Beaufort SC
Hunting
News
Live conditions, season status, solunar ratings, WMA profiles, and community hunting coverage for Beaufort and Game Zone 3.
Beaufort Hunting Season Status
Beaufort Hunting Weather Now
- Deer season is open — focus today's hunt on deer. Also open: Hog.
- Warm day. Deer activity will shift toward dusk. Focus on evening hunts near water and food sources.
- Calm winds are ideal for scent control. Play the wind carefully — enter and exit your stand downwind.
- Dark moon nights push deer to move in legal shooting hours at dawn and dusk. Be at your stand early.
Beaufort Hunt Conditions Today
Beaufort Hunt Forecast — 5 Days
Beaufort South Carolina Wildlife Management Areas
SCDNR-owned property in Hampton County, part of the Webb / Palachucola / Hamilton Ridge group of Lowcountry WMAs. Deer still hunts are by SCDNR lottery only; hog hunts with dogs run Mar. 1–6; dove hunting is on designated fields on certain days; quail on scheduled dates.
Data/use cards required for every visitor and returned daily. Sunday hunting allowed Oct. 15–Jan. 31 for in-season species (no Sunday waterfowl). SCDNR Webb Center: 1282 Webb Ave., Garnett, (803) 625-3569. WMA permit required in addition to an SC hunting license (Big Game Permit for deer). No Sunday hunting on WMA lands unless SCDNR lists it for the property.
SCDNR Quality Deer Management Area in Hampton and Jasper counties: antlered deer must have at least 4 points on one side or a 12-inch inside spread. Deer archery Sept. 15–Oct. 10; still-gun deer by lottery; hog hunts with dogs Mar. 1–6.
Data/use cards required and returned daily; all deer checked at the check station. Camping allowed one night before and during deer, hog and turkey hunts. (803) 625-3569. WMA permit required in addition to an SC hunting license (Big Game Permit for deer). No Sunday hunting on WMA lands unless SCDNR lists it for the property.
The largest of the Hampton County SCDNR WMAs. Quality Deer Management Area (4 points on one side or 12-inch spread). Deer archery Sept. 15–Oct. 10; still-gun deer by lottery; hog still-gun hunts July 20–Aug. 15 and hog hunts with dogs Mar. 1–6.
Data/use cards required and returned daily. No ATVs. Designated campground open one day before and during deer, hog and turkey hunts. (803) 625-3569. WMA permit required in addition to an SC hunting license (Big Game Permit for deer). No Sunday hunting on WMA lands unless SCDNR lists it for the property.
SCDNR heritage preserve in Jasper County open to deer archery Sept. 15–Jan. 1 and small game (including raccoon and opossum) Nov. 26–Mar. 1. No fox squirrel hunting. All reptiles and amphibians are protected.
Archery-only deer hunting. (803) 625-3569. WMA permit required in addition to an SC hunting license (Big Game Permit for deer). No Sunday hunting on WMA lands unless SCDNR lists it for the property.
SCDNR property in the ACE Basin, Colleton County. Deer archery Oct. 1–10; rifle still-gun deer hunts by lottery; hog hunts with dogs Mar. 4–6; small game (including raccoon and opossum) Feb. 8–Mar. 1.
All hunters sign in and out at the Bear Island check station; hunting in designated areas only. Campground closes Nov. 2 and is for Bear Island deer hunters only. (843) 844-8957. WMA permit required in addition to an SC hunting license (Big Game Permit for deer). No Sunday hunting on WMA lands unless SCDNR lists it for the property.
SCDNR property near Green Pond in the ACE Basin. Deer archery Sept. 15–30; still-gun deer by lottery; hog still-gun hunts Mar. 2–18 and hog hunts with dogs Mar. 19–26; dove on designated fields; other small game Nov. 26–Mar. 1.
Hunters sign in and out at the check station; designated areas only; all hogs checked at the check station. Gates open 4:00 AM for deer hunts. (843) 844-8957. WMA permit required in addition to an SC hunting license (Big Game Permit for deer). No Sunday hunting on WMA lands unless SCDNR lists it for the property.
Know a Beaufort-area hunting land, WMA, or public access parcel that should be on this list? Let us know.
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Hunting Gear Guide
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Beaufort Hunting FAQ
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Beaufort (Beaufort County) is in SCDNR Game Zone 3. 2026-27 private-land deer season: archery and gun Aug. 15 – Jan. 1, buck only Aug. 15 – Sept. 14. Youth deer days: Aug. 8 (antlered, limit 1) and Jan. 2 (either-sex, limit 2). WMA dates differ by property — see the WMA cards above and the SCDNR regulations.
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Public hunting near Beaufort is listed in the WMA directory above. SCDNR manages all WMAs in South Carolina; a WMA license is required in addition to a basic hunting license.
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Yes. All hunters in South Carolina need a state hunting license. Deer and turkey require an additional big game permit. Hunting on any Wildlife Management Area (WMA) requires a WMA license. Federal migratory bird hunters age 16 and older need a federal duck stamp for waterfowl. Licenses and permits are available through SCDNR at dnr.sc.gov or at authorized license agents throughout Beaufort.
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Yes on private land: Sunday hunting is allowed on private lands statewide. On WMA lands Sunday hunting is not allowed (Reg. 123-51) except where SCDNR lists Sunday dates for a specific property — for example some WMAs allow Sunday hunting Oct. 15 – Jan. 31 for species in season.
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Antlered deer: residents 2 per day and 5 total; nonresidents 2 per day and 4 total (all seasons and methods combined, private and WMA lands). Antlerless on Game Zone 3 private lands: 2 per day, 9 total, using individual antlerless deer tags (valid from Sept. 15). Statewide WMA limit: 2 deer per day, 5 total, no more than 2 antlered. Report every harvest through SC Game Check.
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SCDNR lists no open bear season in Game Zone 3, which includes Beaufort County. South Carolina bear seasons are limited to Game Zone 1, part of Game Zone 2, and five Game Zone 4 counties (Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Williamsburg). Report bear sightings or conflicts to SCDNR.
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