Small Game

South Carolina's mourning dove season for the 2026–2027 term splits into three distinct segments: September 5–October 3, 2026, November 13–28, 2026, and December 18, 2026–January 31, 2027. The daily bag limit is 15 mourning doves. However, there is no limit on Eurasian collared doves.

To uncover top dove hunting near you, focus on public dove fields run by state wildlife agencies, private agricultural land (sunflower, milo, wheat stubble), and on USFS/BLM ground in dove-occupied states. Most state seasons open on September 1.

I always write a list the night before a hunting or fishing trip. No matter how many times I've made the same trip, methodically crossing off my essential items with a hot coffee in the morning helps calm the nerves and provide the kind of reassurance I need.

Small game can be a great introduction to hunting and a good way to keep your skills sharp after a big game season has ended. Rabbits in particular are a great quarry to chase—but first, you'll need to know how to find rabbits in the woods.

For many (including myself), rabbit hunting is a formative introduction to hunting. The experience usually forms a lifelong appreciation and development of the sport. The opportunities are plentiful; you can work with both rifles and shotguns, and many states offer year-round hunting. 

From the silence of an early morning sit erupts the crunching sound of leaves and rustling bushes. Your heart drops as your eyes scan the canopy for movement, expecting to catch a subtle glance of the whitetail you've been eyeing all season. Instead, a twitching bushy tail emerges from the brush, and a little gray body bounds out of sight up the tree's trunk.

Setting rabbit traps along field edges and runs can be a great way to fill your winter and spend some time outdoors. It's relatively easy and interactive, and it can open the door to the world of trapping for young hunters.

Bunny hunting is always a great time. Whether you're showing a new hunter the ropes or heading out with a few pals, the fast action and sometimes challenging shooting of rabbit hunting make for an unforgettable day in the field. 

What can you hunt when it's not time to hunt deer? Every hunter has a personalized routine that they resort to once deer season comes to a close, and many hunters use this time to get after some rabbits.

If you're interested in trapping, live animal traps may be the best way to get started. You can set these manageable traps along easily identifiable travel routes and water access points, and you can be selective about the species you take (though make sure to check the traps regularly). 

The chill of winter can create challenges for hunters, but colder months can also bring opportunities to pursue rabbits. Not only is winter rabbit hunting possible, but it can also be advantageous to hunt rabbits in the snow.

Running traplines is one of the best ways to build outdoor skills, deepen your understanding of animal behavior, and stay busy during the long, bitterly cold winter months. Getting started with the right insights can help you find success faster, and we're here to help.