South Carolina · License · 2026 Edition
South Carolina Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits
A year costs $12 for residents and $125 for nonresidents. The cheapest short-term option for nonresidents is the State Hunting License, 3-Day (Nonresident) at $40.
South Carolina's base hunting license alone doesn't cover deer, turkey, or bear — a separate Big Game Permit is required on top of it for all three, and is listed under both Deer and Turkey permits below since it applies to both. Deer hunting then works on a tag system layered on top of the Big Game Permit: residents get 5 free seasonal tags (2 antlerless, 3 unrestricted antlered) with optional extra tags at $5 each; nonresidents get no free tags and instead buy antlered tags individually ($50 for the first, $20 for each additional, max 2) plus up to 4 antlerless tags at $10 each. Turkey tags are a set of 3 for $25 (residents) or purchased individually up to 2 for $125 total (nonresidents) — youth hunters and Lifetime/Senior/Gratis/Disability licensees get turkey tags free on request. The Federal Duck Stamp is one of the few in this project with a real published breakdown rather than an estimate: SCDNR itemizes it as $25 stamp fee + $4 USFW fulfillment fee + $1 vendor fee = $30 flat, resident or nonresident. Left out: the full Lifetime License schedule (age-banded from under-2 through 63, $300-$500 plus fishing/waterfowl add-ons), the Gratis License (free for residents 64+, but frozen to a fixed birth date of on-or-before July 1, 1940 rather than a rolling age — a shrinking eligibility pool by design) and the $9 Senior Combination/Fishing licenses available to any resident 64+, the Disability licenses (free, certification-gated), and the Bear Tag ($25 resident / $100 nonresident, Mountains/Game Zone 1 only) since this site doesn't cover bear as its own species silo.
01 — Base hunting license
| Type | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State Hunting License, 3-Year (Resident) | $36 | |
| State Hunting License, Annual (Resident) | $12 | |
| Apprentice License, Small Game Only (Resident) | $12 | One-time exemption from the hunter education requirement for applicants born after June 30, 1979. |
| Combination License, 3-Year — Hunting + Big Game + Freshwater Fishing (Resident) | $75 | |
| Combination License, Annual — Hunting + Big Game + Freshwater Fishing (Resident) | $25 | |
| Junior Sportsman License, ages 16-17 (Resident) | $16 | Hunting + Big Game + WMA + Freshwater Fishing. Stays valid past age 18 until it expires. |
| Sportsman License, 3-Year — Hunting + Big Game + WMA + Freshwater Fishing (Resident) | $150 | |
| Sportsman License, Annual — Hunting + Big Game + WMA + Freshwater Fishing (Resident) | $50 | |
| State Hunting License, Annual (Nonresident) | $125 | |
| State Hunting License, 10-Day (Nonresident) | $75 | |
| State Hunting License, 3-Day (Nonresident) | $40 | |
| Apprentice License, Small Game Only, 3-Day (Nonresident) | $50 | Skips the hunter education requirement for applicants born after June 30, 1979. |
02 — Deer permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Big Game Permit, 3-Year (Resident) | $18 | Required on top of the hunting license to hunt bear, deer, or turkey. |
| Big Game Permit, Annual (Resident) | $6 | Required on top of the hunting license to hunt bear, deer, or turkey. |
| Big Game Permit, Annual (Nonresident) | $100 | Required on top of the hunting license to hunt bear, deer, or turkey. |
| Seasonal Deer Tags (Resident) | Free | 5 free tags with the Big Game Permit: 2 antlerless, 3 unrestricted antlered. |
| Individual Antlerless Deer Tag, optional (Resident) | $5 | |
| Restricted Antlered (Buck) Deer Tag, optional (Resident) | $5 | Max 2 tags. Requires at least 4 points on one side or a 12" inside spread. |
| Individual Antlerless Deer Tag, optional (Nonresident) | $10 | Max 4 tags per hunter. |
| Unrestricted Antlered (Buck) Deer Tag, first tag (Nonresident) | $50 | No free tags for nonresidents — this is the first buck tag, required before any additional tag can be bought. |
| Unrestricted Antlered (Buck) Deer Tag, additional (Nonresident) | $20 | |
| Restricted Antlered (Buck) Deer Tag, optional (Nonresident) | $20 | Max 2 tags. Requires the $50 unrestricted tag first, plus 4 points on one side or a 12" inside spread. |
03 — Turkey permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Big Game Permit, 3-Year (Resident) | $18 | Same permit as the Deer section — one purchase unlocks bear, deer, and turkey. |
| Big Game Permit, Annual (Resident) | $6 | Same permit as the Deer section — one purchase unlocks bear, deer, and turkey. |
| Big Game Permit, Annual (Nonresident) | $100 | Same permit as the Deer section — one purchase unlocks bear, deer, and turkey. |
| Turkey Tags, set of 3 (Resident) | $25 | Youth hunters and Lifetime/Senior/Gratis/Disability licensees can request tags free of charge each year. |
| Turkey Tags, max 2 (Nonresident) | $125 | Sold per-tag, capped at 2 tags per hunter per season. |
04 — Waterfowl & migratory bird permits
| Stamp | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Migratory Waterfowl Permit / State Duck Stamp (Resident) | $15.50 | Requires the free Migratory Bird Permit (HIP) and a Federal Duck Stamp on top. |
| Migratory Waterfowl Permit / State Duck Stamp (Nonresident) | $15.50 | Requires the free Migratory Bird Permit (HIP) and a Federal Duck Stamp on top. |
| Federal Duck Stamp | $30 | SCDNR's own fee breakdown: $25 stamp fee + $4 USFWS fulfillment fee + $1 vendor fee. |
Waterfowl hunters 16 and older also need HIP registration and a Federal Duck Stamp. South Carolina duck season dates →
05 — Other permits
| Permit | Total |
|---|---|
| Wildlife Management Area Permit, 3-Year (Resident) | $91.50 |
| Wildlife Management Area Permit, Annual (Resident) | $30.50 |
| Wildlife Management Area Permit, Annual (Nonresident) | $76 |
| Shooting Preserve Permit | $8.50 |
06 — Hunter education
South Carolina requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Anyone born after June 30, 1979 must complete a Hunter Education Course before SCDNR will issue a hunting license. A one-time Apprentice License (small game only) is available instead — $12 resident / $50 nonresident (3-day) — for applicants who skip the course.
South Carolina hunter safety course — options, costs and where to register →
07 — Where to buy
Licenses and permits are sold through SCDNR License Purchase, the state's official portal.
Where to hunt public land in South Carolina — WMAs by county & access rules →
Annual licenses, permits, and tags expire June 30 of the following year (per SCDNR's own pricing pages) — not a fixed purchase-date year.
FAQ
Can I hunt 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.
How much is a hunting license in South Carolina?
A resident annual South Carolina hunting license costs $12, and the nonresident annual license costs $125. Species permits for deer, turkey and waterfowl are charged on top — see the tables above. Prices are set by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and were read from their own license document on Aug 13, 2026.
How much is a nonresident hunting license in South Carolina?
$125 for the annual nonresident license. The cheapest short-term option is the State Hunting License, 3-Day (Nonresident) at $40. Species permits come on top of the base license.
How much is a deer permit in South Carolina?
Big Game Permit, 3-Year (Resident) — $18. Big Game Permit, Annual (Resident) — $6. Big Game Permit, Annual (Nonresident) — $100. Seasonal Deer Tags (Resident) — Free. Individual Antlerless Deer Tag, optional (Resident) — $5. Restricted Antlered (Buck) Deer Tag, optional (Resident) — $5. Individual Antlerless Deer Tag, optional (Nonresident) — $10. Unrestricted Antlered (Buck) Deer Tag, first tag (Nonresident) — $50. Unrestricted Antlered (Buck) Deer Tag, additional (Nonresident) — $20. Restricted Antlered (Buck) Deer Tag, optional (Nonresident) — $20. A deer permit is charged on top of the base hunting license.
What do I need to get a hunting license in South Carolina?
South Carolina requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Licenses are sold through SCDNR License Purchase, the state's official portal. Annual licenses, permits, and tags expire June 30 of the following year (per SCDNR's own pricing pages) — not a fixed purchase-date year.
Do I need a hunter safety course to buy a South Carolina hunting license?
Yes, for most first-time buyers. Anyone born after June 30, 1979 must complete a Hunter Education Course before SCDNR will issue a hunting license. A one-time Apprentice License (small game only) is available instead — $12 resident / $50 nonresident (3-day) — for applicants who skip the course.
Verified · South Carolina Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-13
Publisher's note. Prices read from the SCDNR license offerings document, retrieved 2026-08-13. Review due 2027-06-01. Fees are set by the state and change without notice — confirm current prices before purchase.