By HEATHER WALTERS
Turkey season opened statewide on April 1st, allowing all turkey hunters to be on private lands in Game Zones 1 and 2 and on Wildlife Management Areas.
According to state regulations, one gobbler can be harvested per hunter in Game Zones 1 and 2 during the first 10 days of the season. Game Zones 3 and 4 allow for one bird per day for the remainder of the season.
With turkey season opening statewide, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is reminding all hunters to use their new electronic system to notify state leaders of when a turkey is harvested.
All harvests must be reported within 24 hours of taking the bird, according to SCDNR Spokesman David Lucas.
“Hunters will still be issued paper tags to mark their birds for transport from the point of kill to home (in case they are checked by a game warden) and turkey hunters must still have those paper tags in their possession while hunting,” said Lucas.
As of March 30th, S.C. DNR officials are reporting that more than 2,000 turkeys have been reported killed on private lands in Game Zones 3 and 4. The majority of these reports were reported to state leaders by using DNR’s new mobile app.
In addition to using the mobile app, hunters can use S.C. DNR’s Web site at www.dnr.sc.gov/scgamecheck or by calling the SC Game Check phone line at 1-833-4SC-GAME.
Turkey Harvest Limits
South Carolina Residents:
Three gobblers per season, no more than one per day, no more than one from April 1-10 on private land and WMAs in Game Zones 1 & 2.
No more than one from March 22-31 on private land in Game Zone 3 & 4.
Non-State Residents:
Two gobblers per season, no more than one per day, no more than one from April 1-10 on private land and WMAs in Game Zones 1 & 2.
