South Carolina’s 2022 youth turkey hunting seasons

South Carolina’s 2022 turkey hunting season is right around the corner. Youth hunters get first crack in their game zones.

Youth Turkey Season Dates for 2022:

• March 19-20: Private Lands in Game Zones 3 & 4
• March 26-27: Private Lands in Game Zones 1 & 2
• March 26: Wildlife Management Areas Youth Day (All Game Zones)

This opportunity is for all WMAs normally open to turkey hunting except: Bear Island, Donnelley, Keowee, Santee Coastal Reserve, Santee Cooper, Hatchery Waterfowl Area, Bonneau Ferry, Belfast, Wateree River HP.

Keep in mind:

• This special opportunity is available for youth ages 17 or younger.
• Youth hunters who have not completed the hunter education program must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age.
• Limit one (1) gobbler total for the weekend which counts towards the season limit.
• Adults may call or guide, however, only the youth may take or attempt to take a gobbler.
• All turkeys harvested on youth days must be reported using the Go Outdoors SC / SC Game Check harvest reporting system.
• Youths with tags can utilize the normal reporting methods: mobile app, website, text, or phone. For details on reporting methods go to the SCDNR turkey harvest page.
• Youths without tags will need to utilize the EXEMPT HUNTER reporting form at Go Outdoors SC to report their harvest on youth days.

For more information about how to report your harvest as an exempted hunter, view our tutorial.

Once the regular season is open all youth must have turkey tags and report through the normal methods.

SC CODE OF LAWS Title 50-11-590 waives the license or tag requirement for a youth during Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend. This allows a youth without tags or a license to hunt during these special opportunity days. Youths that have turkey tags can use any one of their tags on youth days. We recommend resident youths use the yellow tag (3rd tag on the form) to allow full opportunity to harvest a bird during the first 10 days of the regular season.

The law does not waive harvest reporting requirements for Youth Days.