SCDNR Hosts Public Forums and Survey on Deer Hunting with Dogs in South Carolina

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is seeking public input on the practice of hunting deer with dogs, inviting hunters, landowners, and residents across the state to share their perspectives, identify areas of conflict, and discuss potential solutions.

The initiative stems from a request by the SCDNR Board following feedback regarding the long-standing regional tradition. State wildlife officials emphasized that there is currently no pending legislation and that SCDNR is not proposing or recommending any changes to existing laws or regulations governing dog-hunting for deer.

Key Takeaway: SCDNR’s role during this process is strictly to listen, document public feedback, and gather comprehensive data. Any actual changes to state hunting laws must ultimately be enacted by the South Carolina General Assembly.

To gather input from all sides, the agency is hosting public meetings, conducting focus groups, and running a statewide public survey. The feedback collected will be analyzed to provide factual, balanced information to the SCDNR Board and state lawmakers if requested.

Upcoming Public Engagement Meetings

How to Submit Comments Online

Residents unable to attend a meeting in person can submit their feedback through SCDNR’s online public comment platform by scanning the official agency QR code or visiting the online portal. SCDNR noted that online submissions will receive equal consideration alongside feedback collected during the public forums.