South Carolina Best Times to Hunt
Solunar calendar and moon phase predictions for South Carolina
Best Times to Hunt in South Carolina
Solunar reference for South Carolina hunters: timezone, SC agency rules, and major/minor period guidance tuned to South Carolina-specific notes.
How South Carolina hunters read the solunar calendar
South Carolina-specific timing patterns — what makes SC different from the surrounding region
Five months. That's the length of South Carolina's longest game zone — Game Zone 3, the lowcountry, opens August 15 and runs into January, unmatched anywhere else in the country. Rut splits sharply by zone: lowcountry coastal counties peak late October into early November, midstate counties run mid-November, upstate Piedmont and mountain country pushes later. A mobile hunter can chase peak rut behavior across multiple geographies in a single season without leaving the state. Lowcountry waterfowl on the ACE Basin, Santee Coastal, and Bear Island WMAs peaks December and January with tide-driven hunting on flooded impoundments. A falling tide near a major moon period is the textbook setup. Note: SC red drum regulations are pending changes via Bill 961, with new limits effective July 1, 2026.
South Carolina Solunar Information
Hunting conditions and wildlife patterns
- Timezone
- New York
- Hunting Notes
- Five months. That's the length of South Carolina's longest game zone — Game Zone 3, the lowcountry, opens August 15 and runs into January, unmatched anywhere else in the country. Rut splits sharply by zone: lowcountry coastal counties peak late October into early November, midstate counties run mid-November, upstate Piedmont and mountain country pushes later. A mobile hunter can chase peak rut behavior across multiple geographies in a single season without leaving the state. Lowcountry waterfowl on the ACE Basin, Santee Coastal, and Bear Island WMAs peaks December and January with tide-driven hunting on flooded impoundments. A falling tide near a major moon period is the textbook setup. Note: SC red drum regulations are pending changes via Bill 961, with new limits effective July 1, 2026.
- Wildlife Agency
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
This information is for reference only. Always verify regulations with your state wildlife agency before hunting or fishing.
Last verified: January 2026
Run the South Carolina solunar calendar
The interactive calendar lives on the main tool page. It will pre-load with South Carolina (SC) and the New York timezone.
South Carolina Best Times FAQ
Common questions about solunar hunting in South Carolina
What timezone do South Carolina solunar tables use?
The South Carolina calendar runs in the New York timezone (America/New_York). Major and minor periods on this page are already shifted to local SC time, so you can match them directly against your sunrise and sunset. Five months. That's the length of South Carolina's longest game zone — Game Zone 3, the lowcountry, opens August 15 and runs into January, unmatched anywhere else in the country. Rut splits sharply by zone: lowcountry coastal counties peak late October into early November, midstate counties run mid-November, upstate Piedmont and mountain country pushes later. A mobile hunter can chase peak rut behavior across multiple geographies in a single season without leaving the state. Lowcountry waterfowl on the ACE Basin, Santee Coastal, and Bear Island WMAs peaks December and January with tide-driven hunting on flooded impoundments. A falling tide near a major moon period is the textbook setup. Note: SC red drum regulations are pending changes via Bill 961, with new limits effective July 1, 2026.
What's specific to hunting in South Carolina that changes the timing?
Five months. That's the length of South Carolina's longest game zone — Game Zone 3, the lowcountry, opens August 15 and runs into January, unmatched anywhere else in the country. Rut splits sharply by zone: lowcountry coastal counties peak late October into early November, midstate counties run mid-November, upstate Piedmont and mountain country pushes later. A mobile hunter can chase peak rut behavior across multiple geographies in a single season without leaving the state. Lowcountry waterfowl on the ACE Basin, Santee Coastal, and Bear Island WMAs peaks December and January with tide-driven hunting on flooded impoundments. A falling tide near a major moon period is the textbook setup. Note: SC red drum regulations are pending changes via Bill 961, with new limits effective July 1, 2026.
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