2017 S.C. Doe Deer Season Opens and Early Teal Too

A brace of Blue-winged teal offer a passing shot

The weather has begun to cool ever so slightly overnight these days, and even the first flush of fall can be seen on the tree leaves. The tropical rains have left swamps and bottomlands full to the brim with water, so its possible the wet weather of winter is getting an early start as well. The early season hunting opportunities have just increased by two on September 15 with the start of doe deer season and early teal season, so no matter the weather it’s the right time to get into the field.

            

The biggest news by far for the 2017 deer hunting season was the regulations change stipulating that all antlered bucks must now be tagged using Buck Tags, and that a first time ever buck limit is in place in South Carolina. The fact that all doe der must be tagged is not new, since state game managers have been using doe tag fees for years as a source of revenue to study whitetails. Properties enrolled in the Antlerless Deer Quota Program receive their doe tags prior to Sept. 15, but individual hunters can purchase separate tags at any point throughout the season.

Doe deer browsing vegetation

Duck hunters will want to jot down the early teal season dates that run from September 15 – 30. Any teal encountered will almost certainly be the blue-winged variety, but green-winged teal are also legal to shoot now. Remember that the start of legal hunting time for early season teal is delayed until exact sunrise until sunset, and then the daily bag limit is 6 per hunter, with the daily possession limit set at 18. The past few years have been very hit and miss with early season teal, so those who harvest an early season teal should be thankful.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries on deer management click on Coyotes - Game Zone Three - Charles Ruth -  Food Plots - Estimating Buck Age - QDMA Founder

To view past blog entries from Gamekeepers Magazine click Summer 2016 - Spring 2016 - Winter 2016 - Fall 2015 - Summer 2015 - Spring 2015 - Winter 2015 - Fall 2014 - Summer 2014 - Spring 2014 - Winter 2013