State guide

Public land that may allow hunting in South Carolina

105 named public land units in South Carolina from PAD-US 4.1: 73 state wildlife & game areas, 11 forests & grasslands, 7 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 3 lake & reservoir project lands, 11 other public land units. The largest are Sumter National Forest, Francis Marion National Forest, Hartwell Recreation Area.

105listed areas
1.3Macres (approx.)
73state wildlife & game areas

2026 deer season opening dates by state. For South Carolina, check the agency link below.

Regulations & licenses: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with the state agency before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

Check regulations with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Where the listed areas are

State wildlife & game areas (73)Forests & grasslands (11)Wildlife refuges & WPAs (7)Lake & reservoir project land (3)Other public land (11)

One dot per area at its reference point; larger dots are larger areas. Outline: U.S. Census Bureau.

Acres by land type

Approximate acres for the portion of each unit inside South Carolina.

Photos from South Carolina public lands

All photo credits

National Forest land
Sumter National Forest
374,290 acres
Photo: Forest Service Photography · public domain · original source

Public-domain photos by U.S. federal agencies, taken in the place named on each card.

All 105 areas, largest first

Land type Manager PAD-US access Minimum size

National Forest land
Sumter National Forest
374,290 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Oconee County, Union County + 9 more
Open access
National Forest land
Francis Marion National Forest
263,929 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Berkeley County, Charleston County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Hartwell Recreation Area
52,076 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Anderson County, Oconee County + 1 more
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
45,937 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Chesterfield County
Restricted access
State forest
Sand Hills State Forest
45,604 acres
State: department of natural resources · Chesterfield County, Darlington County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
J. Strom Thurmond Recreation Area
44,252 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · McCormick County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
35,170 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Charleston County
Restricted access
Other state land
Jocassee Gorges
32,568 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pickens County, Oconee County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Richard B. Russell Recreation Area
27,736 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Abbeville County, Anderson County
Open access
State forest
Manchester State Forest
27,479 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sumter County, Clarendon County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Woodbury Wildlife Management Area
25,933 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marion County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area
25,774 acres
State: department of natural resources · Charleston County, Georgetown County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge
19,010 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Georgetown County, Horry County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Saint Helena Sound Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
18,507 acres
State: department of natural resources · Colleton County, Beaufort County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
15,265 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Jasper County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Hamilton Ridge Wildlife Management Area
13,282 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hampton County
Open access
State forest
Wee Tee State Forest
12,385 acres
State: department of natural resources · Williamsburg County, Georgetown County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge
12,241 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Charleston County, Beaufort County + 2 more
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area
12,134 acres
State: department of natural resources · Colleton County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area
10,706 acres
State: department of natural resources · Berkeley County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Moultrie Hunt Unit Wildlife Management Area
10,631 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Berkeley County, Orangeburg County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
10,417 acres
State: department of natural resources · Horry County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
10,411 acres
State: department of natural resources · Horry County, Marion County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Marsh Wildlife Management Area
8,613 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marion County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
7,997 acres
State: department of natural resources · Colleton County
Open access
State forest
Clemson Forest
7,508 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Pickens County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Fant's Grove Wildlife Management Area
7,250 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Anderson County, Pickens County + 1 more
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Webb Wildlife Center
6,319 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hampton County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Palachucola Wildlife Management Area
6,277 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hampton County, Jasper County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Waccamaw River Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
5,425 acres
State: department of natural resources · Horry County
Open access
Other state land
Morgan Island
4,980 acres
State: department of natural resources · Beaufort County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Santee Cooper Wildlife Management Area
4,725 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Orangeburg County, Berkeley County
Restricted access
Other state land
Belfast
4,647 acres
State: department of natural resources · Newberry County, Laurens County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Santee National Wildlife Refuge
4,458 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Clarendon County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
3,648 acres
State: department of natural resources · Charleston County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Wadboo Wildlife Management Area
3,170 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Berkeley County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Old Island Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
3,017 acres
State: department of natural resources · Beaufort County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Great Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
2,810 acres
State: department of natural resources · Darlington County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Pee Dee Station Site Wildlife Management Area
2,616 acres
State: department of natural resources · Florence County
Restricted access
Other state land
North Williman Island
2,577 acres
State: department of natural resources · Beaufort County
Open access
State forest
Poe Creek State Forest
2,428 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pickens County, Oconee County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
2,295 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lancaster County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hickory Top Wildlife Management Area
2,284 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Clarendon County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Hatchery Wildlife Management Area
2,267 acres
State: department of natural resources · Berkeley County
Restricted access
State forest
Harbison State Forest
2,114 acres
State: department of land · Richland County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
James L. Mason Wildlife Management Area
2,079 acres
State: department of natural resources · McCormick County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Calhoun Falls Wildlife Management Area
1,934 acres
State: department of natural resources · Abbeville County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Santee-Delta Wildlife Management Area
1,897 acres
State: department of natural resources · Georgetown County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Catawba River Wildlife Management Area - McDowell Tract
1,875 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lancaster County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
1,746 acres
State: department of natural resources · Greenville County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
1,713 acres
State: department of natural resources · Aiken County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Watson-Cooper Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
1,675 acres
State: department of natural resources · Greenville County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Turtle Island Wildlife Management Area
1,653 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jasper County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Worth Mountain Wildlife Management Area
1,631 acres
State: department of natural resources · York County
Restricted access
Other state land
Catawba-Pee Dee Region - Liberty Hill
1,627 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lancaster County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Keowee Wildlife Management Area
1,525 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Oconee County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Samworth Wildlife Management Area
1,522 acres
State: department of natural resources · Georgetown County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
1,505 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Beaufort County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Edisto River Wildlife Management Area
1,393 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dorchester County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
1,322 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pickens County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
1,312 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jasper County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
McBee Wildlife Management Area
1,217 acres
State: department of natural resources · Chesterfield County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ashmore Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
1,117 acres
State: department of natural resources · Greenville County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Santee Dam Wildlife Management Area
1,081 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Clarendon County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Catawba River Wildlife Management Area - Heritage Tract
1,075 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lancaster County, Chester County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
1,050 acres
State: department of natural resources · Beaufort County
Open access
State forest
Landsford Canal Forest Legacy Area
1,049 acres
State: department of natural resources · Chester County
Open access
National Forest land
Sewee Purchase Unit
957 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Charleston County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Longleaf Pine Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
838 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Draper Wildlife Management Area
800 acres
State: department of natural resources · York County
Open access
Other state land
Causey Tract
781 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Pickens County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Dungannon Plantation Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
750 acres
State: department of natural resources · Charleston County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
Other state land
Pine Island
740 acres
State: department of natural resources · Colleton County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cartwheel Bay Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
591 acres
State: department of natural resources · Horry County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cliff Pitts Wildlife Management Area
510 acres
State: department of natural resources · Laurens County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Buzzard Roost Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
501 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oconee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Brasstown Creek Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
487 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oconee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
441 acres
State: department of natural resources · McCormick County, Edgefield County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Henderson Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
433 acres
State: department of natural resources · Aiken County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Stumphouse Mountain Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
432 acres
State: department of natural resources · Oconee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Slann Island Marshland
406 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Charleston County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
377 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pickens County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Herbert Kirsh Wildlife Conservation Area
354 acres
State: department of natural resources · York County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Campbells Crossroads Wildlife Management Area
350 acres
State: department of natural resources · Chesterfield County
Open access
Other state land
Waddell Mariculture Center
317 acres
State: department of natural resources · Beaufort County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
James Ross Wildlife Reservation
307 acres
State: department of natural resources · York County
Open access
Other state land
Matthews Tract
292 acres
State: other or unknown agency · York County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Lynchburg Savanna Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
287 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Rock Hill Blackjacks Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
286 acres
State: department of natural resources · York County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ditch Pond Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
278 acres
State: department of natural resources · Barnwell County, Aiken County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Eva Russell Chandler Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
242 acres
State: department of natural resources · Greenville County
Open access
Other state land
McConnells Tract
232 acres
State: department of natural resources · York County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Potato Creek Hatchery Wildlife Management Area
227 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Clarendon County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area - Twin Bays Tract
211 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marion County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Santee Cooper Wildlife Management Area - Mill Creek
196 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Orangeburg County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Thurmond Tract Wildlife Management Area
195 acres
State: department of natural resources · Union County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Combahee Island Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area
189 acres
State: department of natural resources · Beaufort County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake John D. Long/Wildlife Lake
139 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Union County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Santee Cooper Tract Wildlife Management Area
113 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Spartanburg County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Paul Wallace Wildlife Management Area
102 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marlboro County
Open access
Other state land
Fort Johnson Marine Resources Center
99 acres
State: department of natural resources · Charleston County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Gray Court Wildlife Management Area
63 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Laurens County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Gray Court Tract Wildlife Management Area
60 acres
State: department of natural resources · Laurens County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Angelus Tract Wildlife Management Area
53 acres
State: department of natural resources · Chesterfield County
Restricted access
National Forest land
Nantahala National Forest
47 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Oconee County
Open access

Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside South Carolina. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.