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South Carolina Legal Hunting Hours (2026)

Info: In South Carolina, legal hours for deer are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; raccoon, opossum and other species may be hunted at night.

InfoVerified Jun 18, 2026

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Official source: dnr.sc.gov →

South Carolina legal hunting hours by date

The rule above (deer): 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, worked out from each place’s own sunrise and sunset. Start times are rounded up and end times down to the minute.

Legal hunting hours for Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia	Start (EDT)	End (EDT)
Sat, Oct 17	7:01 AM	7:17 PM
Sun, Oct 18	7:02 AM	7:16 PM
Mon, Oct 19	7:03 AM	7:15 PM
Tue, Oct 20	7:04 AM	7:13 PM
Wed, Oct 21	7:05 AM	7:12 PM
Thu, Oct 22	7:05 AM	7:11 PM
Fri, Oct 23	7:06 AM	7:10 PM
Sat, Oct 24	7:07 AM	7:09 PM
Sun, Oct 25	7:08 AM	7:08 PM
Mon, Oct 26	7:09 AM	7:07 PM
Tue, Oct 27	7:10 AM	7:06 PM
Wed, Oct 28	7:11 AM	7:05 PM
Thu, Oct 29	7:12 AM	7:04 PM
Fri, Oct 30	7:12 AM	7:03 PM

Sunrise moves about 4 minutes for every 50 miles east or west, so times where you hunt can differ from Columbia. Seasons, species, special areas and Sundays can have their own hours — check the official source before you hunt. Sunday hunting in South Carolina

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Legal Hunting Hours in states bordering South Carolina

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

GeorgiaInfo
In Georgia, legal hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset; alligator, raccoon, opossum, fox, coyote, bobcat and feral hog may be hunted at night.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: georgiawildlife.com · Full Georgia rule →
North CarolinaInfo
In North Carolina, legal hunting hours for game are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; raccoon, opossum and other species may be hunted at night.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: ncwildlife.gov · Full North Carolina rule →

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