(A) The department will issue tags for the hunting and taking of deer.

(1) Antlered deer tags issued to individuals are valid statewide as prescribed by the department except on property with a Deer Quota Program permit for antlered deer.

(2) Antlerless deer tags issued to individuals are valid statewide as prescribed by the department except on property with a Deer Quota Program permit for antlerless deer.

(3) Deer Quota Program tags are valid only on properties for which they are issued.

(B)(1) Deer taken pursuant to individual deer tags, during any season regardless of weapon, must be tagged with a valid individual deer tag. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill.

(2) Deer taken pursuant to Deer Quota Program tags must be tagged with a valid Deer Quota Program tag and reported to the department as prescribed. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill.

(C) It is unlawful for an individual:

(1) to harvest or attempt to harvest a deer on property with a Deer Quota Program permit without having access and authorization to utilize Deer Quota Program tags for the property on which the person is hunting;

(2) to harvest or attempt to harvest a deer on property without a Deer Quota Program permit unless the person possesses a set of individual deer tags issued in the person's name;

(3) to possess, move, or transport an untagged deer which was harvested by hunting in South Carolina;

(4) to use or attempt to use more than one set of deer tags or tags issued in another person's name to harvest a deer; and

(5) to alter a deer tag for fraudulent or unlawful purposes.

(D) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

HISTORY: 2016 Act No. 257 (S.454), Section 6, eff July 1, 2017.