General Regulations
On all DNR owned WMA lands the removal of artifacts or ecofacts (including arrowheads) from the surface or subsurface is prohibited except when approved by the State Historic Preservation Office and carried out in accordance with their guidelines.
See page 35 for regulations on private lands in Game Zones 1 & 2. Statutes 50-11-2200 and 50-11-2210 authorizes the promulgation of WMA regulations. See specific game zones for seasons.
2.1 Except as provided in these regulations, it is unlawful to hunt or take wildlife on areas designated by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) as Wildlife Management Area (WMA) lands.
2.2 Entry onto WMA land is done wholly and completely at the risk of the individual. Neither the landowner or the State of South Carolina nor the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources accepts any responsibility for acts, omissions, or activities or conditions on these lands which cause or may cause personal injury or property damage.
2.3 Entry onto WMA land constitutes consent to an inspection and search of the person, game bag or creel.
2.4 It is unlawful for anyone to hunt or take wildlife on WMA land unless an individual is in possession of a valid South Carolina license; a valid WMA permit; and other applicable federal or state permits, stamps, or licenses.
2.5 No Sunday hunting is permitted on any WMA lands.
2.6 On all WMA lands, baiting or hunting over a baited area is prohibited. As used in this section, "bait" or "baiting" means the placing, depositing, exposing, distributing, or scattering of shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat, or other grain or other food stuffs to constitute an attraction, lure, or enticement to, on, or over any area. "Baited area" means an area where bait is directly or indirectly placed, deposited, exposed, distributed, or scattered and the area remains a baited area for ten (10) days following the complete removal of all bait.
2.7 On WMA lands construction or use of tree stands is prohibited if the tree stand is constructed by driving nails or other devices into trees or if wire is wrapped around trees. Other tree stands and temporary screw-in type climbing devices are permitted provided they are not permanently affixed or embedded in the tree.
2.8 On State-owned, US Forest Service and other Federally-owned WMA lands any hunter younger than sixteen (16) years of age must be accompanied by an adult (21 years or older) who is validly licensed and holds applicable permits, licenses or stamps for the use of WMA lands. Sight and voice contact must be maintained. This also applies to non-state or non-federally owned leased WMA land in Game Zones 1 and 2 for deer hunting.
2.9 Notwithstanding any other provision of these regulations, the Department may permit special seasons on any day during the regular hunting season.
2.10 No person may release or attempt to release any animal onto Department- owned WMA lands without approval from the Department.
2.11 While hunting on Department-owned WMA's, no person may consume or be under the influence of intoxicants, including beer, wine, liquor or drugs.
2.12 On WMA lands, during the designated statewide youth deer hunt day, still hunting only, two deer, either-sex.
Weapons
3.1 On WMA lands hunters may use any shotgun, rifle, bow and arrow or hand gun except that specific weapons may be prohibited on certain hunts. Small game hunters may possess or use shotguns with shot no larger than No. 2 or .22 or smaller rimfire rifles/handguns or primitive muzzle-loading rifles of .40 caliber or smaller. Small game hunters may not possess or use buckshot, slugs or shot larger than No. 2 . Blow guns, dart guns or drugged arrows are not permitted. Small game hunters using archery equipment must use small game tips on the arrows (judo points, bludgeon points, etc.). The use of crossbows during any archery only season is unlawful except as allowed by 50-11-565.
3.2 For Special Primitive Weapons Seasons, primitive weapons include bow and arrow and muzzle-loading shotguns (20 gauge or larger) and rifles (.36 caliber or larger) with open or peep sights or scopes, which use black powder or a black powder substitute that does not contain nitro-cellulose or nitro-glycerin components as the propellant charge; there are no restrictions on ignition systems (e.g. Flintstone, percussion cap, shotgun primer, disk, electronic, etc.). During primitive weapons season, no revolving rifles are permitted. Crossbows may be used on WMA and private lands only during firearms and muzzleloader seasons for deer and bear. Use of crossbows during archery only seasons for deer requires special exemption.
3.3 On WMA lands, big game hunters are not allowed to use military or hard-jacketed bullets or .22 or smaller rimfire. Buckshot is prohibited during still hunts for deer or hogs on the Santee Coastal Reserve, Bucksport, Pee Dee Station Site, Lewis Ocean Bay, Great Pee Dee, Crackerneck, Webb Center, Marsh Furniture, Manchester State Forest, Palachucola, Waccamaw River Heritage Preserve, Donnelley, Francis Marion, Moultrie, Edisto River, Bonneau Ferry and McBee WMA lands.
3.4 On DNR-owned WMA's during periods when hunting is permitted, all firearms transported in vehicles must be unloaded. On the Francis Marion Hunt Unit during deer hunts with dogs, loaded shotguns may be transported in vehicles. Any shotgun, centerfire rifle or rimfire rifle or pistol with a shell in the chamber or magazine or muzzleloader with a cap on the nipple or flintlock with powder in the flash pan is considered loaded.
3.5 No target practice is permitted on Department-owned WMA lands except in specifically designated areas.
3.6 On State-owned, US Forest Service and other Federally-owned lands during still gun hunts for deer or hogs there shall be no hunting or shooting from, on or across any road open to vehicle traffic. During any deer or hog hunt there shall be no open season for hunting on any designated recreational trail on U.S Forest Service or S.C. Public Service Authority property.
Deer
Note: The regulations for hunting deer on private lands in Game Zones 1 & 2 are contained on page 35 of the Brochure.
4.1 On state-owned, US Forest Service and other Federally-ownednWMA lands with designated check stations, all deer bagged must be checked at a check station. Deer bagged too late for reporting one day must be reported the following day. Unless otherwise specified by the department, only bucks (male deer) may be taken on all WMA lands. Male deer must have antlers visible two (2) inches above the hairline to be legally bagged on "bucks only" hunts. Male deer with visible antlers of less than two (2) inches above the hairline must be taken only on eithersex days or pursuant to permits issued by the department. A point is any projection at least one inch long and longer than wide at some location at least one inch from the tip of the projection. Antler spread is the greatest outside measurement (main beam or points) on a plane perpendicular to the skull. On WMA lands, man drives for deer are permitted between 10:00 a.m. and 2 :00 p.m. only, except that no man drives may be conducted on days designated by the department for taking deer of either-sex. On WMA lands, drivers participating in man drives are prohibited from carrying or using weapons. On WMA lands, in Game Zones 1 & 2 man drives will be permitted on the last four (4) scheduled either-sex days. A man drive is defined as an organized hunting technique involving two (2) or more individuals whereby an attempt is made to drive game animals from cover or habitat for the purpose of shooting, killing or moving such animals toward other hunters.
4.2 Deer either-sex days for gun hunts are as follows (See Game Zone sections (Adobe PDF File) for specific dates):
- Game Zone 1: The first two sets of Fridays and Saturdays in November.
- Game Zones 2 - 6: (except Dillon, Horry and Marlboro counties) Saturday after October 3 ; every Friday and/or Saturday from October 11 to Thanksgiving day inclusive; Saturdays in December beginning 23 days after Thanksgiving day; and the last day of the open season.
- Dillon, Horry and Marlboro counties: Saturday after October 3 ; beginning October 11, the next 2 Fridays and Saturdays, inclusive, and the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Dogs
5.1 On all WMA lands, dogs may be used for small game hunting unless otherwise specified.
5.2 On all WMA lands in Game Zones 1 & 2 , dogs may not be used for rabbit hunting during still gun hunts for deer. Dogs may be used from the close of the gun season for deer until the close of the rabbit season. Dogs may be trained for rabbit hunting from September 1 through September 30 (no guns).
5.3 On WMA lands, dogs may be used for hunting foxes, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats or opossums only between thirty (30) minutes after official sunset and 30 minutes before official sunrise.
5.4 The Department may permit deer hunting with dogs on WMA areas not located in Game Zones 1 & 2 . For the purposes of tracking a wounded deer, a hunter may use one dog which is kept on a leash.
5.5 Dogs may be used to hunt bear on WMA lands in Game Zone 1 during the special bear season.
Vehicles
All terrain vehicles (ATV’s) are not allowed on any heritage preserve.
6.1 On all WMA lands, no hunter may shoot from a vehicle except that paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may take game from any stationary motor driven land conveyance or trailer which is operated in compliance with these rules. For purposes of this regulation, paraplegic means an individual afflicted with paralysis in the lower half of the body with involvement of both legs, usually due to disease of or injury to the spinal cord.
6.2 On Department-owned WMA lands, motor driven land conveyances must be operated only on designated roads or trails. Unless otherwise specified, roads or trails which are closed by barricades and/or signs, either permanently or temporarily, are off limits to motor-driven land conveyances.
6.3 It is unlawful to obstruct travel routes on Department-owned WMA lands.
Visible Color Clothing
7.1 On all state-owned, US forest Service and other Federally owned WMA lands during any gun and muzzleloader hunting seasons for deer, bear and hogs, all hunters must wear either a hat, coat, or vest of solid visible international orange, except hunters for dove, turkey and duck are exempt from this requirement while hunting for those species.
Camping
8.1 Camping is not permitted on DNR-owned WMA lands except in designated camp sites.
Trapping
9.1 Trapping on WMA lands is not permitted.
Waterfowl & Dove Regulations
10.1 Unless specially designated by the Department as a Wildlife Management Area for Waterfowl or a Wildlife Management Area for Dove, all Wildlife Management Areas 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. All laws and regulations governing Wildlife Management Areas apply to these special 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 WMA.
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 public access from October 20 until March 1, except for special hunts designated by the SCDNR.
10.8 Sandy Beach Waterfowl Area and impoundments on Bonneau Ferry WMA are closed to hunting 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 hunting access during the period 01 Nov.-01 Feb. except for special hunts designated by the Department.
10.10 Impoundments on Bear Island, Donnelly, 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 01 Feb.-14 Oct. is limited to designated areas.
10.11 Potato Creek Hatchery Waterfowl Area is closed to 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 3 1. All hunters must enter and leave the Potato Creek Hatchery Waterfowl Area through the designated public landing on secondary road 2 60 and complete a data card and deposit card in receptacle prior to leaving the area. Hunting hour are from 3 0 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 except on the last Saturday of waterfowl season when hunters may hunt until sunset. Each hunter is limited to twentyfive nontoxic shot shells (steel, bismuth/tin, bismuth, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-iron) per hunt and no buckshot allowed. Hunters must enter and leave Hatchery WMA through the Hatchery Landing and accurately complete a data card and deposit card in receptable prior to leaving the area. No airboats are allowed in the Hatchery WMA for hunting or fishing during the period Nov. 15-Jan. 3 1. No fishing is 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, Samson Island Unit (Bear Island), Tyger River, Marsh, Wee Tee, and Woodbury 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.
10.18 Designated Dove Management Areas include all dove management areas as published by the Department in the annual listing of WMA public dove fields and are subject to regulations filed annually.
10.19 Hickory Top Greentree Reservoir is closed to hunting access November 1 until March 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 3 0 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 from roads or the dike system. Hunters may only use electric motors on boats.
10.20 On all state-owned, US Forest Service and other Federally-owned Category I and II Waterfowl Management Areas, each hunter is limited to 25 non-toxic shells (steel, bismuth/tin, bismuth, tungsten, polymer, tungsten-iron) 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 accesss during scheduled waterfowl hunts. Completed data cards must be returned daily upon leaving the area.
Amphibians and Reptiles
11.1 Taking of any amphibian or reptile, except the bullfrog, is prohibited on any Department-owned Wildlife Management Areas without written permission of the Department.
123-52.Deer Hunting on Private Lands in Game Zones 1and 2 (50-11-310, 50-11-350, 50-11-390).
- Seasons as filed and listed in this brochure.
- Hunters may use any shotgun, rifle, bow and arrow or hand gun except that specific weapons may be prohibited on certain hunts.
- For Special Primitive Weapons Seasons, primitive weapons include bow and arrow and muzzle-loading shotguns (20 gauge or larger) and rifles (.36 caliber or larger) with open or peep sights or scopes, which use black powder or a black powder substitute that does not contain nitro-cellulose or nitro-glycerin components as the propellant charge. There are no restrictions on ignition systems (flintstone, percussion cap, shotgun primer, disk, electronic, etc.). During primitive weapons season, no revolving rifles are permitted. Crossbows may be used on WMA and private land only during firearms and muzzleloader seasons for deer and bear.
- Hunters are not allowed to take deer with military or hard-jacketed bullets or .22 or smaller rimfire.
- It is unlawful to hunt deer with dogs in Game Zones 1 & 2 . For the purpose of tracking a wounded deer, a hunter may use one dog which is kept on a leash.
- On all private lands (in Game Zones 1 & 2 ), baiting or hunting over a baited area is prohibited. As used in this section, "bait" or "baiting" means the placing, depositing, exposing, distributing, or scattering of shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat, or other grain or other food stuffs to constitute an attraction, lure, or enticement to, on, or over any area. "Baited area" means an area where bait is directly or indirectly placed, deposited, exposed, distributed, or scattered and the area remains a baited area for ten (10) days following the complete removal of all bait.
123-53. Bear Hunting Rules and Seasons (50-11-430)
- The open season for taking bears by still hunting in Game Zone 1 is Monday through Saturday the 3 rd week in October. 1 bear, no bears 100 lbs. or less, no sow with cubs at her side.
- The open season for taking bears with the aid of dogs by a party permitted by the Department in Game Zone 1 is Monday through Saturday the 4 th week in October. 3 bears per party, no bears 100 lbs. or less, no sow with cubs at her side. Maximum party size is 25. Groups hunting together are considered 1 party.
- All parties must register with SCDNR Bear Permit Registration, 311 Natural Resources Drive, Clemson, SC 29631 by September 15. All harvested bear must be reported to the Clemson Wildlife Office at 864-654-1671 ext. 19 within 24 hours of harvest.