New Special pre-season Youth Days established in 2018 by the South Carolina General Assembly will provide youth hunters 17 years old and younger the opportunity to harvest a white-tailed deer the Saturday before the start of the regular season in each game zone in South Carolina.
This special opportunity is for youth 17 years old and younger, and youth hunters who have not completed the hunter education program must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age.
The new law also changed the requirement for youth hunters who have successfully completed the hunter education program; these youth are no longer required to be accompanied by an adult on scheduled youth hunting days.
Adults may guide and supervise the youth, however, only the youth may take or attempt to take a deer.
Additionally, requirements for hunting licenses and tags are waived for youth on these dates.
For Game Zones 3 and 4: August 11; Game Zone 2: Sept. 9; Game Zone 1: Sept. 29
On these dates, the bag limit for youth hunters will be one (1) antlered deer, and no antlerless deer may be harvested. The complete list or youth hunting rules is available online.
There are no weapons restrictions for youth deer hunters on these days; they can legally hunt with centerfire firearms, primitive weapons or archery equipment. As in the past, there will also be a Youth Deer Hunt Day on the Saturday following the close of deer season on private land and on many Wildlife Management Areas.
Hunters are advised to plan ahead and be prepared for a successful hunt by checking with local deer processors to see if they will be open and taking deer on this pre-season hunt day.