2021 deer season starts this weekend in South Carolina

Game Zones 3 & 4 open Sunday, youth days for deer open Saturday

South Carolina hunters are welcome to sit in the sweltering heat waiting on deer beginning this weekend in two of the state’s four game zones. It’s a great time to kill a unique trophy in full velvet.

In Game Zone 3, licensed deer hunters can shoot bucks beginning Sunday morning, Aug. 15, 2021. It starts even earlier for youth hunters. Those 17-years-old and younger can hunt beginning Saturday morning. In Game Zone 3, hunters can use any legal firearm or archery equipment.

In Game Zone 4, the same dates apply as in Game Zone 3. However, it’s archery only through Aug. 31.

For both game zones, these dates apply to private land only

The wait is a bit longer for hunters in Game Zones 1 & 2. Game Zone 2 open for archery Sept. 15 – 30. Then Primitive Weapons season comes in Oct. 1 – 10. Gun hunts are from Oct. 11 – Jan. 1. Youth hunters in Game Zone 2 can hunt on Sept. 11.

In Game Zone 1, the Primitive Weapons season opens Oct. 1. Gun hunts open on Oct. 11. Game Zone 1’s youth day is Sept. 25.

For Youth Day hunts in all game zones, the limit is one antlered deer. No tags or licenses are required on Youth Day. Also, hunters 17 and younger who have not completed the hunter education program must be accompanied by an adult at least 21-years-old. That adult is not allowed to attempt to kill a deer on Youth Day.

Here are some other details of South Carolina’s 2021 deer hunting season:

All harvested deer must be tagged at the point of kill prior to being transported (does not apply to Youth Day). Tag must remain attached until the deer/carcass is quartered or received by a processor. Processors see Deer Rules & Regulations.
Antlered deer statewide limit:
Residents – 2 per day, 5 total all seasons and methods combined.
Nonresidents – 2 per day, 4 total all seasons and methods combined.
Antlerless deer – limit 2 per day. Must be tagged with Individual Antlerless Deer Tag. Only three (3) Individual Antlerless Deer Tags may be used in Game Zone 1. Tags are valid in Game Zones 2, 3, and 4 beginning Sept. 15 and in Game Zone 1 beginning Oct. 1. Individual tags are not valid on properties enrolled for antlerless deer in the Deer Quota Program. Individual tags do not alter the daily (2 per day) or seasonal limit or change the type of weapon that can be used during special weapons seasons.
Limits listed include deer taken on private & WMA lands.
Limits listed do not apply to quota deer taken on properties enrolled in the Deer Quota Program.
Sunday hunting allowed on private lands.
Archery and crossbows allowed during all seasons.
Crossbows are considered archery equipment.
In Game Zones 1 and 2 it is unlawful to pursue deer with dogs.
Baiting or hunting deer over bait is permitted on private lands statewide.