South Carolina deer hunters begin the 2026-27 season under a new base tag set. A state law that took effect July 1 sets every deer hunter’s base allotment at six tags: three unrestricted antlered and three individual antlerless. The prior base set was four antlered and two antlerless. Every licensed deer hunter in the state receives the same six-tag package, with no change in cost tied to the base allotment.
The three individual antlerless tags carry a timing rule that hunters need to plan around. They cannot be used before September 15 in Game Zones 2, 3 and 4, and cannot be used before October 1 in Game Zone 1. That timing rule applies to private land use of the individual antlerless tags. On Wildlife Management Areas the antlerless cap remains five per hunter across Game Zones 2, 3 and 4 combined for the season, so hunters who intend to use their base antlerless tags on public land need to account for both limits.
Hunters who need more tags can still buy additional antlerless tags. Residents pay five dollars per additional tag and can purchase up to four more, bringing a resident’s total antlerless capacity to seven. Bonus antlered tags are available through the state’s incentive program on properties enrolled in the Antlerless Deer Quota Program, subject to program-specific rules.
The change does not alter season dates. Zone 3 archery-only for deer on private land runs from August 15 through September 14, with the general Zone 3 season opening September 15 and running through January 1. Youth deer hunt days remain August 8 for zones outside Zone 1 and January 2 statewide. Daily bag stays at two deer per day, with a season total of nine deer combining antlered and antlerless tags. Individual tag rules apply to hunter kills only, and every harvested deer must be checked into the state’s Game Check system within 24 hours through the Go Outdoors SC app or the online portal.
