Hunting in South Carolina: 3 Animals To Hunt in the Summer

If you can’t wait for the fall hunting season, there are several animals that are legal to hunt in South Carolina in the summer. Many of these have hunting seasons that begin late in the summer season, giving you just a few weeks to bag one before the fall hunting season begins.

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Animals legal to hunt in the summer include both large game and smaller animals, giving hunters of every interest and skill level the opportunity to bag their preferred prey.

According to the South Carolina Hunting and Fishing Guide, the following animals are open for hunting in the summer:

1. Alligator
Late summer is the time to hunt alligator, with its hunting season beginning in late September. Alligators are open by drawing only, and anyone wanting to participate must apply online beginning in May. The deadline to apply is typically mid-June. In addition to a current South Carolina hunting license, hunters must purchase an alligator permit. Only hunters age 16 and older may take part.

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2. Mourning Doves
You may hunt this bird beginning in early September on private lands in all game zones, with a daily bag limit of 15. Hunting of the mourning dove is permitted in all of South Carolina’s hunting zones, including in wildlife management areas. The state releases a Public Dove Fields list in early August that outlines when you may hunt the bird in each of these areas. The mourning dove is classified as a migratory bird, which requires all hunters to have a Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit. It is one of few nongame birds without protected status.

3. Other Small Game
There are several other small game species open for hunting during the summer. Quail, rabbit, squirrel and fox are all legal to hunt beginning in early March, with their hunting seasons extending through the summer months and into the fall season. The daily bag limit for quail is 12; for rabbit, it’s five; and for squirrel, 10. There is no daily bag limit for foxes. You can hunt raccoon and opossum beginning in early March and ending in mid-September.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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