HERE Clinton
Clinton SC
Hunting
News
— Page 2
Live conditions, season status, solunar ratings, WMA profiles, and community hunting coverage for Laurens and Game Zone 2.
Hog: Open Year-Round
Turkey: Closed
Dove: Closed
Deer: Open
Game Zone 2
First Look • Hunt Conditions
🌖
Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 61%
6:46 am
5:35 pm
54°F
6 mph
Weather as of 1:35 AM ET
Improving — deer activity picks up as moonlight decreases.
Game Zone 2 • Laurens
In Season Now: Clinton Hunting · Nov. 1
Open now
- Feral Hog (Private Lands) Year-Round · Statewide (Private)
Opened this season
- Deer Archery-Only Season Opens Sept 15, 2026 · Deer Season Closes Jan 1, 2027 · Game Zone 2
- Deer Primitive Weapons Season Opens Oct 1, 2026 · Deer Season Closes Jan 1, 2027 · Game Zone 2
- Deer Gun Season Opens Oct 11, 2026 · Deer Season Closes Jan 1, 2027 · Game Zone 2
Coming up
- Dove Season — Segment 2 Nov 13 – 28, 2026 · Statewide
- Dove Season — Segment 3 Dec 18, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 · Statewide
From this page's SCDNR season calendar. Always verify current regulations before you hunt.
Clinton 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
Clinton Hunting Weather Now
54F
Clear
Feels like 54°F
as of 1:35 AM ET
Wind
6 mph NNE
Humidity
71%
Pressure
1031 hPa
Moon
Waning Gibbous
Location
Clinton, SC
Field Scout Tips
- Deer season is open — focus today's hunt on deer. Also open: Hog.
- Cool temps in the optimal range — deer are on their feet. Expect movement throughout shooting hours.
- Calm winds are ideal for scent control. Play the wind carefully — enter and exit your stand downwind.
Solunar Index
Clinton Hunt Conditions Today
Temperature
54°F
Optimal
Wind Speed
6 mph
Ideal — Calm
Barometric
1031 hPa
High — Active
Moon Phase
🌖
Fair
Extended Outlook
Clinton Hunt Forecast — 5 Days
TONIGHT
Cloudy
62° / 52°
7 mph wind
GOOD
SUN
Mostly Cloudy
66° / 52°
9 mph wind
FAIR
MON
Mostly Sunny
70° / 51°
8 mph wind
GOOD
TUE
Partly Sunny
74° / 58°
7 mph wind
GOOD
WED
Chance Rain Showers
74° / 60°
7 mph wind
FAIR
Public Hunting Lands
Clinton South Carolina Wildlife Management Areas
4 public hunting areas near Clinton. Check SCDNR maps and rules for each property before you go.
Cliff Pitts WMA
1,098 acres STATE WMA
Whitetail Deer
Turkey
SCDNR lists Cliff Pitts WMA at 1,098 acres in Laurens County, and its Game Zone 2 page lists the property among the zone's WMAs.
SCDNR WMA rules apply. Check the SCDNR WMA map and regulations for this property before you hunt.
Field Tip
Confirm current season dates and any lottery or special rules for this property with SCDNR before you go.
Belfast WMA
4,664 acres STATE WMA (LOTTERY)
Whitetail Deer
Turkey
SCDNR lists Belfast WMA at 4,664 acres in Laurens and Newberry counties. It is a lottery WMA, and SCDNR's Game Zone 2 page lists it with additional property rules.
SCDNR WMA rules apply. Check the SCDNR WMA map and regulations for this property before you hunt.
Field Tip
Confirm current season dates and any lottery or special rules for this property with SCDNR before you go.
Sumter National Forest, Enoree Ranger District
170,000 acres NATIONAL FOREST WMA
Whitetail Deer
Turkey
SCDNR's WMA turkey harvest table lists the Enoree Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest at about 170,000 acres across five central Piedmont counties.
SCDNR WMA rules apply. Check the SCDNR WMA map and regulations for this property before you hunt.
Field Tip
Confirm current season dates and any lottery or special rules for this property with SCDNR before you go.
Delta South WMA
2,174 acres STATE WMA
Whitetail Deer
SCDNR lists Delta South WMA at 2,174 acres in Union County, a Game Zone 2 county.
SCDNR WMA rules apply. Check the SCDNR WMA map and regulations for this property before you hunt.
Field Tip
Confirm current season dates and any lottery or special rules for this property with SCDNR before you go.
Did We Miss a Spot?
Know a Clinton-area hunting land, WMA, or public access parcel that should be on this list? Let us know.
Report a Hunting SpotCommunity Reviews
Clinton Hunting Reviews
Share Your Hunt
Hunted a Clinton-area WMA or private land? Tell us about it in 280 characters or fewer.
Community
Here We...
Bag Them Big...
Trophy harvests, personal bests, and record-book moments from Clinton hunters.
Don't Drink by the Swig...
Your favorite post-hunt watering hole. Where do you go when the hunt is done?
Coverage
Clinton Hunting News
Local — Clinton and Upstate
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
New Hunters in Clinton Prepare for 2026 Season with Focus on Safety and Regulations
Preparing for the 2026 hunting season requires careful attention to regulations, safety, and equipment, especially for those new to the pursuit. For...
Aug 12, 2026
Local
Clinton-Area Hunters Prepare for Season with Comprehensive Preseason Checklist
With the deer hunting season on the horizon, outdoors enthusiasts in Clinton and across Laurens County are undertaking critical preparations, following a...
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
More at Outdoor Sports
Fishing, camping, hiking, and all outdoor sports coverage for Clinton and Upstate SC
Outfitters and Gear
Hunting Gear Guide
Gear reviews and picks for the Clinton hunter — boots, optics, packs, and more.
Gear Reviews — Tested for Upstate SC Hunting
As an Amazon Associate, HERE earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.
Icotec Nomad+ Programmable Predator Call/Decoy Combo with Bluetooth - 165 Professional Sound…
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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$1676.85
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Pulsar Trail 3 LRF Thermal Riflescope with Laser Range Finder and Mount
Laser Rangefinder
Hand-picked by the HERE Hunting desk this week. Pulsar Trail 3 LRF Thermal Riflescope with Laser Range Finder and Mount.
$2899.97
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Hunting desk
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Garmin inReach® Mini 3, Rugged Compact Global Satellite Communicator with Color Touchscreen,…
GPS / Navigation
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$399.99
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Vortex Optics Fury HD 5000 10x42 Laser Rangefinding Binoculars
Laser Rangefinder
Hand-picked by the HERE Hunting desk this week. Vortex Optics Fury HD 5000 10x42 Laser Rangefinding Binoculars.
$799.00
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TACTACAM Reveal X PRO Cellular Trail Camera, Verizon and AT&T, NO Glow, Integrated GPS Track…
Trail Camera
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$99.99
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Outfitter, Guide Service, or Hunting Retailer?
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Learn About Gear AdvertisingGame 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.
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.
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.
Oct 1, 2026
Deer Primitive Weapons Season Opens
Private lands, Game Zone 2: primitive weapons Oct 1 – 10. Archery equipment legal in all seasons.
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.
Nov 13 – 28, 2026
Dove Season — Segment 2
Statewide mourning dove segment 2. Daily bag 15.
Dec 18, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Dove Season — Segment 3
Statewide mourning dove segment 3. Daily bag 15.
Jan 1, 2027
Deer Season Closes
Final day of Game Zone 2 private-land deer season.
Jan 2, 2027
Youth Deer Hunt Day (Either-Sex)
Either-sex, limit 2. Private lands, Game Zone 2. Tags not required. Per SCDNR.
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.
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.
May 8 – 9, 2027
Youth Turkey Weekend
Second youth weekend, private lands. Shares the 1-gobbler youth limit with Mar 27 – 28.
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.
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
Clinton Hunting FAQ
Common questions about hunting in the Clinton area, answered.
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Clinton (Laurens 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.
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Public hunting land near Clinton is listed in the WMA directory on this page. Cliff Pitts WMA, Sumter National Forest (Enoree), and Broad River WMA are the primary public options near Clinton. 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.
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To hunt deer in Laurens 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.
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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.
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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.
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No. Laurens 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.
HUNTING NEWS NEAR CLINTON SC
Hunting coverage from the 10 closest HERE cities.
Latest Clinton Hunting News — Page 2
South Carolina Hunting License Fees, Tags, and Permits Explained (Resident vs Non-Resident)
Every SC hunting license, tag, and permit you might need — resident and non-resident pricing, big game permits, WMA permits, migratory bird stamps, and how to buy them…
South Carolina WMA Hunting: How to Draw a Quota Hunt and Score on Public Land
The complete guide to hunting South Carolina's Wildlife Management Areas — how to apply for quota deer and turkey hunts, the WMA permit rules, and the public-land tactics…
Clinton SC Deer Hunting Guide: Game Zone 2 Seasons, Bag Limits, and Tags
Everything Clinton hunters need to know before opening day — SCDNR game zones explained, current season dates, resident and non-resident bag limits, antlerless tags, and the SC Game…
