South Carolina
298,600
Duck Statewide Harvest
24,500
Goose Statewide Harvest
31,400
No. Waterfowl Licenses Sold Annually
9.6
Ducks Per Hunter
4.0
Geese Per Hunter
$12
Cost of Resident Waterfowl Hunting License
$15.50
Cost of Resident State Stamps and Permits
$25
Federal Duck Stamp
$125; 10-day $75; three-day $40
Cost of Non-Resident Waterfowl Hunting License
$15.50
Cost of Non-Resident State Stamps and Permits
$25
Federal Duck Stamp
Photo by Jeff Gudenkauf
Not to be outdone by its cousin to the north, South Carolina puts up good waterfowl harvest numbers and offers some quality public gunning.
As you might expect, wood ducks dominate the harvest, as inland swamps, creeks and flooded timber provide perfect habitat and great opportunity for the birds. However, South Carolina hunters also shoot good numbers of mallards, gadwalls, ringnecks and green-winged teal. Goose hunters also hold their own.
The coastal region of eastern South Carolina might provide the most diverse duck hunting opportunities. Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area offers waterfowl hunting through a special permit obtained through an annual draw. The 24,000-acre property is divided into three units, all of which are managed for brackish marsh vegetation, including wigeon grass, saltmarsh bulrush and dwarf spike rush.
The state also allows limited public hunting on almost 40 other waterfowl areas, which are classified as Category 1, which can only be hunted via a permit obtained through a yearly drawing, or Category 2, where hunting is only permitted during certain days and times during the season.
Oh, one more tip: Watch for alligators.
