Most commonly hunted migratory birds in South Carolina
Stacker compiled a list of the most commonly hunted migratory birds in South Carolina using data from a report released by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in August 2025. Duck and goose species are ranked by the estimated 2024 hunting harvest in South Carolina.
#10. Hooded Merganser
- South Carolina: 3,347 (2.5% of national harvest)
- National: 132,412
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Kentucky: 11,331 (8.6% of national harvest)
--- #2. North Carolina: 11,304 (8.5%)
--- #3. Minnesota: 8,743 (6.6%)
--- #4. Louisiana: 8,452 (6.4%)
--- #5. New York: 8,164 (6.2%)
#9. Northern Shoveler
- South Carolina: 5,021 (0.9% of national harvest)
- National: 558,228
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. California: 148,727 (26.6% of national harvest)
--- #2. Arkansas: 63,117 (11.3%)
--- #3. Louisiana: 57,955 (10.4%)
--- #4. Texas: 44,386 (8.0%)
--- #5. North Dakota: 38,423 (6.9%)
#8. Canada Goose
- South Carolina: 6,880 (0.3% of national harvest)
- National: 2.4 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Michigan: 167,809 (7.1% of national harvest)
--- #2. Minnesota: 149,423 (6.3%)
--- #3. Kansas: 147,696 (6.2%)
--- #4. Wisconsin: 141,923 (6.0%)
--- #5. Illinois: 140,829 (5.9%)
#7. Scoters
- South Carolina: 8,368 (9.5% of national harvest)
- National: 88,025
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Maryland: 20,053 (22.8% of national harvest)
--- #2. North Carolina: 16,380 (18.6%)
--- #3. South Carolina: 8,368 (9.5%)
--- #4. New Jersey: 7,194 (8.2%)
--- #5. New York: 6,770 (7.7%)
#6. Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal
- South Carolina: 10,879 (0.8% of national harvest)
- National: 1.3 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Texas: 298,335 (23.1% of national harvest)
--- #2. Louisiana: 295,811 (22.9%)
--- #3. Minnesota: 149,535 (11.6%)
--- #4. North Dakota: 61,729 (4.8%)
--- #5. Kansas: 61,361 (4.8%)
#5. Gadwall
- South Carolina: 14,226 (1.0% of national harvest)
- National: 1.4 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Arkansas: 295,749 (20.5% of national harvest)
--- #2. Louisiana: 180,505 (12.5%)
--- #3. Texas: 147,712 (10.2%)
--- #4. Tennessee: 85,775 (5.9%)
--- #5. Oklahoma: 85,682 (5.9%)
#4. Mallard
- South Carolina: 25,104 (0.7% of national harvest)
- National: 3.5 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Arkansas: 530,183 (15.3% of national harvest)
--- #2. Oklahoma: 201,683 (5.8%)
--- #3. Missouri: 187,251 (5.4%)
--- #4. Tennessee: 180,965 (5.2%)
--- #5. North Dakota: 164,401 (4.7%)
#3. Ring-necked Duck
- South Carolina: 44,351 (7.1% of national harvest)
- National: 626,648
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Florida: 140,058 (22.4% of national harvest)
--- #2. Minnesota: 53,061 (8.5%)
--- #3. South Carolina: 44,351 (7.1%)
--- #4. Texas: 43,659 (7.0%)
--- #5. Louisiana: 42,862 (6.8%)
#2. Green-winged Teal
- South Carolina: 77,823 (3.2% of national harvest)
- National: 2.4 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. California: 332,993 (13.9% of national harvest)
--- #2. Louisiana: 263,211 (11.0%)
--- #3. Texas: 219,022 (9.1%)
--- #4. Arkansas: 209,789 (8.8%)
--- #5. North Carolina: 134,267 (5.6%)
#1. Wood Duck
- South Carolina: 112,133 (6.3% of national harvest)
- National: 1.8 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Georgia: 215,316 (12.1% of national harvest)
--- #2. Louisiana: 205,256 (11.5%)
--- #3. Arkansas: 175,526 (9.8%)
--- #4. Minnesota: 114,865 (6.4%)
--- #5. Wisconsin: 112,564 (6.3%)
Stacker Local
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 10:54 AM.