Draper Tracts Wildlife Management Area
Contact Information
Jeff WittSC Department of Natural Resources
124 Wildlife Drive
Union, SC 29379
Phone: 864-427-5140
E-mail: wittj@dnr.sc.gov
Hours of Operation
- Call for Information.
Description
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) acquired the Draper Tract on October 30, 1995. It was purchased from The Nation Ford Land Trust utilizing County Game and Fish Funds from York County. The property was previously owned by Mr. R. Fisher Draper and has sometimes been referred to as the Brattonsville Tract because of its proximity to the community of Brattonsville.
The Draper Tract consists of 806 acres and lies approximately 10 miles south of the town of York in York County, South Carolina. The property is located south of State Road 322 and west of Secondary Road 165 (Brattonsville Road), borders Love Creek to the south, and is situated at a latitude of N 34 degrees and 52 minutes and a longitude of E 81 degrees and 12 minutes. Access to the property is limited with a parking area provided.
Since its purchase in 1995, the York County Legislative Delegation has authorized over $100,000 of the York County Game and Fish Funds for management of the property.
Approximately 80 acres of planted loblolly, natural loblolly, shortleaf, and Virginia pine are present. Hardwood stands on this tract comprise approximately 371 acres (46 percent) and occur in both upland and bottomland sites.A significant number of desirable mast producing hardwood species such as red oak, white oak, water oak, willow oak and swamp chestnut oak along with hickory, black walnut, dogwood and redbud occur.
There are currently about 386 acres (48 percent) of this tract that is open land or is non-forested and consists primarily of abandoned fields, powerline right-of-ways (ROW's) and ponds. Many of the fields or open areas are relatively large in size, some in excess of 50 to 75 acres. The open areas are managed by periodic mowing, disking and burning to maintain an early successional habitat.
This WMA is managed specifically for small game however good white-tailed deer and wild turkey populations are present. Special seasons and/or bag limits apply for quail, rabbit and turkey. Participants for opening day dove hunts (Youth and Adult) are limited and are selected by drawing.
Although managed for hunting, other forms of outdoor recreation such as hiking, biking, and bird watching are very popular at this WMA because of its proximity to Rock Hill, SC and Charlotte, NC. No horseback riding is allowed. There are 3 stocked ponds on this WMA and special limits and open times apply. See a list of DNR State Lakes in a current copy of the Rules and Regulations booklet for details.
In the Spring of 2004, the DNR partnered with the Rock Hill Chapter NWTF, local businesses and the York County Legislative Delegation to conduct a Youth Fishing Rodeo and Jakes event. It was a great success with over 100 youths in attendance. Plans are to have this as an annual event.
For further information, contact Jeff Witt through the Region 2 Field Office in York at 864-427-5140 or by email at wittj@dnr.sc.gov.