SCDNR hosting turkey draw hunts; application deadline is Feb. 29

Several public draw hunts are available on WMA lands for the 2016 turkey season.

Hunts to be held on several WMAs throughout the state

Every year, the SCDNR holds a number of public draw turkey hunts on Wildlife Management Area (WMA) lands. This year, six hunts will be held for youth hunter ages 5-17. Five hunts will be held for hunters 10-years-old and above. The deadline to apply for these hunts is Feb. 29.

Public draw hunts are simply hunts that can only support a limited number of hunters. Everyone who wants to participate in the hunts sends in an application, and a certain number of those applications are drawn. The lucky applicants then get to go on those hunts.

The youth-only hunt dates are all on Saturdays, Mar. 26, Apr. 2, Apr. 9, Apr. 16, Apr. 23, and Apr. 30. The other hunt dates are Wednesdays, Apr. 6, Apr. 13, Apr. 20, Apr. 27, and May 4.

Hunters younger than 16-years-old are not required to have a hunting license, but must be accompanied by an adult at least 21-years-old. All hunter, regardless of age, are required to have turkey tags. WMA permits are required for all successful applicants under 16-years-old, unless they have a Sportsman License, or a Junior Sportsman License. A discounted temporary WMA permit is available for $5.50, and will expire after this draw hunt.

These hunts will be held at Belfast WMA in Newberry County, Bonneau Ferry WMA in Berkeley County,  Donnelley WMA in Colleton County, Santee Cooper WMA in Orangeburg County, and Wateree Heritage Preserve in Richland County.

Click here to apply for the 2016 turkey draw hunts.

About Brian Cope 2747 Articles
Brian Cope is the editor of Carolina Sportsman. He has won numerous awards for his writing, photography, and videography. He is a retired Air Force combat communications technician, and has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina. You can reach him at brianc@sportsmannetwork.com.

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