Seasons and Limits

Lesson 10 of 36 · Module 3, lesson 2

Assumes the Hunting Primer. New here? Start there first.

Your objective

By the end, you'll be able to describe the two main SC raccoon season windows (private land and WMA), state the party bag limit for raccoon, and identify the opossum limit rule.

Reference ~7 min

Two hunters plan a coon hunt on a local WMA. One assumes the season is the same as his neighbor’s private-land hunt last weekend. It isn’t — the WMA closed a week ago. A simple season-structure check would have kept them legal. Here is that check.

Quick recall

From the last lesson — raccoon in SC carry two classifications. What are they?

Furbearer AND small game Furbearer AND game animal (like deer) Small game only

Show answer

Correct: Furbearer AND small game — Right. Both labels matter: 'small game' gives the night-hunting season structure; 'furbearer' adds the commercial fur-sale tier.
Not quite: Furbearer AND game animal (like deer) — Raccoon are not classified with deer-style game animals. They're furbearer AND small game — a different combination that gives them the dogs-and-night structure.
Not quite: Small game only — Small game is one of the two labels, but raccoon also carry 'furbearer,' which brings in the commercial pelt-sale and trapping rules.

Two season structures: private land and WMA

SC raccoon seasons run differently depending on whether you hunt private land or a Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Both structures revolve around two windows: a guns-and-dogs period and a dogs-only period. The dates are not the same.

Private land

The private-land guns-and-dogs window runs roughly from September 15 through March 15 (verify current SCDNR regulations before you hunt — these change yearly). During this window, raccoon may be taken at night with firearms and dogs under the night-hunting rules covered in the Night-Hunting Statute lesson.

Outside that window — roughly March 16 through September 14 — a dogs-only period operates on private land. Firearms are prohibited; dogs may be run for sport and training, but no raccoon may be harvested.

WMA

WMA seasons are shorter and have their own calendar, which can also vary by individual WMA. The typical structure is:

Dogs-only (night only): roughly September 1–15
Guns and dogs (night only): roughly September 16 – February 28

WMAs also impose their own access, permit, and quota rules that go beyond the statewide season. Some WMAs run special managed hunts with separate applications. Always check the specific WMA’s regulations before you load the truck.

Private land: dogs-only (Mar 16 – Sep 14) Private land: guns & dogs (Sep 15 – Mar 15) WMA: dogs-only (Sep 1–15) WMA: guns & dogs (Sep 16 – Feb 28)

Diagram (not a photo). Private-land season runs longer; WMA season is compressed into a tighter window. Both close before March. Always verify current dates with SCDNR.

Bag limits: party, not per-person

The bag limit for raccoon is 3 per party, per day — not per individual hunter. That distinction matters in a group hunt.

If three hunters are in the woods together and they tree and shoot three raccoons, the party limit is reached for that night — it does not reset to 3 per person. Keep a running count for the whole group.

Opossum has no daily bag limit under current SC regulations, which is consistent with its status as an extremely common small-game animal.

The why Why a party limit instead of an individual limit?

Party limits are common in dog-hunting contexts because the hound does the work for the entire group simultaneously — it would be impractical to credit an individual hunter with the dog’s strike and tree when everyone benefits. Party limits also encourage hunters in a group to self-regulate and call the hunt before over-harvest. The practical rule: count the total animals in your group’s possession against the party limit, and stop when the party is at three raccoon.

Youth day

SC also provides a raccoon youth hunting day on private land (roughly September 13 in recent years, check current regulations). This falls just before the regular private-land season opens and gives young hunters a dedicated opportunity. The same party bag limit applies.

Know the rules before you go

Knowledge check

Your hunting party (4 people) trees and shoots 2 raccoons on private land during the guns-and-dogs season. How many more raccoons can the party legally take that night?

One more raccoon — the party limit is 3 per party per day Ten more — each hunter gets 3, so 4 hunters × 3 = 12 total, minus the 2 taken Opossum has no limit, so the party can keep hunting as long as they only shoot opossum

Show answer

Correct: One more raccoon — the party limit is 3 per party per day — Correct. 3 party limit minus 2 already taken = 1 remaining for the whole group that night, regardless of how many hunters are in the party.
Not quite: Ten more — each hunter gets 3, so 4 hunters × 3 = 12 total, minus the 2 taken — SC raccoon bag limits are per PARTY, not per person. Four hunters share one 3-raccoon daily limit — it does not multiply by head count.
Not quite: Opossum has no limit, so the party can keep hunting as long as they only shoot opossum — Opossum has no bag limit — but raccoon still does. The party can take one more raccoon tonight. Switching species does not reset the raccoon count.

Knowledge check

You plan a hound-running trip for October 1 on a WMA. Which season window governs that date?

Guns and dogs (night only) — the WMA guns-and-dogs window is open Dogs only — firearms are not permitted yet on WMAs in early October Closed — no raccoon season is open on WMAs until November

Show answer

Correct: Guns and dogs (night only) — the WMA guns-and-dogs window is open — Right. October 1 falls inside the typical WMA guns-and-dogs window (roughly Sept 16 – Feb 28). Firearms and dogs are both permitted at night. Always verify the exact WMA's dates before going.
Not quite: Dogs only — firearms are not permitted yet on WMAs in early October — The dogs-only window on WMAs typically closes September 15. October 1 is inside the guns-and-dogs window on most WMAs.
Not quite: Closed — no raccoon season is open on WMAs until November — WMA raccoon seasons typically open earlier, not later, than a November start. October 1 is usually in the guns-and-dogs window.

Take it to the woods

Season-check routine before every hunt

0/4

Look up current-year raccoon season dates at dnr.sc.gov/hunting.html — note the exact opening and closing days for your land type. Do this each season; dates shift.
Know which season structure applies to your ground: private-land calendar or WMA calendar? WMAs have shorter windows. Some WMAs require permits.
Remind your hunting party before the hunt: the bag limit is 3 raccoon per PARTY — count together, stop together.
Safety If hunting a WMA, read that WMA's specific regulations page on the SCDNR website for any additional restrictions or quota hunts.

Sources

SCDNR Small Game Seasons (eRegulations, current year): https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/hunting/small-game-seasons (verify current SCDNR regulations before you hunt — these change yearly)
SCDNR WMA Regulations (eRegulations): https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/hunting/wma-regulations (verify current SCDNR regulations before you hunt — these change yearly)
SCDNR Hunting Home: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/hunting.html
Raccoon Hunting on SC Public Land overview: https://www.divebombindustries.com/blogs/news/raccoon-hunting-in-south-carolina-public-land-hunts

If you remember nothing else

Private land: a long guns-and-dogs window (roughly Sept 15 – March 15) plus a dogs-only period the rest of the year.
WMA: a shorter guns-and-dogs window (roughly Sept 16 – Feb 28) plus an early dogs-only window.
Bag limit is 3 raccoons per party per day — not per person.
Opossum has no daily bag limit under current SC regulations.
Always verify exact dates and limits at dnr.sc.gov before the season — these change yearly.

How ready do you feel?

How ready are you to tell someone the difference between the private-land and WMA raccoon seasons, and explain the party bag limit correctly?

Before you go — a quick look back

Distributed practice: one fast recall from an earlier lesson keeps it from fading.

Quick recall

From Furbearer or Game? — what is the key extra license a hunter needs before selling a raccoon pelt in SC?

Show me the answer

Show answer

Correct: Show me the answer — The Commercial Fur Harvest License. A basic hunting license covers the pursuit and take; the Commercial Fur Harvest License is the additional tier that allows pelts to change hands for money.

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