2012 - 2013 Deer Seasons on Public Lands
Game Zone 5
On WMA 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 or hogs are permitted between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM 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.
Deer either-sex days for gun hunts are as follows:
- Game Zones 2-6: Every Saturday from Oct. 1 to the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day inclusive; Saturdays in Dec. beginning 23 days after Thanksgiving Day and the last day of the open season. In Game Zones 1 and 2 hunters using archery equipment may take either sex during any open season for deer.
| Area | County | Still Hunting | Rules/Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Pee Dee Heritage Preserve | Darlington | Archery- Oct. 1-13 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day Archery and Muzzleloader- Oct. 22-27 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day Gun Hunts- Nov. 5-10 Buck Only Limit: 1 buck per day |
Hunters may not take more than 3 deer total from Great Pee Dee Hp WMA. For big game hunting, access is restricted from two hours before sunrise to two hours after official sunset. All visitors must sign in and out at the kiosk. Gates may be locked in wet weather. No buckshot. Firearms must be unloaded and cased and not readily accessible when not in legal use. |
| Longleaf Pine Heritage Preserve | Lee | Archery- Sept. 1-14 Buck Only Limit: 2 deer per day Archery and Gun Hunts- Sept. 15- Nov. 21 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day |
Individual antlerless deer tags valid on days not designated as either-sex after Sept. 15. No buckshot or dogs allowed |
| Manchester State Forest | Sumter | Archery- Sept. 17-22 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day Archery and Muzzleloader- Sept. 24-29 Buck Only Limit: 1 buck per day Sept. 28 Only Either-Sex Limit: 1 antlered buck and 1 antlerless deer per day Gun Hunt- Oct. 1-6, 8-13, 16-19, 23-26,30- Nov. 3, 6-9, 13-16, 19-24, 26-30, Dec. 4-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-29, 31-Jan.1 Buck only Oct. 4-6, 11-13, 26 Nov. 2-3, 8-9, 15-16, 22, Dec.14, 21, 29, 31-Jan.1 Either-Sex Limit: 1 buck per day; 1 antlered buck and 1 antlerless deer per day on either sex days |
Hunters may not take more than 5 deer total from Manchester State Forest WMA. Dog hunt clubs by drawing only. See WMA Public Draw Hunts on page 31. No buckshot allowed during gun hunts. No man-drives during either-sex hunts. Firearms must be unloaded and cased and not readily accessible when not in legal use. No deer hunting or shooting from, on, or across any road open to vehicle traffic. Hunting is prohibited within 300 yards of a residence. All hunters are reminded that the Palmetto Trail may be in use by non-hunters. Self Deer Check at Battens, Tuomey Kiosk and Manchester SF Headquarters Some gates may be locked due to wet roads. |
| Lynchburg Savanna Heritage Preserve | Lee | No Deer Hunting |
| Area | County | Still Hunting | Rules/Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory Top | Clarendon | Archery- Sept. 1-14 Buck only Limit: 2 bucks per day Sept. 15- Dec. 31 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day Muzzleloader (No Dogs)- Nov. 5- Jan. 1 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day |
Hunters may not take more than 8 deer total from Hickory Top WMA. Data cards required for hunter access. Completed data cards must be returned daily upon leaving the WMA. Hickory Top Greentree Res. i s closed to public access from Nov. 1- Mar. 1 except for scheduled waterfowl hunts. WMA permit required. |
| Oak Lea | Clarendon | Archery- Sept. 15-22 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day Archery and Muzzleloader- Sept. 24-30 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day Still Gun Hunts- Party hunts (Hunters selected by drawing) Limit: 3 deer per day, 1 buck/day 20 per hunt Sill Gun Hunters are selected by public drawing. Parties of 8-10 (8 min/10 max). Parties may hunt for 4 days (Wed-Sat.). Hunt periods will be approximately weekly (Oct. 1- Jan. 1). SC Forestry Commission will handle drawing 803-494-8196 |
Hunters may not take more than 10 deer total from Oak Lea WMA. Data cards are required for hunter access. Completed data cards must be returned daily upon leaving Oak Lea WMA. |
| Santee Dam | Clarendon | Archery (No Dogs)- Sept. 1-14 Buck only Limit: 2 bucks per day Sept. 15- Jan. 1 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day Muzzleloader- Sept. 15- Jan. 1 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day |
Hunter access by watercraft only from Borrow Point Landing (Clarendon Co.) or Wilson's Landing (Berkeley Co.) except during scheduled dove hunts (see Migratory Bird Regulations) Hunters may not take more than 8 deer total from Santee Dam WMA. |
| Wee Tee | Williamsburg and Georgetown | Archery- Sept. 15- Oct. 6 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day
Muzzleloader and Archery- Oct. 8-20 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day Gun Hunts- Oct. 22- Jan. 1 Buck only Oct. 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17, 224, Dec. 15, 22, 29, Jan. 1 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day |
Hunters may not take more than 8 deer total from Wee Tee WMA. No hunting from vehicles or from or on roads open to vehicle traffic. |
| Santee Delta | Georgetown | Archery- Oct. 6-27 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day | No Dogs |
| Area | County | Still Hunting | Rules/Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samworth | Georgetown | Archery (Impoundments only) - Oct. 6-27 Either-Sex Limit: 2 deer per day | |
| Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve | Horry and Marion | Archery- Sept. 15-29 Buck only Limit: 1 buck per day Oct. 1-20, Dec. 17- Jan. 1 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day
Archery and Muzzleloader- Oct. 22-27 Buck Only Limit: 1 buck per day Nov. 5-10 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day Gun Hunts- Nov. 12-24 Buck Only Limit: 1 buck per day |
Hunters may not take more than 3 deer total from Little Pee Dee River Complex. No buckshot or dogs allowed. |
| Cartwheel Bay Heritage Preserve | Horry | Archery- Sept. 15- Oct. 6 Buck only Limit: 1 deer per day Oct.8- Nov. 3 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day | Hunters may not take more than 3 deer from Cartwheel Bay HP WMA. |
| Lewis Ocrean Bay Heritage Preserve | Horry | Archery- Sept. 17-22 , Oct. 1-20 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day
Archery and Muzzleloader- Oct. 22- 27, Nov. 12-17 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day Gun Hunts- Nov. 23- 30, Dec. 17-31 Buck only Limit: 1 buck per day |
Hunters may not take more than 5 deer total from Lewis Ocean Bay HP WMA. Deer Hunters must sign in and out daily and record harvest at the kiosk. No hunting or shooting from, or on, any toads open to vehicular traffic. Horseback riding is prohibited during all hunts. No buckshot or dogs allowed. |
| Waccamaw River Heritage Preserve WMA | Horry | Archery- Oct. 8-20 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day Archery and Muzzleloader- Oct. 22-27, Nov. 5-10 Either-Sex Limit: 1 deer per day Gun Hunts- Nov. 12-24 Buck only Limit: 1 buck per day |
Hunters may not take more than 2 deer total from Waccamaw River HP WMA.
No buckshot or dogs allowed. |
The 2012-2013 WMA Hunting Regulations are provided in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open this file and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.
