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.
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 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (hunting information) before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.
All 105 areas, largest first
| Area | Acres (approx.) | Manager | Access | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter National Forest National Forest land | 374,290 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Oconee County, Union County + 9 more |
| Francis Marion National Forest National Forest land | 263,929 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Berkeley County, Charleston County |
| Hartwell Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 52,076 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Anderson County, Oconee County + 1 more |
| Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 45,937 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Chesterfield County |
| Sand Hills State Forest State forest | 45,604 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Chesterfield County, Darlington County |
| J. Strom Thurmond Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 44,252 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | McCormick County |
| Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 35,170 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Charleston County |
| Jocassee Gorges Other state land | 32,568 | State: department of natural resources | Mixed (open and restricted parcels) | Pickens County, Oconee County |
| Richard B. Russell Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 27,736 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Abbeville County, Anderson County |
| Manchester State Forest State forest | 27,479 | State: department of natural resources | Mixed (open and restricted parcels) | Sumter County, Clarendon County |
| Woodbury Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 25,933 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Marion County |
| Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 25,774 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Charleston County, Georgetown County |
| Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 19,010 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Georgetown County, Horry County |
| Saint Helena Sound Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 18,507 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Colleton County, Beaufort County |
| Savannah National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 15,265 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Jasper County |
| Hamilton Ridge Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 13,282 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Hampton County |
| Wee Tee State Forest State forest | 12,385 | State: department of natural resources | Restricted access | Williamsburg County, Georgetown County |
| Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 12,241 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Charleston County, Beaufort County + 2 more |
| Bear Island Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 12,134 | State: department of natural resources | Restricted access | Colleton County |
| Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 10,706 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Berkeley County |
| Moultrie Hunt Unit Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 10,631 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Berkeley County, Orangeburg County |
| Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 10,417 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Horry County |
| Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 10,411 | State: department of natural resources | Mixed (open and restricted parcels) | Horry County, Marion County |
| Marsh Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 8,613 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Marion County |
| Donnelley Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 7,997 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Colleton County |
| Clemson Forest State forest | 7,508 | State: other or unknown agency | Open access | Pickens County |
| Fant's Grove Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 7,250 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Anderson County, Pickens County + 1 more |
| Webb Wildlife Center State wildlife / game area | 6,319 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Hampton County |
| Palachucola Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 6,277 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Hampton County, Jasper County |
| Waccamaw River Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 5,425 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Horry County |
| Morgan Island Other state land | 4,980 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Beaufort County |
| Santee Cooper Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 4,725 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Orangeburg County, Berkeley County |
| Belfast Other state land | 4,647 | State: department of natural resources | Restricted access | Newberry County, Laurens County |
| Santee National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 4,458 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Clarendon County |
| Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 3,648 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Charleston County |
| Wadboo Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 3,170 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Berkeley County |
| Old Island Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 3,017 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Beaufort County |
| Great Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 2,810 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Darlington County |
| Pee Dee Station Site Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 2,616 | State: department of natural resources | Restricted access | Florence County |
| North Williman Island Other state land | 2,577 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Beaufort County |
| Poe Creek State Forest State forest | 2,428 | State: department of natural resources | Mixed (open and restricted parcels) | Pickens County, Oconee County |
| Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 2,295 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Lancaster County |
| Hickory Top Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 2,284 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Clarendon County |
| Hatchery Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 2,267 | State: department of natural resources | Restricted access | Berkeley County |
| Harbison State Forest State forest | 2,114 | State: department of land | Restricted access | Richland County |
| James L. Mason Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 2,079 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | McCormick County |
| Calhoun Falls Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,934 | State: department of natural resources | Mixed (open and restricted parcels) | Abbeville County |
| Santee-Delta Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,897 | State: department of natural resources | Mixed (open and restricted parcels) | Georgetown County |
| Catawba River Wildlife Management Area - McDowell Tract State wildlife / game area | 1,875 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Lancaster County |
| Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,746 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Greenville County |
| Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,713 | State: department of natural resources | Mixed (open and restricted parcels) | Aiken County |
| Watson-Cooper Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,675 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Greenville County |
| Turtle Island Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,653 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Jasper County |
| Worth Mountain Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,631 | State: department of natural resources | Restricted access | York County |
| Catawba-Pee Dee Region - Liberty Hill Other state land | 1,627 | State: department of natural resources | Restricted access | Lancaster County |
| Keowee Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,525 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Oconee County |
| Samworth Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,522 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Georgetown County |
| Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 1,505 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Beaufort County |
| Edisto River Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,393 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Dorchester County |
| Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,322 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Pickens County |
| Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,312 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Jasper County |
| McBee Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,217 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Chesterfield County |
| Ashmore Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,117 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Greenville County |
| Santee Dam Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,081 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Clarendon County |
| Catawba River Wildlife Management Area - Heritage Tract State wildlife / game area | 1,075 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Lancaster County, Chester County + 1 more |
| Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,050 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Beaufort County |
| Landsford Canal Forest Legacy Area State forest | 1,049 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Chester County |
| Sewee Purchase Unit National Forest land | 957 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Charleston County |
| Longleaf Pine Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 838 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Lee County |
| Draper Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 800 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | York County |
| Causey Tract Other state land | 781 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Pickens County |
| Dungannon Plantation Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 750 | State: department of natural resources | Mixed (open and restricted parcels) | Charleston County |
| Pine Island Other state land | 740 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Colleton County |
| Cartwheel Bay Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 591 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Horry County |
| Cliff Pitts Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 510 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Laurens County |
| Buzzard Roost Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 501 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Oconee County |
| Brasstown Creek Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 487 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Oconee County |
| Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 441 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | McCormick County, Edgefield County |
| Henderson Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 433 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Aiken County |
| Stumphouse Mountain Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 432 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Oconee County |
| Slann Island Marshland State wildlife / game area | 406 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Open access | Charleston County |
| Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 377 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Pickens County |
| Herbert Kirsh Wildlife Conservation Area State wildlife / game area | 354 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | York County |
| Campbells Crossroads Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 350 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Chesterfield County |
| Waddell Mariculture Center Other state land | 317 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Beaufort County |
| James Ross Wildlife Reservation State wildlife / game area | 307 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | York County |
| Matthews Tract Other state land | 292 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | York County |
| Lynchburg Savanna Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 287 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Lee County |
| Rock Hill Blackjacks Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 286 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | York County |
| Ditch Pond Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 278 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Barnwell County, Aiken County |
| Eva Russell Chandler Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 242 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Greenville County |
| McConnells Tract Other state land | 232 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | York County |
| Potato Creek Hatchery Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 227 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Clarendon County |
| Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area - Twin Bays Tract State wildlife / game area | 211 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Marion County |
| Santee Cooper Wildlife Management Area - Mill Creek State wildlife / game area | 196 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Orangeburg County |
| Thurmond Tract Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 195 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Union County |
| Combahee Island Heritage Preserve / Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 189 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Beaufort County |
| Lake John D. Long/Wildlife Lake State wildlife / game area | 139 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Open access | Union County |
| Santee Cooper Tract Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 113 | State: other or unknown agency | Restricted access | Spartanburg County |
| Lake Paul Wallace Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 102 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Marlboro County |
| Fort Johnson Marine Resources Center Other state land | 99 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Charleston County |
| Gray Court Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 63 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Laurens County |
| Gray Court Tract Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 60 | State: department of natural resources | Open access | Laurens County |
| Angelus Tract Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 53 | State: department of natural resources | Restricted access | Chesterfield County |
| Nantahala National Forest National Forest land | 47 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Oconee County |
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.
Browse by county
- Abbeville County
- Aiken County
- Anderson County
- Beaufort County
- Berkeley County
- Charleston County
- Chester County
- Chesterfield County
- Clarendon County
- Colleton County
- Georgetown County
- Greenville County
- Hampton County
- Horry County
- Jasper County
- Lancaster County
- Laurens County
- Marion County
- Mccormick County
- Oconee County
- Orangeburg County
- Pickens County
- Union County
- York County