South Carolina: Committee Passes Sunday Hunting for Wildlife Management Areas

Yesterday, the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee issued a favorable report to House Bill 4614, to direct the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to allow Sunday hunting on state Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). It will now go to the House floor for further consideration. Please contact your state representative and ask them to SUPPORT H. 4614.

House Bill 4614 expands hunting opportunities by directing the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to draft regulations allowing Sunday hunting on state Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) by December 31, 2022, and for the General Assembly to review the regulations in the 2023-2024 legislative session. This ensures that hunters have the time to continue hunting or to introduce new hunters and also ensures that public land may be enjoyed by those who fund it.

One of the biggest challenges that hunters face today is access to land. In addition, our modern lifestyles of work and school essentially mean that most working adults and their children can only hunt on the weekends. Hunters and gun owners fund conservation efforts and maintenance of state public hunting land through hunting license fees and Pittman-Robertson excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. Despite this, Sunday hunting is still not permitted on WMAs in South Carolina, leaving Saturday as the only day for most hunters to be able to get out into the field.

Again, please contact your state representative and ask them to SUPPORT H. 4614.