H*3433(Rat #0444, Act #0383 of 1992)  General Bill, By Koon
 A Bill to amend Section 50-11-120, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to the hunting season for small game, so as to clarify and revise the
 length of the seasons and provide for squirrels to be hunted with weapons and
 dogs; and to amend Section 50-11-150, relating to small game bag limits, so as
 to change the limits for squirrel to ten a day.-amended title

   02/06/91  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-7
   02/06/91  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-8
   02/05/92  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental
                     Affairs HJ-5
   02/06/92  House  Amended HJ-10
   02/06/92  House  Read second time HJ-17
   02/11/92  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-12
   02/12/92  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   02/12/92  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-7
   04/07/92  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish,
                     Game and Forestry SJ-4
   04/21/92  Senate Amended SJ-13
   04/21/92  Senate Read second time SJ-19
   04/21/92  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-19
   04/22/92  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-11
   04/28/92  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-141
   05/13/92         Ratified R 444
   05/15/92         Signed By Governor
   05/15/92         Effective date 05/15/92
   05/15/92         Act No. 383
   07/09/92         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE HUNTING SEASON FOR SMALL GAME, SO AS TO CLARIFY AND REVISE THE LENGTH OF THE SEASONS AND PROVIDE FOR SQUIRRELS TO BE HUNTED WITH WEAPONS AND DOGS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-150, RELATING TO SMALL GAME BAG LIMITS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE LIMITS FOR SQUIRREL TO TEN A DAY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Hunting season for small game clarified and revised; hunting squirrels with weapons and dogs

SECTION 1. Section 50-11-120 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 50-11-120. (A) Except as specified in this section the season for hunting small game is Thanksgiving Day through March first. However, there is no open season on grouse except in Game Zone 1.

(1) Game Zone 1:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with weapons and dogs;

(c) fox: year round but no weapons may be used January second through August fifteenth;

(d) raccoon and opossum: October fifteenth through March first with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through October fourteenth and March second through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only;

(e) quail: October first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(2) Game Zone 2:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with weapons and dogs;

(c) fox: year round but no weapons may be used January second through August fifteenth;

(d) raccoon and opossum: October fifteenth through March first with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through October fourteenth and March second through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only;

(e) quail: October first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(3) Game Zone 3:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with weapons and dogs;

(c) fox: year round but no weapons may be used January second through August fifteenth;

(d) raccoon and opossum: September fifteenth through March fifteenth with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through September fourteenth and March sixteenth through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only;

(e) quail: October first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(4) Game Zone 4:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with dogs and weapons;

(c) fox: year round but no weapons may be used February fifteenth through August fifteenth;

(d) raccoon and opossum: October fifteenth through March first with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through October fourteenth and March second through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only;

(e) quail: October first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(5) Game Zone 5:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with weapons and dogs;

(c) fox: year round but no weapons may be used January second through August fifteenth;

(d) raccoon and opossum: September fifteenth through March fifteenth with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through September fourteenth and March sixteenth through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only;

(e) quail: October first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(6) Game Zone 6:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with dogs and weapons;

(c) fox: August fifteenth through March fifteenth. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, it is unlawful to hunt foxes, with or without firearms, in Game Zone 6 between March fifteenth and August fifteenth. However, there is no closed season for the running of foxes with dogs for the purpose of training the dogs in a private enclosed fox-hunting-dog-training facility;

(d) raccoon and opossum: September fifteenth through March fifteenth with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through September fourteenth and March sixteenth through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only;

(e) quail: Monday before Thanksgiving Day through the first Saturday in March with weapons; October first through the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day without weapons;

(7) Game Zone 7:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with dogs and weapons;

(c) fox: year round but no weapons may be used January second through August fifteenth;

(d) raccoon and opossum: September fifteenth through March fifteenth with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through September fourteenth and March sixteenth through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only;

(e) mink: September fifteenth through March first;

(f) muskrat: September fifteenth through March first;

(g) otter: September fifteenth through March first;

(h) quail: October first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(8) Game Zone 8:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with weapons and dogs;

(c) fox: year round but no weapons may be used January second through August fifteenth;

(d) raccoon and opossum: September fifteenth through March fifteenth with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through September fourteenth and March sixteenth through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only;

(e) quail: October first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(9) Game Zone 9:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with weapons and dogs;

(c) quail: Thanksgiving Day through the first Saturday in March;

(d) fox: year round without weapons; with weapons September first through January first;

(e) raccoon and opossum: September fifteenth through October fourteenth; March second through March fifteenth without weapons and with dogs only; October fifteenth through March first with weapons and dogs. All hunting of raccoon and opossum in Game Zone 9 must be at night. Night as used in this section is that time between official sunset one day and official sunrise the following day;

(f) mink: November first through March first;

(g) muskrat: November first through March first;

(h) otter: November first through March first;

(i) skunk: November first through March first;

(j) quail: October first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(10) Game Zone 10:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with weapons and dogs;

(c) fox: year round but without weapons January second through August fifteenth;

(d) raccoon and opossum: September fifteenth through March fifteenth with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through September fourteenth and March sixteenth through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only;

(e) mink: September fifteenth through March first;

(f) muskrat: September fifteenth through March first;

(g) otter: September fifteenth through March first;

(h) quail: October first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(11) Game Zone 11:

(a) rabbit: September first through the day before Thanksgiving Day without weapons; Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons;

(b) squirrel: October first through March first with weapons and dogs;

(c) fox: year round but without weapons January second through August fifteenth;

(d) raccoon and opossum: September fifteenth through March fifteenth with weapons and dogs; August fifteenth through September fourteenth and March sixteenth through May fourteenth without weapons and with dogs only. Hunting of raccoon in Game Zone 11 must be at night;

(e) quail: Monday before Thanksgiving Day through March first with weapons; October first through the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day without weapons;

(B) In all game zones it is lawful to run rabbits with dogs at any time during the year in enclosures approved by the department.

(C) The season dates in this section are inclusive, except as otherwise provided. It is unlawful to hunt a game animal except during the seasons provided and as specified in this section. Unless otherwise specified during a small game season when weapons are allowed, dogs also may be used."

Bag limits for squirrels changed

SECTION 2. Section 50-11-150 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 50-11-150. For purposes of this section day means the time between one-half hour before sunrise one day and one-half hour before sunrise the following day. Night means the time between official sunset one day and official sunrise the following day. Where bag limits are specified on `a night' basis, and there is a day season specified in Section 50-11-120, there is no limit on game taken during daylight hours. It is unlawful to exceed the small game bag limits as follows:

(1) Game Zone 1:

(a) quail: ten a day;

(b) grouse: three a day;

(c) rabbit: five a day;

(d) squirrel: ten a day;

(e) fox: no limit;

(f) raccoon: three a party a night;

(g) opossum: three a party a night;

(2) Game Zone 2:

(a) quail: ten a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: three a party a night;

(f) opossum: three a party a night;

(3) Game Zone 3:

(a) quail: fifteen a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: no limit;

(f) opossum: no limit;

(4) Game Zone 4:

(a) quail: fifteen a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: three a party a night;

(f) opossum: three a party a night;

(5) Game Zone 5:

(a) quail: ten a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: three a party a night;

(f) opossum: no limit;

(6) Game Zone 6:

(a) quail: fifteen a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: no limit;

(f) opossum: no limit;

(7) Game Zone 7:

(a) quail: ten a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: no limit;

(f) opossum: no limit;

(8) Game Zone 8:

(a) quail: twelve a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: three a party a night;

(f) opossum: no limit;

(9) Game Zone 9:

(a) quail: fifteen a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: two a party a night;

(f) opossum: no limit;

(10) Game Zone 10:

(a) quail: ten a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: three a night;

(f) opossum: no limit;

(11) Game Zone 11:

(a) quail: fifteen a day;

(b) rabbit: five a day;

(c) squirrel: ten a day;

(d) fox: no limit;

(e) raccoon: no limit;

(f) opossum: no limit."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 15th day of May, 1992.