year, and youth 15 and younger get free bear tags from SCDNR designated offices.

At 16 and 17, the Junior Sportsman License costs $16 and covers state hunting, big game, WMA access and freshwater fishing in one purchase. Before buying it, a teen needs the hunter education certificate, since every hunter that young was born after the June 30, 1979 cutoff.

What do nonresidents pay to hunt in South Carolina?

A nonresident annual license is $125, and short trips can use a 10-day license for $75 or a 3-day license for $40. For deer, bear or turkey, nonresidents add the $100 Big Game Permit. Deer tags are bought one at a time, starting with a $50 unrestricted buck tag, and antlerless tags are $10 each. Turkey tags run $125.

That means a three-day deer hunt costs at least $190 before any extra tags ($40 license, $100 permit, $50 buck tag), while a full-season visitor pays $275 for the same basics. Nonresidents born after June 30, 1979 also need hunter education, or the $50 three-day Apprentice License for small game. If your trip crosses the line, compare the North Carolina hunting license and Georgia hunting license guides.

Other South Carolina hunting rules to know

Licenses, permits and tags must be in your possession while hunting, either on paper or on a phone, along with ID that shows your name and address. Prices on this page come from the SCDNR hunting license page and its pricing tables. For other states, see our hunting license by state guide.

• Hunter orange on WMA lands: during gun and muzzleloader seasons for deer, bear and hogs, every hunter, small game included, wears a solid international orange hat, coat or vest. Archery-only deer hunters and dove, turkey and waterfowl hunters are exempt. For private land, check SCDNR's current rules before you go.
• Landowners: there is no exemption. People hunting their own land must carry every license, permit and tag that applies.
• Lifetime: residents can buy Lifetime State Hunting for $300 (ages 16 to 63), or a Lifetime Combination with hunting, big game and freshwater fishing for $300 under age 2, $400 for ages 2 to 15 and $500 for 16 to 63.
• Seniors and disabled hunters: residents 64 and older get the Senior Combination for $9, residents born on or before July 1, 1940 qualify for a free Gratis License, and residents certified disabled by programs such as SSA or the VA get a free 3-year Disability Combination License.