South Carolina

Sub-species: Eastern

Tags: Over the counter plus some limited draw WMA and National Forest hunts

Application Period: Early January

Electronic or Print at Home Fulfillment: YES

Hunter Education Required: Yes if born after June 30, 1979

Bag Limit: 2 adult gobblers per season, no more than 1 per day, no more than 1 prior to April 10. *Some WMAs may vary.

2026 Spring Season Dates: April 3 – May 3 

Special Youth Hunt: March 28-29; May 9-10

Special Disabled Hunt: No

Decoys Allowed: Yes

Tagging Instructions:  If you have just purchased a Hunting License and Big Game Permit, or have just requested or purchased deer or turkey tags and want to hunt immediately, a temporary set of turkey tags can be downloaded and printed by accessing the Customer Privileges Portal on the SCDNR website at https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/customerprivilegesportal. These self-printed temporary tags are only valid until your permanent tags arrive in the mail. 

All persons (including youth) harvesting a wild turkey are required to report their harvest by midnight of the day of harvest using SC Game Check. Harvest reporting is at no cost to the hunter.  There are three ways to complete the harvest reporting process. Hunters can either (a) log the harvest into the free SC Game Check reporting application on a smartphone; (b) enter the harvest via the SC Game Check website at www.dnr.sc.gov/scgamecheck, or (c) call the SC Game Check reporting phone line at 1-833-4SC-GAME (1-833-472-4263).  Turkey hunters will receive additional details and complete instructions on harvest reporting and SC Game Check with their turkey tags. Full details and instructions will also be available on the SCDNR website.  The SC Game Check smartphone app will allow you to report a harvested turkey with or without cell phone service.  

Noteworthy Restrictions: Unlawful to harvest a Jake as defined by a beard less than 6 inches and a tail fan not fully developed with the center feathers longer than the rest.    No Sunday hunting on WMAs.  All hunters, including hunters younger than 16 or those who are calling or guiding must possess a valid set of turkey tags except on designated youth days.  It is unlawful to take a turkey from a vehicle on a public road.  The practice of fanning or reaping is now prohibited statewide.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

803-734-3833

Purchase License Online

Licenses Needed to Hunt Turkeys