Skip Navigation

Life's Better
 South Carolina Department
of Natural Resources

If you are seeing this, then your internet browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer and you are running in Compatibility mode. You will not be able to view the application with this browser and these settings.



Please remove "SC.GOV" from your compatibility view listings using your settings in the Internet Explorer options.

SCDNR News

Duck hunters, some important information about federal duck stamps

November 22, 2024

Saturday marks the opening day of the 2024-2025 duck season in South Carolina. Waterfowl hunters have two options to fulfill their licensing requirements for a federal duck stamp. Hunters may choose to purchase an electronic federal duck stamp, or they may choose to purchase a traditional federal duck stamp from any U.S. Post Office.

Those who choose the physical stamp must still sign and affix the stamp to their license when hunting migratory waterfowl. Both the e-stamp and physical stamp are valid for the entire waterfowl season.

While hunting, the electronic federal duck stamp must be in hunter’s possession or visible on the Go Outdoors SC mobile app. Nonresident hunters who have purchased a federal stamp in their home state must present proof from their home state they have purchased the federal stamp, which will be valid in South Carolina.

Changes to the federal duck stamp do not apply to the free migratory bird permit. Hunters are still required to have a South Carolina-issued migratory bird permit and complete the harvest data survey of their 2023-2024 South Carolina harvest.

To legally target waterfowl in South Carolina, hunters must have a state hunting license, migratory bird (HIP) permit, state waterfowl permit, federal duck stamp and WMA permit, where applicable. Hunters can purchase required licenses online at gooutdoorssouthcarolina.com, through the mobile app, at any of our license point of sale vendors or any SCDNR regional customer service location.

Those who purchase an e-stamp will receive a physical stamp via U.S. Postal Service beginning March 10, 2025, after the close of the South Carolina waterfowl season.

When hunting migratory waterfowl in South Carolina, you must have:

  • State hunting license (or combination license that includes hunting)
  • Migratory bird (HIP) permit (free)
  • State waterfowl permit ($15.50)
  • Federal duck stamp - electronic or traditional ($30)
  • WMA permit (when hunting on WMA land)