Public land offers plenty for SC deer hunters
August is a pivotal month for deer season preparation in South Carolina for Wildlife Management Area (WMA) hunting.
The large acreage of land in the WMA program has tremendous habitat diversity and provides opportunities for South Carolina hunters to enjoy a successful season. We’ve narrowed the search to target the top WMAs in each of the four Game Zones in the state for 2022.
Hunting on the WMAs as a whole is good according to Charles Ruth, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Big Game Program Coordinator.
Ruth said that during the 2020 season, the latest season with available harvest numbers, the WMA harvest estimate is that 4,113 bucks, 3,245 does, and 9 deer of unknown sex were harvested for a total deer harvest of 7,367 deer. This figure represents a 5 percent increase from 2019, higher than the overall statewide average of a 2.4 percent harvest increase.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has an extensive set of maps for WMAs available via their website at www.dnr.sc.gov.
Because many WMAs are managed individually with specific management practices unique for only that property, the rules and regulations governing use of these lands vary. Each hunter is responsible for ensuring they understand the rules and regulations for the specific WMA hunted.
GAME ZONE 1
Unnamed, isolated WMAs are prime targets
Because of the topography and size of the area of Game Zone 1, Ruth said some of the best WMA deer hunting is found on several of the unnamed WMAs of the Sumter National Forest in that part of the state. The small areas are subject to management activities such as timber harvests that can alter habitat dramatically from one year to the next.
“Some of these changes are ideal for deer hunters such as timber harvests that leave areas of clear cuts for vegetative regrowth,” Ruth said. “Beginning a couple of years after harvest, the regrowth process begins to create prime deer habitat that lasts for several years. Hunters doing their legwork in preseason can find these areas and identify potential hotspots. But hunters need to physically check the areas to ensure good deer habitat exists.”
Ruth said as new areas begin to produce quality hunting habitat, areas cut more than 10 years prior can begin to be less productive as habitat trends toward a more open forest environment.
“But recent timber harvests generate dramatic changes for the better in terms of deer habitat as dense, diverse growth creates areas of prime deer habitat,” Ruth said.
Game Zone 1 Nugget
Ruth said the Jocassee Gorges WMA, consisting of 43,500 acres of land owned primarily by the SCDNR, is a good example of a large area to focus hunting efforts in Game Zone 1.
“Jocassee Gorges has a low population density of deer, but that makes it potentially productive for hunters seeking trophy animals,” Ruth said.
“The rugged terrain is physically demanding. But the payoff can be big deer,” Ruth said.
GAME ZONE 2
Worth Mountain WMA
Worth Mountain WMA is a 1,643-acre area in York County that offers excellent deer hunting opportunities. Ruth said antler restrictions apply and this tract was privately owned and managed for quality deer hunting prior to SCDNR acquiring the land.
“SCDNR continued the quality deer management practices in place and it seems to have worked well,” he said. “Hunters do have to check in and out when hunting at Worth Mountain.”
“Part of the property borders the Broad River, enhancing habitat diversity,” he said. “Good small game hunting also exists which is also indicative of habitat diversity that deer hunters can use to their advantage if they scout during pre-season.”
Access to this property is via SC Highway 211 near Hickory Grove.
McCalla WMA
McCalla WMA is a 5,660-acre US Army Corps of Engineers property located on Lake Richard B. Russell in Abbeville County. It’s a named WMA via an agreement between the Corps and the SCDNR.
Ruth said this area provides quality hunting for deer. And it does have an antler restriction.
“McCalla WMA presents a good age structure for bucks. And that, coupled with the size of the area, enhances the potential for finding quality bucks,” he said. “The diversity of habitat from the lake area to higher elevation ridges offers a diversity of quality habitat for deer. Again, boots on the ground scouting by hunters is essential for hunters to keep pace with management efforts that create habitat changes to pinpoint the area with the best potential.”
Game Zone 2 Nugget
Ruth said another option is similar to what he described in Game Zone 1 of hunting unnamed WMA tracts in Newberry, Laurens, Fairfield and Chester counties within Game Zone 2, most of which is in Sumter National Forest.
“This portion of the state typically has excellent private land deer habitat. And the small, isolated WMA tracts interspersed with private lands provides a diversity of quality deer habitat,” Ruth said. “Land in the smaller WMAs is generally wooded. But it often adjoins private lands having open areas, creating a diversity of habitat. This provides hunters the opportunity to hunt areas with less restrictive antler regulations than the above-named WMAs. These unnamed areas generally follow the hunting regulations for Game Zone 2 once the WMA season opens.”
GAME ZONE 3
Botany Bay
The 3,363-acre Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in the northeast corner of Edisto Island in lower Charleston County. It is in close proximity to the North Edisto River.
Botany Bay WMA lies within the boundary of the ACE Basin Focus Area, one of the largest remaining relatively undeveloped wetland ecosystems along the Atlantic Coast.
Ruth said Botany Bay WMA is isolated and protected as part of the ACE basin. And that’s part of what makes the deer hunting productive.
“Botany Bay WMA has an excellent deer population and a lot of deer are harvested,” he said. “The latest harvest rate is 19.2 deer per square mile and is the highest of named WMAs in the state,” he said. “Botany Bay has antler restrictions and offers reasonable gun hunting opportunities via the Lottery Hunts Program. However, bowhunting opportunities are outside of the Lottery Hunts Program. And they offer hunters an excellent opportunity to harvest deer prior to gun hunts.”
Crackerneck WMA
Ruth said the 10,600-acre Crackerneck WMA is owned by the U. S Department of Energy and managed by the SCDNR. The area is open only during designated dates. And times and public access is tightly controlled.
“The Crackerneck area has antler restrictions and this management technique has helped form a good age structure of bucks,” Ruth said. “The limited access in terms of hunting only on designated days reduces pressure on deer, also improving hunting productivity.
Everyone utilizing Crackerneck WMA must sign in at the check station prior to entering the property and sign out before leaving. In addition to entering through the check station gate, individuals are also allowed to access Crackerneck from the Savannah River. But they must register prior to entering the river and return to sign out. SCDNR personnel will be present at all times to assist with registration, answer questions and provide maps.
Game Zone 3 Nugget
Ruth said although gun hunts on Hamilton Ridge and Palachucola WMAs are via the Lottery Hunts Program, archery hunting is not. Archery hunters can take advantage of several weeks of hunting prior to gun hunts that are under the lottery system. Hunters must still check in and out at the kiosks.
GAME ZONE 4
Woodbury WMA
Woodbury WMA is a 25,668 Acre WMA in Marion County. Its size and habitat diversity are key components to good deer hunting at this area.
Ruth said one caution he has with this WMA is it is prone to flooding. And it has been closed at times for extended periods.
“But the potential for excellent deer hunting is high. And that makes it worth checking out” he said. “A wide diversity of habitat exists as documented by excellent small game opportunities. Woodbury is also a Class II Waterfowl Management Area.”
An extensive road network provides good access throughout the WMA and boat access to the area exists via numerous boat landings.
Ruth said on-site scouting is essential at Woodbury to identify potentially productive areas prior to the hunting season.
Little Pee Dee Heritage WMA
Ruth said the Little Pee Dee Heritage WMA offers a diversity of hunting opportunities. And the 10,247-acres provides the size and habitat diversity to make it potentially highly productive for deer.
“The WMA lies along the Little Pee Dee River. It is a complex of multiple properties lying adjacent to the river,” he said. “Hunters must refer to maps to ensure they’re on public lands. And they can utilize boats to access remote areas.”
Ruth said excellent deer hunting opportunity exists and some of the prime habitat is remote and not easily accessed.
“For those willing to go to the effort, the potential for excellent public land deer hunting is available,” he said.
Game Zone 4 Nugget
Ruth said the 2,024-acre Oak Lea WMA in Clarendon County typically produces excellent deer hunting. The WMA lies in the upper Lake Marion area. Based on historical data, except when significant flooding occurs, Ruth said Oak Lea is typically quite productive for deer hunting.
“Lots of habitat diversity exists. And for a smaller area, hunters willing to put forth effort can get into isolated areas to hunt,” Ruth said.
WMA hunting license requirements
Anyone wishing to hunt on WMAs in South Carolina must have the proper licenses and follow some rules that may be more stringent than rules for hunting private land.
Aside from a valid South Carolina hunting license, those hunting on WMAs must also have a special WMA hunting permit. South Carolina residents may purchase a yearly WMA permit for $30.50, or a three-year permit for $91.50 Non-residents may purchase a yearly WMA permit for $76.
South Carolina residents can also opt for purchasing the yearly Sportsman License for $50 ($150 for 3 years). This license includes hunting, freshwater fishing, and WMA permits.
Hunting licenses and WMA permits may be purchased online at www.dnr.sc.gov/purchase, by calling 866-714-3611, or in person at SCDNR offices in Aynor, Charleston, Clemson, Florence, York and at the SC State Farmer’s Market, or at select retail stores.
The SCDNR reminds hunters that on WMA lands during any gun and muzzleloader hunting season for deer, bear and hogs, all hunters, including small game hunters, must wear either a hat, coat, or vest of solid visible international orange. Archery hunters are exempt from this only during archery-only deer seasons.
WMAs also have some weapons restrictions. WMA deer hunters are not allowed to use armor-piercing, tracer, incendiary, or full metal bullets or .22 or smaller rimfire. Shotguns with only buckshot or slugs are allowed, except buckshot is prohibited during still gun hunts for deer on WMA lands in Game Zones 3-4.
For a full look at WMA regulations, check out the WMA section of the SCDNR website at www.dnr.sc.gov.
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