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Some early-season
migratory bird seasons open in Sept.
Migratory bird hunting season for
mourning doves, marsh hens (rails), teal,
moorhens, purple gallinules, and Canada
geese gets underway at various dates during
the month of September. Woodcock and common
snipe seasons begin later in the year or
early 2011.
The annual Migratory Bird Hunting
Regulations brochure will be available in
early September after the regular duck
seasons are finalized.
The 2010-2011 mourning dove season
in South Carolina is Sept. 4-6 (noon until
sunset); Sept. 7-Oct. 9; Nov. 20-27; and
Dec. 21-Jan. 15. Legal hunting hours for
mourning dove season, except for Sept. 4-6,
are from 30 minutes before sunrise until
sunset. The daily bag limit is 15 birds per
day. An early season for Canada geese will
be Sept. 1-30. This season is statewide.
Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise
until sunset. The daily bag limit for Canada
geese during this early season is 15 birds.
The two-part season for marsh
hens-including king, clapper, sora and
Virginia
rails-and common moorhens and purple
gallinules will be from Sept. 8-12 and Oct.
6-Dec. 9. The daily bag limit for king
and/or clapper rails is 15 birds per hunter
and moorhens and/or purple gallinules is 15
birds per hunter. The daily limit for sora
and/or Virginia rails is 25 birds per
hunter. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before
sunrise until sunset.
The 2011 South Carolina season for
woodcock will run Jan. 2-31. Three birds per
hunter is the daily limit for woodcock.
Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise
until sunset.
The 2010-2011 season for common
snipe, also called Wilson's snipe, will be
Nov. 14-Feb. 28. The daily bag limit is
eight birds. Shooting hours are 30 minutes
before sunrise until sunset.
The South Carolina early season for
teal will be Sept. 15-30. The daily bag
limit is four birds. Shooting hours are
sunrise until sunset (not 30 minutes before
sunrise, as with other migratory bird
seasons).
South Carolina migratory bird
hunters age 16 and older must have a state
hunting license and a free Migratory Bird
Permit. Additionally, participants in the
September Canada Goose season and the early
teal season must have the Federal Waterfowl
Stamp and SC Migratory Waterfowl Permit.
Completion of an approved hunter education
course is mandatory for resident and
nonresident South Carolina hunters born
after June 30, 1979, to purchase a license,
and voluntary for older and younger hunters.
General Assembly makes
changes to S.C.'s night hunting law
The South Carolina night hunting law
(Section 50-11-710) was recently changed to
allow for the hunting of coyotes, armadillos
and hogs at night under certain conditions.
The law was originally intended to protect
white-tailed deer from being taken at night
and it will still be illegal to take deer at
night.
It is currently legal to hunt raccoons,
opossums, foxes, mink and skunk at night,
but they may not be hunted with artificial
lights except when treed or cornered with
dogs, or with buckshot or any shot larger
than a number four, or any rifle ammunition
larger than a .22 rimfire.
Coyotes and armadillos can be hunted during
the day on private lands without
restrictions and the new law provides that
coyotes and armadillos may be hunted at
night with an artificial light that is
carried on the hunter's person attached to a
helmet or hat, or part of a belt system worn
by the hunter. Coyotes and armadillos may be
hunted with a rifle no larger than .22
caliber rimfire, a shotgun with a shot size
no larger than a BB, or a sidearm of any
caliber that has iron sites and a barrel
length not exceeding nine inches. Any weapon
used to hunt coyotes or armadillos may not
be equipped with a butt-stock, scope, laser
site, or light emitting or light enhancing
device. It is unlawful to have in one's
possession any shot size larger than a BB
while legally hunting coyotes and armadillos
at night with a shotgun, and coyotes and
armadillos may not be hunted at night from a
vehicle, unless specifically permitted by
the department.
Hogs may be hunted during the day on private
lands without restrictions and at night with
an artificial light that is carried on the
hunter's person attached to a helmet or hat,
or part of a belt system worn by the hunter
and with a sidearm of any caliber that has
iron sites and barrel length not exceeding
nine inches. The sidearm may not be equipped
with a butt-stock, scope, laser site, or
light emitting or light enhancing device.
However, hogs may not be hunted at night
from a vehicle, or with a centerfire rifle
or shotgun, unless specifically permitted by
the department. Hunting of hogs at night
with dogs is allowed as long as the hunter(s)
complies with these firearms and lighting
restrictions.
Again, S.C. Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) officials stress that it is still
illegal to take or attempt to take deer at
night and illegal night hunting activities
will be vigorously policed and prosecuted.
DNR biologists advise that significant
control of feral hog and coyote populations
will not likely occur with night hunting
techniques. Trapping, using legal methods
and
devices is much more effective and
efficient.
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