How to Get Your South Carolina Hunting License

South Carolina requires all hunters born after June 30, 1979, to complete an approved hunter education course before buying a hunting license. The course itself isn't required to purchase a license if you were born on or before that date.

A resident annual hunting license costs $12, while a non-resident annual license costs $125. Licenses are sold through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) at Go Outdoors SC, by mail, or at an authorized retailer, and a South Carolina hunting license runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year rather than a rolling 365-day window.

Today, we walk through how to get your South Carolina hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.

What Is a Hunting License in South Carolina?

A South Carolina hunting license is the base document required to hunt small game, such as squirrel, rabbit, quail, and dove, on private land with permission. Deer, turkey, and bear each require a separate Big Game Permit on top of the base license, and any Wildlife Management Area (WMA) hunting needs its own WMA Permit as well.

The license itself is separate from your Hunter Education Certificate. The certificate proves you completed an SCDNR-approved safety course. Once you earn it, it's valid for life. The license, on the other hand, expires every June 30 and must be purchased again for the next license year.

Who Needs a Hunting License in South Carolina?

South Carolina requires a hunting license for all residents and non-residents age 16 or older who hunt in the state. Hunters younger than 16 don't need a license at all, though they still need any species-specific tags required for what they're hunting.

Hunter education works on a separate track from the license itself. Anyone born after June 30, 1979 must complete an approved hunter education course before buying a standard license, unless they use South Carolina's built-in alternative instead:

1. Under 16: No hunting license required, though tags for species like deer and turkey still apply; hunter education isn't required, but youth without it must be accompanied by a licensed adult 21 or older on designated youth hunt days.
2. Age 16 and older, born after June 30, 1979: Must complete hunter education before buying a standard Resident ($12) or Non-Resident ($125) license.
3. Age 16 and older, using the Apprentice License: Purchase the small-game-only Apprentice License ($12) for a one-time, one-year exemption from hunter education instead.
4. Born on or before June 30, 1979: Exempt from hunter education, but still needs a license at 16 or older.

Whichever category applies to you, keep proof of your license and, if required, your certification on hand while hunting.

How to Get Your South Carolina Hunting License (Step-by-Step)

Getting licensed in South Carolina is quick thanks to the state's low base fee and fast online hunter education course. Here's the full process from start to finish.

1. Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born after June 30, 1979, and aren't using the Apprentice License.
2. Purchase your license through the SCDNR website, by mail, or at an authorized retailer.
3. Select your license type: resident ($12), non-resident ($125), or the combination Sportsman License ($50) if you also want fishing and WMA privileges bundled in.
4. Add a Big Game Permit ($6 resident, $100 non-resident) if you're hunting deer, turkey, or bear, plus any needed tags.
5. Carry your digital or printed license, plus your Hunter Education Certificate, any time you hunt.

Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course

South Carolina offers one of the fastest certification paths in the country, and neither of its two main options requires a field day.

1. Online course (SC residents, age 10 and older): The Hunter-Ed South Carolina course costs $29.95. Most students finish in about 3 hours and print their Temporary Hunter Education Certificate immediately, valid for 30 days while the permanent card is mailed.
2. In-person classroom course (recommended age 12 and older): A free, eight-hour instructor-led course, offered as a single-day class or split across two evenings.

However you complete it, your certification never expires and stays valid across all 50 states once earned.

Step 2: Purchase Your License

Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through the SCDNR website, by mail, or at an authorized retailer.

You'll need your driver's license or SCDNR Customer ID number, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.

Step 3: Add Permits and Go Hunting

Your base South Carolina hunting license only covers small game on private land with permission. Deer, turkey, and bear each require a Big Game Permit on top of your base license, and any Wildlife Management Area hunting needs a separate WMA Permit as well.

Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready to hunt.

South Carolina Hunting License Requirements by Age

Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in South Carolina by age.

Privileges and stamps: Deer, turkey, and bear hunters need a Big Game Permit ($6 resident, $100 non-resident) in addition to the base license. Waterfowl hunters need the free Migratory Bird Permit (HIP) plus the State Migratory Waterfowl Permit ($15.50) and Federal Duck Stamp

Anyone hunting a Wildlife Management Area needs a separate WMA Permit ($30.50 resident, $76 non-resident).

Season dates and bag limits vary by species and game zone, so check before you plan a hunt.

Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost

South Carolina's online course is one of the fastest in the country, taking about three hours with no field day required at any age. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.

No matter the format you choose, the certification you earn is accepted for life across the U.S. and Canada. Just remember: your South Carolina hunting license needs replacing, and in South Carolina that happens every year on June 30.

What to Bring When Buying Your License

Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your South Carolina hunting license. You'll need:

• Your driver's license or SCDNR Customer ID number
• Proof of your Hunter Education Certificate, if you're required to hold one
• Payment (card online or in person, or check by mail)
• Proof of South Carolina residency, if applying for resident rates

South Carolina Hunting Laws and Penalties

Hunting without a valid license or the applicable permits, tags, or stamps in South Carolina is a misdemeanor under SC Code Section 50-9-10, carrying a fine of $50 to $500 or up to 30 days in jail.

Note: Hunting while your privileges are suspended is a separate, harsher offense, with fines of $250 to $500, up to a year in jail, and an additional three-year suspension.

South Carolina also uses a point system for wildlife law violations, and accumulating enough points can trigger an automatic suspension of hunting and fishing privileges. Borrowing, lending, altering, or fraudulently obtaining a license is its own misdemeanor, carrying fines of $200 to $500 and a one-year forfeiture of privileges.

What About Reciprocity?

South Carolina accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards. States and provinces with their own mandatory hunter education requirements return the favor and accept a South Carolina Hunter Education Certificate, so your card travels with you if you hunt elsewhere.

What Out-of-State Visitors Need to Know

Non-resident hunters pay $125 for an annual license, or can choose a 10-day license for $75 or a 3-day license for $40 for shorter trips. A non-resident Big Game Permit costs $100, and a non-resident WMA Permit costs $76, both required on top of the base license for the respective privileges.

First-time hunters from out of state born after June 30, 1979 must still complete hunter education unless they already hold a certificate from their home state that meets IHEA-USA standards.

Start Your South Carolina Hunter Safety Course Today

Ready to get certified? The Hunter-Ed South Carolina course is approved by the SCDNR, self-paced, and available on any device, with no in-person field day currently required. Complete the course and get your lifetime South Carolina hunter education certificate.

Approved by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) | Last verified August 12, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How much does a hunting license cost in South Carolina?

A: A resident annual hunting license in South Carolina costs $12, while a non-resident annual license costs $125, both valid from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. Hunters after deer, turkey, or bear also need a separate Big Game Permit, which costs $6 for residents and $100 for non-residents.

Q: Do I need hunter education to hunt in South Carolina?

A: Yes, South Carolina requires hunter education for anyone born after June 30, 1979 before they can buy a standard hunting license. Hunters born on or before that date are exempt, and first-time hunters can also use a one-time Apprentice License to hunt small game for a year without completing the course.

Q: Is a field day required for the online hunter safety course in South Carolina?

A: No, South Carolina's online hunter safety course does not require an in-person field day for residents age 10 and older who complete it through Hunter-Ed. The alternative in-person classroom course, taught by SCDNR-certified instructors, also has no separate field day requirement since the classroom instruction itself covers the full course.

Q: Can a 10-year-old hunt in South Carolina?

A: A 10-year-old can hunt in South Carolina without a license, since the state doesn't require one until age 16. Younger hunters still need any species-specific tags required for what they're hunting, and those without hunter education should be accompanied by a licensed adult 21 or older on designated youth hunt days.

Q: Does South Carolina's hunter education certificate work in other states?

A: Yes, a South Carolina Hunter Education Certificate is accepted in any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country with a mandatory hunter education requirement that meets IHEA-USA standards. This reciprocity means South Carolina-certified hunters generally don't need to retake a course before hunting elsewhere.

Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in South Carolina?

A: Hunting without a valid license or the applicable tags and permits in South Carolina is a misdemeanor under SC Code Section 50-9-10, punishable by a fine of $50 to $500 or up to 30 days in jail. Hunting while under a suspension carries steeper penalties, including fines up to $500, up to a year in jail, and an additional three-year suspension of hunting privileges.