South Carolina Hunting License: Cost, Requirements & How to Buy
A South Carolina hunting license costs $12 for a resident adult and $125 for a non-resident adult (fees verified 2026-09-12).
South Carolina's base hunting license is one of the cheapest in the country for residents at $12, but that number is misleading on its own: deer, turkey and bear hunters, which is most South Carolina hunters, need a separate Big Game Permit on top, and public-land hunters need a third permit again.
- Non-resident 10-day $75
- Non-resident 3-day $40
Base license covers small game only. A Big Game Permit ($6 resident/$100 non-resident) is required on top of it to hunt deer, turkey or bear anywhere in the state, and a WMA Permit ($30.50 resident) is required to hunt SCDNR-managed public land. Non-residents can also buy a 10-day license ($75) or 3-day license ($40) instead of the full annual. Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after June 30, 1979 (exemptions for those hunting their own property and active military).
Fee last verified 2026-09-12.
Heading out for South Carolina hunting? Game wardens require carrying physical or digital license proof and valid tags. Equip yourself with a waterproof license and tag pouch, rechargeable wide-beam LED headlamp, and corrosion-resistant multi-tool pliers before your trip.
What a South Carolina hunting license costs
Residents pay $12 for the annual hunting license; non-residents pay $125, or $75 for a 10-day license, or $40 for 3 days. The base license covers small game only. A Big Game Permit, required to hunt deer, turkey or bear anywhere in the state, is a separate $6 for residents but $100 for non-residents. Anyone hunting SCDNR-managed public land also needs a WMA Permit, $30.50 for residents.
Who needs a license, and hunter education
Hunters born on or after June 30, 1979 must complete a course approved by SCDNR and IHEA-USA before buying a hunting license, with exemptions for hunters on their own property and for active military. The preferred course is a free, eight-hour instructor-led class, though South Carolina also accepts a fully online option for anyone who can't attend in person.
License year and deadlines
South Carolina's license year is fixed and expires every June 30 regardless of purchase date, unlike many states that run 365 days from the purchase date. A 3-year resident license is also available at a proportional rate for hunters who don't want to renew annually.
How to buy your South Carolina hunting license
Go Outdoors South Carolina sells licenses and permits online, and licenses are also available in person at SCDNR offices and authorized retail agents statewide.
Hunting in South Carolina: what to expect
The South Carolina Lowcountry and its coastal plain hold the state's best deer densities, with a hunting season long enough, running from August in some units into January, that it's one of the longest in the country. Turkey hunting is strong statewide each spring, and the state's WMA system spans everything from Piedmont hardwood forest in the upstate to coastal marsh in the Lowcountry, giving hunters without their own land or a club membership real options.
The permit stack, and why it matters
A non-resident planning a South Carolina deer hunt needs to budget for the $125 annual hunting license plus the $100 Big Game Permit, a combined $225 before any WMA access or lodging, well above what the $125 headline license number suggests on its own. Residents face a much gentler stack: $12 plus $6 for the Big Game Permit, plus $30.50 only if hunting WMA land specifically rather than private property.
How to renew a South Carolina hunting license
There is no separate renewal process in South Carolina. A hunting license is not extended in place; when it expires you buy a new one for the next license year through the same system you used the first time, and your customer profile, hunter or angler ID and any saved payment details carry over so the second purchase takes a couple of minutes. South Carolina's license year is fixed and expires every June 30 regardless of purchase date.
The fastest route is the official South Carolina online licensing portal, which also lets you print or download the new license and add any stamps, tags or endorsements in one transaction. In-person license agents (sporting goods stores, bait shops and, in many states, county clerks) sell the same license at the same price, so use whichever is closer. Buying before the old license lapses is not required, but it avoids an accidental gap if a season opens before you get round to it.
Planning more than one? See the South Carolina fishing license page too, see how much a hunting license costs in every state, compare non-resident hunting fees across states, browse every state, or use the state license finder.