Ridgeline Raven
South Carolina

All states › South Carolina

South Carolina County Finder

Answer six questions and get South Carolina counties ranked by habitat fit, 2026–27 season dates, public land and SCDNR harvest estimates.

How the South Carolina finder works

SCDNR estimates deer and turkey harvest for every county from its harvest surveys. This tool scores all 46 counties using deer harvest from 2021–2024 (antlered and antlerless, with 2024 hunters and days afield), spring turkey harvest from 2022–2025, USGS land-cover and elevation data, and the share of public land such as WMAs and the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests.

Season fit uses the 2026–27 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide by game zone: archery, primitive weapons and gun deer (opening Aug. 15 in Game Zones 3 and 4), spring turkey, and the mountain, upstate and coastal bear hunts.

Species covered

  • White-tailed deer
  • Black bear
  • Wild turkey

Upland birds (ranked by county)

  • Forest grouse
  • Quail

Waterfowl and migratory birds (ranked by county)

  • Ducks
  • Canada and dark geese
  • Snow and Ross's geese
  • Mourning dove
  • American woodcock

About every species on the species page →

Data sources

  • SCDNR deer harvest reports 2021–2024 (harvest, hunters and days by county)
  • SCDNR turkey harvest reports 2022–2025 (spring harvest by county)
  • https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/26SCAB_LR2.pdf
  • USGS PAD-US 3.0 (Fee); NPS parks and monuments excluded
  • USGS NLCD 2021 Land Cover (250 m resample)
  • USGS 3DEP elevation service

South Carolina hunting FAQ

When does deer season open in South Carolina?

Aug. 15, 2026 in Game Zones 3 and 4 (the coastal plain; bucks only until Sept. 14), Sept. 15 for archery in Game Zone 2, and Oct. 1 in the mountains of Game Zone 1. Gun hunting runs to Jan. 1 statewide.

Which South Carolina counties have the most deer?

Orangeburg, Hampton, Williamsburg, Anderson and Colleton counties lead SCDNR's 2021–2024 estimates. Pick white-tailed deer to rank every county.

Where can I hunt bears in South Carolina?

In the mountains of Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties (still and dog hunts in October), Anderson and Spartanburg counties, and five Pee Dee counties (Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Williamsburg), each with a quota.

South Carolina harvest leaders

The counties with the highest average reported harvest for each species. High totals often reflect large areas and many hunters; the tool above also weighs harvest per square mile, hunter success, habitat and access.

White-tailed deer (2021–2024 average)

  1. Orangeburg County: 10,385 per year, 131% success
  2. Hampton County: 7,108 per year, 113% success
  3. Williamsburg County: 6,579 per year, 147% success
  4. Anderson County: 6,487 per year, 116% success
  5. Colleton County: 6,302 per year, 98% success

Wild turkey (2022–2025 average)

  1. Williamsburg County: 721 per year
  2. Berkeley County: 561 per year
  3. Orangeburg County: 521 per year
  4. Colleton County: 504 per year
  5. Fairfield County: 406 per year

Ducks (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Georgetown County: 23,323 per year
  2. Clarendon County: 19,894 per year
  3. Berkeley County: 18,066 per year
  4. Colleton County: 16,192 per year
  5. Charleston County: 8,629 per year

Canada and dark geese (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Spartanburg County: 2,499 per year
  2. Greenville County: 2,317 per year
  3. Anderson County: 2,249 per year
  4. Abbeville County: 2,230 per year
  5. Cherokee County: 1,312 per year