When does deer season open in Rock Hill SC?

Rock Hill (York County) is in SCDNR Game Zone 2. 2026-27 private-land deer season: archery only Sept. 15 – 30, primitive weapons Oct. 1 – 10, gun hunts Oct. 11 – Jan. 1. Youth deer days: Sept. 12 (antlered, limit 1) and Jan. 2 (either-sex, limit 2). Deer may not be hunted with dogs in Game Zone 2. WMA dates differ by property — see the SCDNR regulations.

Where can I hunt near Rock Hill SC?

Public hunting land near Rock Hill is listed in the WMA directory on this page. York County and nearby Piedmont WMAs managed by SCDNR are the primary public options near Rock Hill. SCDNR manages WMAs statewide; a WMA permit (separate from a basic hunting license) is required on most public tracts. Always verify tract rules, quota hunts, and Sunday restrictions at dnr.sc.gov.

What license do I need to hunt in York County?

To hunt deer in York County, you need a SC hunting license and a SC Big Game Permit. On SCDNR WMA lands you also need an annual SCDNR WMA Permit. Spring turkey requires a hunting license and Wild Turkey permit. Dove hunters need a SC hunting license, federal migratory bird stamp, and SC migratory bird permit. Youth hunters 17 and under may hunt on designated youth days without a license. Purchase at dnr.sc.gov/licenses.

Can I hunt on Sundays near Rock Hill?

Yes on private land: Sunday hunting is allowed on private lands statewide. On WMA lands Sunday hunting is not allowed (Reg. 123-51) except where SCDNR lists Sunday dates for a specific property — for example some WMAs allow Sunday hunting Oct. 15 – Jan. 31 for species in season.

What is the deer bag limit in Game Zone 2?

Antlered deer: residents 2 per day and 5 total; nonresidents 2 per day and 4 total (all seasons and methods combined, private and WMA lands). Antlerless on Game Zone 2 private lands: 2 per day, 9 total, using individual antlerless deer tags (valid from Sept. 15). Statewide WMA limit: 2 deer per day, 5 total, no more than 2 antlered. Report every harvest through SC Game Check.

Can I hunt black bear near Rock Hill, SC?

No. York County is in Game Zone 2 and has no open bear season. South Carolina's 2026-27 bear seasons are limited to Game Zone 1 (private lands: still hunt Oct. 11–23, dog hunts Oct. 17–30); Game Zone 2 private land in Anderson and Spartanburg counties and the parts of Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties south of Game Zone 1 (still hunts Oct. 17–30, 20-bear quota); and five Game Zone 4 counties — Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Williamsburg (still hunts Oct. 17–30, 40-bear quota). A bear tag is required wherever bear is hunted. Report bear sightings or conflicts to SCDNR.

HERE Rock Hill

Rock Hill SC
Hunting
News

Live conditions, season status, solunar ratings, WMA profiles, and community hunting coverage for York County and Game Zone 2.

Hog: Open Year-Round Turkey: Closed Dove: Closed Deer: Open Game Zone 2

1 WMAs Profiled

Live Hunt Conditions

Solunar Rating

2026 Season Guide

First Look • Hunt Conditions

🌑

New Moon

Illumination: 99%

Sunrise 7:25 am

Sunset 6:55 pm

Temp 72°F

Wind 5 mph

Weather as of 3:40 AM ET

Excellent — deer move before dawn and after dusk in total darkness.

GOOD

Good conditions. Plan your approach and be patient.

Game Zone 2 • York County

Rock Hill Hunting Season Status

Whitetail Deer

OPEN

Season DatesArchery only: Sept 15 – Sept 30. Primitive weapons: Oct 1 – Oct 10. Gun hunts: Oct 11 – Jan 1 (private lands, Game Zone 2). Youth: Sept 12 (antlered, limit 1) and Jan 2 (either-sex, limit 2).

Bag Limit:Antlered: statewide limits (residents 2/day, 5 total; nonresidents 2/day, 4 total). Antlerless: 2 per day, 9 total all seasons combined (Game Zone 2 private lands); individual antlerless tags valid from Sept 15. All harvests must be reported via SC Game Check by midnight day-of.

Game Zone 2 deer season is OPEN on private lands (see method windows). Report harvests to SC Game Check within the day.

SC hunting license + Big Game Permit required. WMA permit required on public lands (WMA dates differ). Mandatory harvest reporting via SC Game Check.

per SCDNR · verified 2026-10-07

Feral Hog

OPEN YEAR-ROUND

Season DatesNo closed season on private land. WMA hunts allowed during any open game season (specific WMA dates apply).

Bag Limit:No bag limit on private land. No season limit.

Feral hogs are unprotected in SC — open year-round on private land with a valid hunting license. SCDNR encourages year-round harvest to control population.

SC hunting license required. Night hunting allowed only on properties registered annually with SCDNR (dnr.sc.gov/nighthunt). No live transport. No closed season per SCDNR.

per SCDNR · verified 2026-05-31

Spring Turkey

CLOSED

Season DatesSpring 2027: private and WMA lands statewide April 3 – May 3 (some WMAs more restrictive). Youth weekends: March 27–28 and May 8–9, 2027.

Bag Limit:2 gobblers per season statewide. No more than 1 per day. No more than 1 prior to April 10. Jakes prohibited. Tag fees: $25 resident / $125 non-resident.

Next spring season opens April 3. Fall season varies — check SCDNR. Youth weekends precede the regular opener.

SC hunting license + Turkey Tags required. Harvest must be reported via SC Game Check. Fanning/reaping prohibited on private lands statewide.

per SCDNR · verified 2026-10-07

Mourning Dove

CLOSED

Season DatesSegment 1: Sept 5 – Oct 3 | Segment 2: Nov 13 – Nov 28 | Segment 3: Dec 18 – Jan 31 (2026-27 statewide, SCDNR migratory bird seasons).

Bag Limit:Daily bag: 15 doves. Possession limit: 45 doves.

Next dove segment posted on the SCDNR migratory bird calendar. Scout planted fields and sunflower plots before opener.

SC hunting license + Migratory Bird Permit (HIP) required. Federal Migratory Bird stamp required age 16+ for waterfowl (not required for doves). Public dove fields: afternoon-only, no entry before noon. No shooting after 6 PM during Segment 1.

per SCDNR · verified 2026-10-07

Season dates shown are for Game Zone 2 private lands. WMA dates, license requirements, and antlerless regulations may differ. Always verify current regulations with SCDNR before hunting.

Report a Season Update

First Look

Rock Hill Hunting Weather Now

72^F

Light Rain

Feels like 73°F

as of 3:40 AM ET

Wind 5 mph SSE

Humidity 100%

Pressure 1015 hPa

Moon New Moon

Location Rock Hill, SC

Field Scout Tips

Deer season is open — focus today's hunt on deer. Also open: Hog.
Warm day. Deer activity will shift toward dusk. Focus on evening hunts near water and food sources.
Calm winds are ideal for scent control. Play the wind carefully — enter and exit your stand downwind.
Light rain can suppress your scent and mask your approach noise. Deer often move well in light precipitation.
Dark moon nights push deer to move in legal shooting hours at dawn and dusk. Be at your stand early.
High humidity (100%) intensifies scent. Spray down thoroughly and hunt with wind in your face.

Solunar Index

Rock Hill Hunt Conditions Today

Temperature

72°F

Warm

Wind Speed

5 mph

Ideal — Calm

Barometric

1015 hPa

Normal

Moon Phase

🌑

Prime

GOOD

Good conditions. Plan your approach and be patient.

Extended Outlook

Rock Hill Hunt Forecast — 5 Days

TONIGHT

Patchy Fog

78° / 68°

12 mph wind • 0% humidity

FAIR

SUN

Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

74° / 60°

13 mph wind • 0% humidity

SLOW

COL

Sunny

81° / 56°

10 mph wind • 0% humidity

FAIR

TUE

Sunny

85° / 58°

2 mph wind • 0% humidity

FAIR

WED

Sunny

88° / 62°

2 mph wind • 0% humidity

FAIR

Public Hunting Lands

Rock Hill South Carolina Wildlife Management Areas

1 public hunting area near Rock Hill. Check SCDNR maps and rules for each property before you go.

Private lands — York County

white-tailed deer wild turkey dove waterfowl

Field Tip

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Community Reviews

Rock Hill Hunting Reviews

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Hunted a Rock Hill-area WMA or private land? Tell us about it in 280 characters or fewer.

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Species Targeted

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Trophy harvests, personal bests, and record-book moments from Rock Hill hunters.

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Your favorite post-hunt watering hole. Where do you go when the hunt is done?

Coverage

Rock Hill Hunting News

Local — Rock Hill and Piedmont

Local

SC early teal opens Sept. 19 with 6-bird daily bag

South Carolina's early teal season runs September 19-27, 2026 with a daily bag of 6 blue-winged and green-winged teal combined, sunrise to sunset statewide.

Sep 12, 2026

Local

SCDNR seeks stakeholders for statewide deer-dog review

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is moving into the next phase of a statewide review of deer hunting with dogs...

Aug 24, 2026

Local Hunting

Local

SCDNR Seeks Input on Deer Hunting with Dogs

Rock Hill SC Hunting The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is inviting applications for participants in the next phase of its community engagement process regarding deer hunting with dogs. The agency is seeking individuals to join professionally facilitated discussions aimed at addressing conflicts associated with this hunting practice and exploring potential solutions. Applications […]

Aug 23, 2026

Local

Preseason Deer Hunting Checklist Offers Guidance for Rock Hill Area Hunters

With the deer hunting season on the horizon, a detailed checklist has been released, offering essential guidance for hunters across Rock Hill...

Aug 12, 2026

National — Whitetail, CWD, and Conservation

National

Arkansas honors six partners at private-lands habitat expo

Arkansas Game and Fish honored six partners at the 2026 Natural State Private Lands Expo, spotlighting habitat work across nearly 100,000 acres in the program's first full year, 2024.

Sep 9, 2026

National

Pennsylvania opens 8 fall driving tours on state game lands

The Pennsylvania Game Commission will host eight free fall driving tours across state game lands from Sept. 20 through Oct. 18, 2026.

Sep 9, 2026

View All Rock Hill Hunting Coverage →

More at Outdoor Sports

Fishing, camping, hiking, and all outdoor sports coverage for Rock Hill and Piedmont SC

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Outfitters and Gear

Hunting Gear Guide

Gear reviews and picks for the Rock Hill hunter — boots, optics, packs, and more.

Gear Reviews — Tested for Piedmont SC Hunting

As an Amazon Associate, HERE earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.

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Decoy

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ATN Thor 5 Smart HD Thermal Scope w/Ultra Sensative Gen 5 Sensor, Video Rec, Built in LRF, B…

Optic / Scope

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Pulsar Trail 3 LRF Thermal Riflescope with Laser Range Finder and Mount

Laser Rangefinder

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★★★★☆ 4.6 / 5

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Garmin inReach® Mini 3, Rugged Compact Global Satellite Communicator with Color Touchscreen,…

GPS / Navigation

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Vortex Optics Fury HD 5000 10x42 Laser Rangefinding Binoculars

Laser Rangefinder

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★★★★☆ 4.6 / 5

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Trail Camera

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Game Zone 2 Key Dates

SC Hunting Season Calendar

Sept 5 – Oct 3, 2026

Dove Season — Segment 1

Statewide mourning dove segment 1. Daily bag 15. Public WMA dove fields are afternoon-only.

Statewide

Sept 12, 2026

Youth Deer Hunt Day (Antlered)

Antlered deer only, limit 1. Private lands, Game Zone 2. Youth 17 and under; no license or tags required for youth or accompanying adult. Per SCDNR.

Game Zone 2

Sept 15, 2026

Deer Archery-Only Season Opens

Private lands, Game Zone 2: archery only Sept 15 – 30. Individual antlerless tags valid from Sept 15; antlerless limit 2 per day, 9 total all seasons combined. SC hunting license + Big Game Permit required.

Game Zone 2

Oct 1, 2026

Deer Primitive Weapons Season Opens

Private lands, Game Zone 2: primitive weapons Oct 1 – 10. Archery equipment legal in all seasons.

Game Zone 2

Oct 11, 2026

Deer Gun Season Opens

Private lands, Game Zone 2: gun hunts Oct 11 – Jan 1. No deer hunting with dogs in Game Zones 1 and 2.

Game Zone 2

Nov 13 – 28, 2026

Dove Season — Segment 2

Statewide mourning dove segment 2. Daily bag 15.

Statewide

Dec 18, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027

Dove Season — Segment 3

Statewide mourning dove segment 3. Daily bag 15.

Statewide

Jan 1, 2027

Deer Season Closes

Final day of Game Zone 2 private-land deer season.

Game Zone 2

Jan 2, 2027

Youth Deer Hunt Day (Either-Sex)

Either-sex, limit 2. Private lands, Game Zone 2. Tags not required. Per SCDNR.

Game Zone 2

Mar 27 – 28, 2027

Youth Turkey Weekend

Private lands, youth 17 and under. Limit 1 gobbler total for both youth weekends combined; counts toward season limit.

Statewide

Apr 3 – May 3, 2027

Spring Turkey Season

Private and WMA lands statewide (some WMAs more restrictive). 2 gobblers per season, 1 per day, no more than 1 before April 10. Turkey tags required.

Statewide

May 8 – 9, 2027

Youth Turkey Weekend

Second youth weekend, private lands. Shares the 1-gobbler youth limit with Mar 27 – 28.

Statewide

Year-Round

Feral Hog (Private Lands)

No closed season on private land during daylight with a valid SC hunting license. No bag limit. Night hunting only on properties registered annually with SCDNR.

Statewide (Private)

Dates reflect 2026 South Carolina hunting regulations for Game Zone 2. Always verify with the current SCDNR Hunting and Fishing Guide. Regulations are subject to change. Hogs are legal year-round on private land with a hunting license — no closed season.

Questions and Answers

Rock Hill Hunting FAQ

Common questions about hunting in the Rock Hill area, answered.

Rock Hill (York County) is in SCDNR Game Zone 2. 2026-27 private-land deer season: archery only Sept. 15 – 30, primitive weapons Oct. 1 – 10, gun hunts Oct. 11 – Jan. 1. Youth deer days: Sept. 12 (antlered, limit 1) and Jan. 2 (either-sex, limit 2). Deer may not be hunted with dogs in Game Zone 2. WMA dates differ by property — see the SCDNR regulations.
Public hunting land near Rock Hill is listed in the WMA directory on this page. York County and nearby Piedmont WMAs managed by SCDNR are the primary public options near Rock Hill. SCDNR manages WMAs statewide; a WMA permit (separate from a basic hunting license) is required on most public tracts. Always verify tract rules, quota hunts, and Sunday restrictions at dnr.sc.gov.
To hunt deer in York County, you need a SC hunting license and a SC Big Game Permit. On WMAs you also need an annual WMA Permit. Purchase all licenses at dnr.sc.gov/licenses.
Yes on private land: Sunday hunting is allowed on private lands statewide. On WMA lands Sunday hunting is not allowed (Reg. 123-51) except where SCDNR lists Sunday dates for a specific property — for example some WMAs allow Sunday hunting Oct. 15 – Jan. 31 for species in season.
Antlered deer: residents 2 per day and 5 total; nonresidents 2 per day and 4 total (all seasons and methods combined, private and WMA lands). Antlerless on Game Zone 2 private lands: 2 per day, 9 total, using individual antlerless deer tags (valid from Sept. 15). Statewide WMA limit: 2 deer per day, 5 total, no more than 2 antlered. Report every harvest through SC Game Check.
No. York County is in Game Zone 2 and has no open bear season. South Carolina's 2026-27 bear seasons are limited to Game Zone 1 (private lands: still hunt Oct. 11–23, dog hunts Oct. 17–30); Game Zone 2 private land in Anderson and Spartanburg counties and the parts of Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties south of Game Zone 1 (still hunts Oct. 17–30, 20-bear quota); and five Game Zone 4 counties — Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Williamsburg (still hunts Oct. 17–30, 40-bear quota). A bear tag is required wherever bear is hunted. Report bear sightings or conflicts to SCDNR.

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Rock Hill SC Hunting News

Rock Hill Hunting Season Status

Rock Hill Hunting Weather Now

Rock Hill Hunt Conditions Today

Rock Hill Hunt Forecast — 5 Days

Rock Hill South Carolina Wildlife Management Areas

Rock Hill Hunting Reviews

Rock Hill Hunting News

Hunting Gear Guide

SC Hunting Season Calendar

Rock Hill Hunting FAQ

Latest Rock Hill Hunting News

Rock Hill SC
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