RE: South carolina opening date??
I lived in Charleston for 7 years, went to college there and stuck around for three years afterwards. In the lowcountry, the coastal counties from Georgia, up through Charleston and on to Georgetown, then up the middle of the state to Orangeburg (I think 11 counties total), the deer season opens August 15th.
Thats THE deer season..... ain't no bow season, no muzzleloader season, no gun season... its anything goes from day 1. Seven days a week for 4.5 months.
Kinda nice really. The last year I lived there I spent August 15th with a 7mm-08 perched over a green peanut field in Orangeburg county. I was sweating like a hen in the fox house, had a MASSIVE easter diamondback slither under my treestand (over 80" long), and I saw a PILE of deer.... just not the right one. Its bucks only until September 15th (migth be the 1st, but I think its the 15th). After that it depends on where you are hutning as to how many does you may take.