South Carolina · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
South Carolina Duck Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Early Teal Season (blue/green-winged only) | Statewide | Sep 19 – Sep 27 |
| Extended Falconry Season · Window 1 | Statewide | Oct 28 – Nov 20 |
| State Youth Day (ducks, mergansers, coots) | Statewide | Nov 14 – Nov 14 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 21 – Nov 28 |
| Extended Falconry Season · Window 2 | Statewide | Dec 1 – Dec 11 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 12 – Jan 31 |
| Federal Youth Day | Statewide | Feb 6 – Feb 6 |
| Veteran & Active Duty Military Day | Statewide | Feb 6 – Feb 6 |
| Federal Youth Day | Statewide | Feb 13 – Feb 13 |
| Veteran & Active Duty Military Day | Statewide | Feb 13 – Feb 13 |
02 — Bag limits
| Early Teal — Daily | 6 |
|---|---|
| Ducks (including sea ducks) — Daily, statewide | 6 total, including any species not listed below |
| Black-bellied Whistling Duck | No more than 5, within the overall 6-duck limit |
| Mallards | No more than 4, no more than 2 hens, within the overall 6-duck limit |
| Pintails, Wood Ducks | No more than 3 each, within the overall 6-duck limit |
| Redheads, Canvasback | No more than 2 each, within the overall 6-duck limit |
| Scaup | 2/day on Nov. 14, 21-28, Dec. 12-22, and Feb. 6 & 13; 1/day Dec. 23-Jan. 31 — within the overall 6-duck limit |
| Fulvous Whistling Duck | No more than 1, within the overall 6-duck limit |
| Black Duck / Mottled Duck | East/south of I-95: 1 black or 1 mottled duck total. West/north of I-95: 2 black ducks, or 1 black duck plus 1 mottled duck — within the overall 6-duck limit |
| Sea Ducks (eiders, scoters, long-tailed ducks) | 4 total, no more than 3 of any one species (eiders capped at 1 hen) — within the overall 6-duck limit |
| American Coots — Daily | 15, separate from the duck limit |
| Mergansers — Daily | 5, no more than 1 Hooded Merganser, separate from the duck limit |
| Possession (all species above) | 3× the daily bag limit for each species/group |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 19, 2026) 06:40 — 19:24
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks, coots, and mergansers (per SCDNR) — Early Teal season is the exception, running sunrise to sunset with no half-hour head start. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local South Carolina sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in South Carolina need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a South Carolina hunting license, HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
South Carolina hunting license cost & waterfowl stamp →
Where to hunt public land in South Carolina — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in South Carolina?
The 2026–27 opener is September 19, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in South Carolina?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 13, 2027. Late-zone and second-segment closes vary — see the zone table.
Do I need a Federal Duck Stamp?
Yes. Every waterfowl hunter 16 or older must carry a signed current-year Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp). It is available at U.S. Post Offices, many license retailers, most National Wildlife Refuges, and online from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
How many ducks can you shoot in South Carolina per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Early Teal — Daily — 6. Ducks (including sea ducks) — Daily, statewide — 6 total, including any species not listed below. Black-bellied Whistling Duck — No more than 5, within the overall 6-duck limit. Mallards — No more than 4, no more than 2 hens, within the overall 6-duck limit. Pintails, Wood Ducks — No more than 3 each, within the overall 6-duck limit. Redheads, Canvasback — No more than 2 each, within the overall 6-duck limit. Scaup — 2/day on Nov. 14, 21-28, Dec. 12-22, and Feb. 6 & 13; 1/day Dec. 23-Jan. 31 — within the overall 6-duck limit. Fulvous Whistling Duck — No more than 1, within the overall 6-duck limit. Black Duck / Mottled Duck — East/south of I-95: 1 black or 1 mottled duck total. West/north of I-95: 2 black ducks, or 1 black duck plus 1 mottled duck — within the overall 6-duck limit. Sea Ducks (eiders, scoters, long-tailed ducks) — 4 total, no more than 3 of any one species (eiders capped at 1 hen) — within the overall 6-duck limit. American Coots — Daily — 15, separate from the duck limit. Mergansers — Daily — 5, no more than 1 Hooded Merganser, separate from the duck limit. Possession (all species above) — 3× the daily bag limit for each species/group. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting ducks in South Carolina?
On opening day (September 19, 2026) legal light runs 06:40 to 19:24. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks, coots, and mergansers (per SCDNR) — Early Teal season is the exception, running sunrise to sunset with no half-hour head start. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local South Carolina sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt ducks on my own land in South Carolina without a license?
No — South Carolina requires anyone 16 or older to carry a valid license regardless of land ownership; the full licensing chapter lists no landowner exemption, despite a claim that circulates on several third-party sites.
Verified · South Carolina Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. South Carolina runs one statewide duck season with no zone split, unlike most states in this project. Ducks (including sea ducks) and American Coots share the same season dates, though coot and mergansers each carry their own separate bag limit rather than counting against the 6-duck daily limit. Early Teal is its own distinct season in September with different shooting hours (sunrise to sunset, not the usual half-hour-before). The black duck/mottled duck limit splits geographically along I-95 — areas east/south of I-95 allow only 1 black-or-mottled duck total, areas west/north allow 2 black ducks or 1 of each. Goose, marsh hen/rail, snipe, woodcock, and brant seasons run in the same regulation but are out of scope for this file. Re-verified 2026-08-16 directly against the official 2026-27 Hunting & Fishing Guide PDF (dnr.sc.gov's own regs page links here) — all dates and bag limits confirmed exact. One precision fix: Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 each carry a Federal Youth Day AND a separately defined Veteran & Active Duty Military Day (different eligibility, same date) — now recorded as two rows per date instead of one merged row, matching the source's own two distinct legal categories.