South Carolina

Home to numerous waterways and a 187-mile Atlantic coastline, the Palmetto State provides hunters and anglers with a wide array of sporting opportunities in a diversity of landscapes. South Carolina features a lowland coastal plain in the southeast which rises to the Piedmont Plateau in the northwest. Major rivers in South Carolina include the Pee Dee, Savannah, Ashley, Combahee, and Edisto. Species iconic to South Carolina include white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, and American alligator. South Carolina’s hunting and fishing traditions date back hundreds of years, with Native Americans and early settlers relying on the state’s vast natural resources. Fast forward to today and the Palmetto State continues to attract sportsmen and women from across the world.

For more information on the elected officials protecting and promoting the sportsmen’s traditions in South Carolina, please contact: Conner Barker

Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus

Representative Jeff Duncan Representative Russell Fry Senator Lindsey Graham Representative Nancy Mace Representative Ralph Norman Senator Tim Scott Representative William Timmons Representative Joe Wilson

South Carolina Governors Sportsmen's Caucus Member

Governor Henry McMaster

South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Leadership

Representative Heather Bauer Representative Gary Brewer Senator Stephen Goldfinch Senator Russell Ott

South Carolina Policy Highlights

In 2023, thanks to the leadership of Caucus Co-Chair and NASC Executive Council Member Representative Bobby Cox and other Caucus Members, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources opened limited Sunday hunting opportunities on National Forests and select Wildlife Management Areas for the first time in the state's history.

The Caucus was instrumental in the passage of HB 3800 in 2020 which expanded the apprentice hunting license program to support efforts to recruit new hunters.

To address the decline in the turkey population, Caucus members led the charge to update turkey hunting regulations through the passage of SB 575 in 2019.

Paid Hunting License Holders

Paid Angling License Holders

.3 M

Generated for Wildlife Conservation

Fanning or Reaping as a Method of Taking Turkeys

Often cited for its potential safety risks, fanning or reaping of turkeys statistically has not proven to be an unsafe act as some anecdotally claim.… Read more.

Federal Land Hunting & Angling Access

Many sportsmen and women depend on federal lands managed by agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and… Read more.

Sunday Hunting Restrictions

Sunday hunting bans are one of the last remaining examples of the puritanical blue laws that were initially designed to encourage church attendance. At the… Read more.

30×30: Recognizing Sportsmen’s Contributions to Conservation

Concerned about the uncertainty that 30×30 policies may pose for hunting and fishing access, the sportsmen’s community issued the Hunting and Fishing Community Statement on… Read more.

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November 17, 2025

From New Opportunities to Decades Old Traditions, Bear Hunting Remains a Staple Among Hunters in the Southeast

Why It Matters: Black bears present hunters with the opportunity to get afield in pursuit of one of the most storied big game animals in the country, both past and present. Simultaneously, black bear hunters generate valuable conservation funding dollars through the “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding…

October 23, 2025

What are Compensatory Hunting Days Anyway?

Why It Matters: Access to America’s public lands and waters are key to passing along our time-honored traditions to the next generation. After all, it is the hunters and anglers of tomorrow that will shoulder the responsibility of funding conservation through the “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding…

October 20, 2025

SC Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Successful Annual Southern Sporting Classic

Why It Matters: The South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) works diligently throughout the year to engage Caucus members with the sporting-conservation community. The bipartisan Caucus works under the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) umbrella that serves to protect and advance our hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting sports in South Carolina. Whether it’s policy…

August 4, 2025

South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Weighs in on Local Surf Fishing Ordinance

Why It Matters: While it is a relatively small state compared to others, South Carolina offers some fantastic fishing experiences which brings in anglers from around the country to enjoy its pristine coastal fisheries. The Palmetto State offers nearly 200 miles of shoreline, loaded with fishing opportunities. Anglers rely on these beaches for various surf…

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South Carolina: American System of Conservation Funding Fact Sheet

2013 Sportsmen’s Economic Impact Report – South Carolina

2006 Economic Impact Report — South Carolina

View All South Carolina Reports

Impact You Can See

Investments in conservation education for youth were secured in SC.

Legislatures in AL, AR, DE, GA, IL, KY, LA, MS, NH, NV, NY, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VT, and WV celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Sportfish Restoration Program and formally recognized the crucial role that sportsmen and women play in funding conservation efforts through the “user pays, public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding.