When is Turkey Season in South Carolina? A Guide to Spring Turkey Hunting Dates and Regulations

Setting Spring Hunting Seasons by Timing Peak Gobbling, Peak Breeding and Peak Incubation

In 1970, the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department (SCWMRD) developed a Wild Turkey Research Project and the “Turkey Project” remains today as one of several special program areas in the Wildlife Section of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The original objectives of the Turkey Project were to develop census techniques to monitor rapidly expanding turkey populations in the piedmont and to ascertain distribution patterns relative to habitat management practices. Studies also were initiated to determine peak periods of gobbling and nest incubation in order to best determine when the spring season should begin and end. Spring seasons were open only in areas of the state with adequate numbers of turkeys. Much of the state, particularly in the coastal plain, had no open season because there were few or no turkeys. In 1975, a comprehensive biological plan was developed by the Department for the restoration of turkeys in the coastal plain. This restoration plan was implemented between 1976 and 2003, resulting in the capture and translocation of approximately 3,542 turkeys on 204 restoration sites statewide. In 1993 a portion of all counties were open to spring gobbler hunting and in 1998 all counties were fully opened with the exception of recent restoration sites.

Wild turkey seasons in South Carolina are established under authority of SC Code of Laws Sections 50-11-520 and 50-11-560. Prior to 1976, all spring gobbler seasons in South Carolina began on March 15 and ended on April 15. Results of gobbling and nesting studies conducted in the piedmont and coastal plain during the 1970s led to changes in the spring turkey season dates. Based on results from these studies, the Department recommended a statewide season of April 1-May 1 that offers the following benefits over the old March 15-April 15 season: better weather conditions, less disruption in breeding activity, a reduction in inadvertent or illegal hen kill, and the ability to hunt during the longest and most consistent peak in statewide gobbling so that gobblers will have increased responsiveness to hunters calls.

Since 1976, seasons in Game Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are as recommended by SCDNR, April 1-May 1 (SC Code 50-11-520). Conversely, the General Assembly provided no authority for SCDNR to set seasons in Game Zones 6 (lower coastal plain) and in 1976 opted to take the Departments recommendation for the new biologically established season and add it to the old socio-political season (SC Code 50-11-560). This resulted in a March 15-May 1 season in the twelve counties that makes up Game Zone 6.

With respect to both biology and effective hunting, the timing of spring gobbler seasons in South Carolina should take into account three primary factors; peak breeding, peak gobbling, and peak incubation. Considering these factors, seasons can be set to afford hunters the best opportunity to hunt during the best time (i.e. peak gobbling period) without inhibiting reproductive success.

The following describes how the current April 1-May 1 season was developed in South Carolina.

Gobbling by male wild turkeys occurs primarily in the spring and for the purpose of attracting hens for mating purposes. Although there is typically some gobbling in mid March in South Carolina, this is not “the peak” in gobbling that hunters should be interested in. This gobbling is associated with the breakup of winter turkey flocks (Figure 1). Gobbling associated with winter break-up is not as consistent or long in duration as the true peak in gobbling that occurs about one month later. Gobbling during mid March is primarily by subdominant males attempting to come away from the winter flocks with hens. Inevitably, dominant gobblers will come away from the winter flocks with most of the hens in a harem type arrangement. By about the third week in March the winter flock breakup is well underway and this initial minor peak in gobbling ceases. Most breeding occurs immediately following flock breakup and there is a period of nearly 2 weeks during which there is very little gobbling (Figure 1). Hunting during this period can be frustrating because as hunters say, “they are all henned up”.

By the first week in April the nesting phase of the wild turkey breeding period is underway. During this time hens will lay one egg per day until the clutch is complete. In South Carolina most of the laying is done in about two weeks, therefore, most hens begin incubation during the first half of April. When the majority of hens begin incubation gobbling begins in earnest. Remember, male turkeys gobble to attract hens. During peak breeding hens are available, therefore, little gobbling takes place. Once hens begin spending increasing amounts of time away from the gobblers (extended stays at the nest and ultimately continuous incubation) the longest and most consistent peak in gobbling occurs (Figure 1). This time frame offers the best opportunity to hunt gobbling birds.

Figure 1. Gobbles heard per hour from an unhunted area in the piedmont of South Carolina (adapted from Bevill 1975). The longest and most consistent gobbling occurs from April 16-28. Data from the lower coastal plain is similar with peak gobbling about one week earlier (April 6-22).

Intensive research on Eastern wild turkeys has shown that timing of breeding can be predicted by latitude alone (Whitaker et al., 2004) and breeding is relatively consistent from year to year. Photoperiod or length of day is likely highly involved in this latitudinal predictability and consistency in breeding. In South Carolina peak breeding commences following the winter breakup that takes place in mid to late March. Hunters often complain that spring gobbler season begins too late. However, for several biological reasons, seasons should not begin before the peak of breeding.

First, the effects of removing dominant gobblers prior to breeding are obvious. If too few dominant gobblers are left to breed hens it could impact reproduction (unfertilized eggs) leading to a decrease in turkey numbers. Also, removing dominant males leaves mostly subdominant gobblers to breed, which may have negative consequences over time.

Second, gobbling activity is poor during peak breeding. It is a fact that male turkeys gobble primarily to attract hens. During peak breeding, hens are readily available because they have remained with gobblers immediately following the winter flock breakup, therefore, there is little gobbling activity during peak breeding (Figure 1). As previously mentioned, hunting during this period can be frustrating due to the abundance of hens and little gobbling.

Finally, numerous studies have shown that hens can be very susceptible to inadvertent or illegal kill prior to peak incubation.

Not only is it important for spring gobbler seasons to begin following the peak of breeding, it is also important for seasons to coincide with the peak in incubation. Peak incubation is defined as the period during which the majority of hens are on nests. In South Carolina, peak breeding in wild turkeys occurs the last couple of weeks in March and the first week in April. Allowing about 2 weeks for fertilization and egg laying means that the peak dates for beginning incubation are April 1-15 (Figure 2). The reason it is important for seasons to coincide with the peak of incubation is to minimize inadvertent or illegal harvest of hens.

Remember, during peak breeding hens spend a considerable amount of time with gobblers and often respond to hunters’ calls along with the gobbler. Repeated studies have shown that inadvertent or illegal harvest of hens is a significant mortality factor in the spring. Ask any spring turkey guide or experienced hunter who frequently takes other hunters and they will tell you that care must be taken to avoid inadvertently killing hens, particularly when hens are with gobbling toms. On the other hand, once incubation begins hens are isolated and spend all but a few minutes each day on the nest. The bottom line is that hens are less susceptible to inadvertent/illegal kill during the egg laying period and least susceptible during incubation. Finally, peak gobbling is stimulated by the fact that hens are no longer present since they are incubating.

Figure 2. Timing of the start of incubation for hens in the piedmont (adapted from Bevill 1975). Peak incubation occurs the first two weeks in April. Data for lower coastal plain is similar with peak incubation about one week earlier.

Turkey Season in SC 2022

FAQ

What are the dates for turkey season in South Carolina?

Is turkey hunting good in South Carolina?

How many turkey tags are there in SC?

What season do turkeys come out?

When is spring turkey season in South Carolina?

The 2023 season marked the fourth year of a return to two spring turkey season frameworks in South Carolina. In Game Zones 1 and 2, which encompass the piedmont and mountains the season is April 1 to May 10, whereas, in Game Zones 3 and 4 located in the coastal plain the season is March 22 to April 30.

When is turkey hunting in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, the normal season for turkey hunting begins in the spring and lasts through April. In April, there is a unique two-day hunting season for kids. Depending on the place of residence, hunters are only permitted to capture a certain number of gobblers and up to one bearded or male turkey during the normal season.

Is turkey hunting legal in South Carolina?

South Carolina has many rural areas to explore, making it a great place for turkey hunting. However, turkey hunting in South Carolina involves following several regulations and rules. It’s important to keep these in mind when hunting, or you may potentially break the law. Like most states, South Carolina has very specific season timing.

Are there Turkey harvests outside of South Carolina?

Finally, based on reports to SC Game Check, hunters from 34 states outside of South Carolina reported a turkey harvest. However, nonresidents comprised only 9 percent of the overall harvest in 2023.