Section effective May 11, 2028. See, also, section 50-11-580 effective until May 11, 2028.

1. (A) The season for hunting and taking a male wild turkey is:

   1. (1) in Game Zones 1 and 2, April 1 through May 10; and
   2. (2) in Game Zones 3 and 4, March 22 through April 30.

2. (B) The season bag limit for male wild turkeys is three statewide for residents and two statewide for nonresidents. The daily bag limit is one, provided that:

   1. (1) only one male wild turkey may be taken from April 1 through April 10 from within Game Zones 1 and 2; and
   2. (2) only one male wild turkey may be taken from March 22 through March 31 from within Game Zones 3 and 4.
3. (C) It is unlawful for a person to take a female wild turkey unless authorized by the department pursuant to Section 50-11-500(3).
4. (D) The department shall provide an annual report on wild turkey resources in South Carolina to the Chairman of the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee and the Chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

HISTORY: 2015 Act No. 41 (H.3118), Section 2, eff June 30, 2015; 2019 Act No. 51 (S.575), Section 2, eff July 1, 2019; 2024 Act No. 193 (S.1051), Sections 1 to 3; 2024 Act No. 224 (H.4820), Section 1, eff July 2, 2024; 2024 Act No. 224 (H.4820), Section 6, eff May 11, 2028.

Code Commissioner's Note

2024 Act Nos. 193 and 224 both purported to amend Section 50-11-580. The amendments from Act No. 224, as the last passed act, control and are reflected in the section.

Editor's Note

2015 Act No. 41, Section 7, as amended by 2018 Act No. 227, Section 1, and repealed by 2019 Act No. 51, Section 9, provided as follows:

"SECTION 7. This act takes effect on June 30, 2015. Provided, upon the effective date of this act until July 1, 2019, the provisions of Section 50-11-520 are suspended. On July 1, 2019, the turkey hunting seasons and bag limits in effect for the respective counties prior to the effective date of this act and delineated in Section 50-11-520 are effective, and Section 50-11-580 is repealed."

2019 Act No. 51, Section 9, provides as follows:

"SECTION 9. SECTION 7 of Act 41 of 2015 is repealed."

2024 Act No. 224, Section 6, provides as follows:

"SECTION 6. The amendments contained in SECTIONS 1 and 4 of this act are repealed on May 11, 2028, and the text of these SECTIONS shall revert back to the language contained in the South Carolina Code of Laws as of January 1, 2024."

Effect of Amendment

2019 Act No. 51, Section 2, rewrote the section, revising the season for hunting and taking a male wild turkey, revising the bag limits, deleting the provision establishing Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend, and providing for the taking of female wild turkey.

2024 Act No. 224, Section 1, rewrote the section.