H 5072

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 5072
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
50-11-317 SO AS TO DEFINE "DOE" OR "DOES", AND TO ESTABLISH A DOE SEASON FROM
JANUARY 2 - JANUARY 31; BY ADDING SECTION 50-9-42 SO AS TO REQUIRE LICENSES FOR
HUNTING DOES DURING DOE SEASON; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 50-9-650, RELATING TO
DEER HUNTING, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ANTLERLESS DEER TAGS A PERSON MAY
PURCHASE, AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO PRODUCE
LITERATURE ENCOURAGING HUNTERS TO TAKE ANTLERLESS DEER.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 50 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section
50-11-317. (A) For the purposes of
this section, "doe" or "does" means a biologically female deer, not to include
antlerless male deer or bucks.
    (B)
The open season for does is January second through January thirty-first.
    (C) In
all game zones, the department may issue individual tags for does, which must
be used as prescribed by the department. These tags are valid statewide and
must be possessed and used only by the individual to whom the tags are issued.
    (D) It
is unlawful to take, possess, or transport does, except as permitted by this
section or otherwise provided by law. A person violating the provisions of this
section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less
than fifty dollars and not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not
more than thirty days.
SECTION 2.  Article 1, Chapter 9, Title 50 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section
50-9-42. (A) For the privilege of
hunting and taking does pursuant to Section 39-11-317, a person must obtain the
required hunting license, any other required permits, and a set of special doe
season tags from the department issued in the person's name.
    (B) Residents,
including people under the age of sixteen, lifetime, and gratis licensees, may
purchase up to three special doe season tags for five dollars per tag.
    (C) Nonresidents
may purchase up to two special doe season tags for fifteen dollars per tag.
    (D) The
department shall issue guidance to hunters who purchase special doe season tags
indicating the distinction between does and antlerless deer pursuant to Section
50-11-317 and aiding in the identification of male and female deer in the
field.
SECTION 3.  Section 50-9-650 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
    Section
50-9-650.  (A)(1) For the privilege
of hunting and taking deer on property with a Deer Quota Program permit, a
person must obtain the required hunting license, any other required permits,
and have access and authorization to utilize Deer Quota Program tags for the property
on which the person is hunting.
       (2)
A landowner or lessee may apply to the Deer Quota Program for a permit at a
cost of fifty dollars per land tract application. The applicant may request a
quota for antlerless deer, antlered deer, or both antlered and antlerless deer.
The department shall determine an appropriate number of Deer Quota Program tags
for antlered and antlerless deer to be issued under each permit, and there is
no cost for these tags.
    (B)(1) For the privilege of hunting and
taking deer on property without a Deer Quota Program permit, a person must
obtain the required hunting license, any other required permits, and a set of
individual deer tags from the department issued in the person's name.
       (2)(a) With the purchase of a South
Carolina hunting license and a big game permit, a resident shall be issued two eight individual
antlerless deer tags and three unrestricted individual antlered deer tags.
Persons under the age of sixteen, lifetime, and gratis licensees may receive
these tags upon request to the department. Residents, including persons under
the age of sixteen, lifetime, and gratis licensees also may purchase:
  (i) two antler restriction individual antlered
deer tags valid for deer with a minimum of four points on one antler or a
minimum twelve-inch inside antler spread for five dollars per tag.; and
  (ii) additional individual antlerless
deer tags for five dollars per tag.
  (b)
Fees for nonresident deer tags are as follows:
  (i)
fifty dollars for the first antlered deer tag and twenty dollars for each
additional antlered deer tag up to a maximum of four tags; two of which must be
an antler restriction individual antlered deer tag valid only for deer with a
minimum of four points on one antler or a minimum twelve-inch inside antler
spread; and
  (ii) ten dollars per individual
antlerless deer tag.
    (C) Upon issuing antlerless deer tags,
the department shall print and distribute a card, brochure, or other literature
as determined by the department encouraging hunters to take antlerless deer and
featuring the words "Save Our Herd. Take a Doe."
SECTION 4.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on January 29, 2026 at 12:16 PM