Waterfowl Management Area Regulations
2.3 Entry onto WMA land constitutes consent to an inspection and search of the person, game bag or creel.
10.1 Unless specially designated by the SCDNR as a Waterfowl or Dove Management Area, all WMAs and Hunt Units are open during the regular season for hunting and taking of migratory birds except where restricted to special small game seasons within the regular migratory bird framework.
10.2 The Department may designate sections of Wildlife Management Areas and other lands and waters under the control of the Department as Designated Waterfowl Management Areas or Designated Dove Management Areas. In addition, the Department may set special shooting hours, bag limits, and methods of hunting and taking waterfowl and doves on those areas. All State and Federal migratory bird laws and regulations apply. Regulations pertaining to the use of Dove Management Areas will be filed annually.
10.3 On areas where blinds are not provided, only temporary blinds of native vegetation may be constructed, and once vacated become available for others or portable blinds which are removed at the conclusion of the hunt may be used.
10.4 On Designated Waterfowl Areas, no species other than waterfowl may be taken during waterfowl hunts. On Designated Dove Management Areas no species other than doves may be taken during dove hunts. Only dove hunting is allowed at Lake Wallace.
10.5 No fishing is permitted in any Category 1 Designated Waterfowl Management Area during scheduled waterfowl hunts.
10.6 The Clarks Hill Waterfowl area is closed to hunting except for waterfowl hunting and other special hunts as designated by the SCDNR.
10.7 Santee Cooper WMA is closed to hunting from October 20 until March 1, except for special hunts designated by the SCDNR.
10.8 Sandy Beach Waterfowl Area is closed to hunting access and Impoundments on Bonneau Ferry WMA are closed to public access during the period 01 Nov.-01 Mar. except for special hunts designated by the Department.
10.9 Broad River Waterfowl Management Area is closed to public access during the period 01 Nov.-01 Feb. except for special hunts designated by the Department.
10.10 Impoundments on Bear Island, Donnelley, Samworth, Santee Coastal Reserve and Santee Delta WMAs are closed to all public access during the period 15 Oct. - 31 Jan. except during special hunts designated by the Department. All public access during the period 1 Feb.-14 Oct. is limited to designated areas. On Bear Island WMA, Mathews' Canal is closed to all hunting from Nov. 1 - Feb. 15 beyond a point 0.8 mile from the confluence of Mathews' Canal with the South Edisto River.
10.11 Potato Creek Hatchery Waterfowl Area is closed to all hunting access one week prior to opening of waterfowl season through January 31, except for scheduled waterfowl hunts. No fishing one week prior to opening of waterfowl season through January 31. All hunters must enter and leave the Potato Creek Hatchery Waterfowl Area through the designated public landing on secondary road 260 and complete a data card and deposit card in receptacle prior to leaving the area. Hunting hours are from 30 minutes before legal sunrise to legal sunset (including the special youth hunt). Hunters may not enter the area prior to 3:00 a.m. on hunt days. No airboats are allowed for hunting or fishing and no hunting from secondary road 260.
10.12 Hunters may not enter Hatchery WMA prior to 3 AM and must leave the area by 1 PM. Hunters must enter and leave Hatchery WMA through the Hatchery Landing and accurately complete and deposit a data card in receptacle prior to leaving this area. No airboats are allowed in the Hatchery WMA for hunting or fishing during the period 15 Nov.-31. Jan. No fishing allowed during scheduled waterfowl hunts.
10.14 The Francis Marion National Forest, Crackerneck WMA, Palachucola, Tillman Sand Ridge WMA and Webb Wildlife Center are open during special small game seasons within the regular migratory bird seasons; Fant’s Grove WMA is open AM only on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the regular migratory bird seasons.
10.15 Category I Designated Waterfowl Areas include Beaverdam, Bonneau Ferry, Broad River, Clemson, Santee Cooper, Sandy Beach, Samworth, Santee Coastal Reserve, Santee-Delta, Tibwin, Bear Island, and Donnelley Wildlife Management Areas. Hunting in Category I Designated Waterfowl Areas is by special permit obtained through annual computer drawing.
10.16 Category II Designated Waterfowl Areas include Biedler Impoundment, Carr Creek (bounded by Samworth WMA), Little Carr Creek (bounded by Samworth WMA), Lake Cunningham, Russell Creek, Monticello Reservoir, Parr Reservoir, Duncan Creek, Dunaway, Dungannon, Enoree River, Moultrie, Hatchery, Hickory Top, Hickory Top Greentree Reservoir, Lancaster Reservoir, Turtle Island, Little Pee Dee River Complex (including Ervin Dargan, Horace Tilghman), Great Pee Dee River, Potato Creek Hatchery, Sampson Island Unit (Bear Island), Tyger River, Marsh, Wee Tee, Woodbury, and Ditch Pond Waterfowl Management Areas. Hunting on Category II Designated Waterfowl Areas is in accordance with scheduled dates and times.
10.17 On Hickory Top WMA public waterfowl hunting without a Wildlife Management Area(WMA) permit is allowed on all land and water below 76.8'. Waterfowl hunting at or above elevation 76.8' requires a WMA permit. A WMA permit is required for waterfowl hunting in Hickory Top Greentree Reservoir.
10.19 Hickory Top Greentree Reservoir is closed to all public access Nov. 1 until Mar. 1, except for special hunts designated by SCDNR. All hunters must accurately complete a data card and deposit card in receptacle prior to leaving the area. Hunting hours are from 30 minutes before legal sunrise until 11:00 AM. Hunters may not enter the area prior to 5:00 AM on hunt days. No open season on roads or dikes. Hunters may use only electric motors on boats.
10.20 On all Category I and II Waterfowl Management Areas each hunter is limited to 25 shells which must be non-toxic (steel, bismuthtin, bismuth, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-iron or other Federally approved shot) per hunt and no buckshot allowed.
10.21 On Enoree River, Dunaway, Duncan Creek and Tyger River Waterfowl Areas data cards are required for hunter access during scheduled waterfowl hunts. Completed data cards must be returned daily upon leaving each of these areas.
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