Game Zone 1
Oct 1–10 primitive weapons only; Oct 11–Jan 1 archery and firearms. Dog hunting for deer is restricted.
South Carolina Hunting Laws
South Carolina state law imposes no minimum caliber on firearms used for deer during the general firearms season — S.C. Code § 50-11-310 simply authorizes 'archery equipment and firearms' without further specification. Rules do differ substantially by Game Zone and between private land and Wildlife Management Areas.
Rules checked against South Carolina Department of Natural Resources regulations, August 30, 2026.
At a Glance
Check a Cartridge in South Carolina
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Local Ordinances Apply
South Carolina's four Game Zones have materially different season structures and dates (set by S.C. Code § 50-11-310), and some weapon-specific restrictions (notably a rimfire/FMJ ban for big game) apply only on Wildlife Management Area land, not statewide on private land.
Special Zones
Game Zone 2
Sep 15–30 archery only; Oct 1–10 primitive weapons only; Oct 11–Jan 1 archery and firearms. Dog hunting for deer is restricted.
Game Zone 3
Aug 15–Jan 1 archery and firearms (longest firearms season of the four zones).
Game Zone 4
Aug 15–31 archery only; Sep 1–Jan 1 archery and firearms.
Sourced Rules
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.
Rifle
2 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer
No minimum caliber — South Carolina statute authorizes any firearm for deer during general firearms season on private land, without a caliber or centerfire specification.
"with archery equipment and firearms"
S.C. Code § 50-11-310(A) · verified Aug 2026
White-tailed / Mule Deer
On Wildlife Management Area land, big-game hunters may not use .22-or-smaller rimfire rifles or handguns. Private land has no caliber restriction.
"3.3 On WMA lands big game hunters are not allowed to use armor piercing, tracer, incendiary, or full metal jacket bullets or .22 or smaller rimfire."
S.C. Code Regs. 123-40 (WMA regulations), Weapons § 3.3 · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
No minimum caliber — South Carolina statute authorizes any firearm for deer during general firearms season on private land, without a caliber or centerfire specification.
"with archery equipment and firearms" |
S.C. Code § 50-11-310(A) | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
On Wildlife Management Area land, big-game hunters may not use .22-or-smaller rimfire rifles or handguns. Private land has no caliber restriction.
"3.3 On WMA lands big game hunters are not allowed to use armor piercing, tracer, incendiary, or full metal jacket bullets or .22 or smaller rimfire." |
S.C. Code Regs. 123-40 (WMA regulations), Weapons § 3.3 | Oct 2026 |
Rifle and Handgun
1 rule
Wild Turkey
Rifles and handguns are illegal for turkey hunting — only shotguns firing shot (not buckshot or slugs) are legal.
"It is unlawful for a person to take or attempt to take a wild turkey with a rifle, pistol, buckshot, or shotgun slug."
S.C. Code § 50-11-500(7) · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wild Turkey
|
Rifles and handguns are illegal for turkey hunting — only shotguns firing shot (not buckshot or slugs) are legal.
"It is unlawful for a person to take or attempt to take a wild turkey with a rifle, pistol, buckshot, or shotgun slug." |
S.C. Code § 50-11-500(7) | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
1 rule
Wild Turkey
Turkey shotguns must fire shot — buckshot and shotgun slugs are prohibited.
"It is unlawful for a person to take or attempt to take a wild turkey with a rifle, pistol, buckshot, or shotgun slug."
S.C. Code § 50-11-500(7) · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wild Turkey
|
Turkey shotguns must fire shot — buckshot and shotgun slugs are prohibited.
"It is unlawful for a person to take or attempt to take a wild turkey with a rifle, pistol, buckshot, or shotgun slug." |
S.C. Code § 50-11-500(7) | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
2 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer
During the primitive-weapons season, muzzleloading rifles must be at least .36 caliber and use black powder or a substitute without nitrocellulose/nitroglycerin (i.e. not smokeless powder); muzzleloading shotguns must be 20 gauge or larger.
"rifles of .36 caliber or larger with open or peep sights or scopes, which use black powder or a black powder substitute that does not contain nitrocellulose or nitroglycerin components as the propellant charge"
S.C. Code § 50-11-310(E) · verified Aug 2026
All species
Primitive-weapons-season muzzleloaders must fire true black powder or a substitute that is not smokeless (no nitrocellulose/nitroglycerin components).
"which use black powder or a black powder substitute that does not contain nitrocellulose or nitroglycerin components as the propellant charge"
S.C. Code § 50-11-310(E) · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
During the primitive-weapons season, muzzleloading rifles must be at least .36 caliber and use black powder or a substitute without nitrocellulose/nitroglycerin (i.e. not smokeless powder); muzzleloading shotguns must be 20 gauge or larger.
"rifles of .36 caliber or larger with open or peep sights or scopes, which use black powder or a black powder substitute that does not contain nitrocellulose or nitroglycerin components as the propellant charge" |
S.C. Code § 50-11-310(E) | Aug 2026 |
|
All species
|
Primitive-weapons-season muzzleloaders must fire true black powder or a substitute that is not smokeless (no nitrocellulose/nitroglycerin components).
"which use black powder or a black powder substitute that does not contain nitrocellulose or nitroglycerin components as the propellant charge" |
S.C. Code § 50-11-310(E) | Aug 2026 |
Air Gun
1 rule
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Pneumatic (air) weapons are listed as legal for deer during firearms season on private and WMA land, and South Carolina states no minimum caliber or energy floor for them.
"Pneumatic weapons including those that shoot arrows may be used on private and WMA Lands statewide during firearms seasons only. On WMAs restrictions found in WMA Regulation 3.1 and 3.3 apply to pneumatic weapons."
2026-27 SCDNR Hunting & Fishing Regulations guide — Equipment & Methods: Pneumatic Weapons; Deer: gun hunts · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Pneumatic (air) weapons are listed as legal for deer during firearms season on private and WMA land, and South Carolina states no minimum caliber or energy floor for them.
"Pneumatic weapons including those that shoot arrows may be used on private and WMA Lands statewide during firearms seasons only. On WMAs restrictions found in WMA Regulation 3.1 and 3.3 apply to pneumatic weapons." |
2026-27 SCDNR Hunting & Fishing Regulations guide — Equipment & Methods: Pneumatic Weapons; Deer: gun hunts | Oct 2026 |
All Weapons
4 rules
White-tailed / Mule Deer
On WMA land, big-game hunters may not use armor-piercing, tracer, incendiary, or full metal jacket bullets.
"3.3 On WMA lands big game hunters are not allowed to use armor piercing, tracer, incendiary, or full metal jacket bullets or .22 or smaller rimfire."
S.C. Code Regs. 123-40 (WMA regulations), Weapons § 3.3 · verified Oct 2026
All species
On WMA land during deer season, non-exempt hunters must wear a hat, coat, or vest of solid international orange (no specific minimum square-inch area is set by statute).
"All nonexempt persons must wear a hat, coat, or vest of solid international orange while on Wildlife Management Area lands during deer hunting season."
S.C. Code § 50-11-365 · verified Aug 2026
Waterfowl
On state-owned, U.S. Forest Service and other federally owned Category I and II Waterfowl Management Areas, each hunter may carry no more than 25 federally approved nontoxic shells per hunt (lead shot is already banned for waterfowl everywhere under federal law).
"10.16 On all State owned, US Forest Service and other Federally owned Category I and II Waterfowl Management Areas each hunter is limited to 25 Federally approved non toxic shells per hunt."
S.C. Code Regs. 123-40 (WMA regulations) § 10.16 · verified Oct 2026
All species
South Carolina's hunting law is silent on suppressors — they appear nowhere in the game statutes, the Natural Resources regulations, or the current hunting guide — so the hunting rules do not restrict them for any species. The hunting rules being silent does not settle possession: the suppressor itself still has to be lawfully possessed under federal law and state weapons law. WMA hunts can restrict weapon types, so check the rules for the specific hunt you are drawn for.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"3.1 – On WMA lands hunters may use any shotgun, rifle, bow and arrow, crossbow or hand gun except specific weapons may be prohibited on certain hunts."
WMA Regulations — Weapons, Reg. 3.1; S.C. Code Title 50 ch. 11 — no mention of suppressors, silencers or mufflers in the 2026-27 guide or Title 50 ch. 11 (read 2026-10-16) · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
On WMA land, big-game hunters may not use armor-piercing, tracer, incendiary, or full metal jacket bullets.
"3.3 On WMA lands big game hunters are not allowed to use armor piercing, tracer, incendiary, or full metal jacket bullets or .22 or smaller rimfire." |
S.C. Code Regs. 123-40 (WMA regulations), Weapons § 3.3 | Oct 2026 |
|
All species
|
On WMA land during deer season, non-exempt hunters must wear a hat, coat, or vest of solid international orange (no specific minimum square-inch area is set by statute).
"All nonexempt persons must wear a hat, coat, or vest of solid international orange while on Wildlife Management Area lands during deer hunting season." |
S.C. Code § 50-11-365 | Aug 2026 |
|
Waterfowl
|
On state-owned, U.S. Forest Service and other federally owned Category I and II Waterfowl Management Areas, each hunter may carry no more than 25 federally approved nontoxic shells per hunt (lead shot is already banned for waterfowl everywhere under federal law).
"10.16 On all State owned, US Forest Service and other Federally owned Category I and II Waterfowl Management Areas each hunter is limited to 25 Federally approved non toxic shells per hunt." |
S.C. Code Regs. 123-40 (WMA regulations) § 10.16 | Oct 2026 |
|
All species
|
South Carolina's hunting law is silent on suppressors — they appear nowhere in the game statutes, the Natural Resources regulations, or the current hunting guide — so the hunting rules do not restrict them for any species. The hunting rules being silent does not settle possession: the suppressor itself still has to be lawfully possessed under federal law and state weapons law. WMA hunts can restrict weapon types, so check the rules for the specific hunt you are drawn for.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"3.1 – On WMA lands hunters may use any shotgun, rifle, bow and arrow, crossbow or hand gun except specific weapons may be prohibited on certain hunts." |
WMA Regulations — Weapons, Reg. 3.1; S.C. Code Title 50 ch. 11 — no mention of suppressors, silencers or mufflers in the 2026-27 guide or Title 50 ch. 11 (read 2026-10-16) | Oct 2026 |
Federal Rules That Apply in Every State
These federal requirements apply in South Carolina on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources · retrieved October 16, 2026
S.C. Code § 50-11-310 — Open season for antlered deer
South Carolina Legislature · retrieved August 30, 2026
S.C. Code § 50-11-365 — WMA hunter orange requirement
South Carolina Legislature · retrieved August 30, 2026
S.C. Code § 50-11-500 — Provisions applicable to wild turkey
South Carolina Legislature · retrieved August 30, 2026
South Carolina Code of Regulations, Chapter 123 — Department of Natural Resources
South Carolina Legislature · retrieved October 11, 2026
How to Use This Page
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current South Carolina Department of Natural Resources regulations are the final word.