Waterfowl Lottery Hunt Information

2024-25 Waterfowl Lottery Hunt Dates

Hunt Sites

  1. For all hunt sites, bring only what you can carry.
  2. Transportation and decoys are furnished on Bear Island/Springfield - Sandy Beach, and Broad River WMAs. Transportation only is furnished at Santee Coastal-The Cape, Santee Coastal-Cedar Island, Santee Coastal-Murphy Island, and Santee Delta and Samworth. Hunters will be limited to one bag of decoys per hunt party. Marsh stools are highly recommended.

    3. Youth Only Public
    Lottery Waterfowl Hunts

  3. All sites require moderate physical exertion. Cedar Island, Murphy Island, Cape, Bear Island and Springfield hunts are very strenuous hunts which includes long walks in pluff mud, long distance paddling in jon boats, and usually hunting in natural vegetation from marsh stools and not from blinds.
  4. There is no longer mid-morning pick-up. All hunters will be picked up at 11:00 am or soon afterwards.
  5. Hunting from banks or dikes is NOT allowed.
  6. Chest waders and strong flashlights/headlamps are necessary on all sites.
  7. Report Times: Santee Coastal-Cedar Island, Santee Coastal-Murphy Island, and Santee Coastal-The Cape be ready for orientation at the workshop no later than 4:30am E.S.T. All Bear Island/Springfield hunt locations shall report in no later than 4:30am E.S.T. Samworth report to the check station by 4:30 a.m. E.S.T., Santee Delta East be at the parking lot by 5:00 a.m. E.S.T., Beaverdam WMA and Clemson Waterfowl Area report to the check station by 5:30 a.m. E.S.T. All other sites report to the check station by 5:00 a.m.
  8. Shooting hours on all sites are one-half hour before official sunrise to 11:00 a.m.
  9. The use of retrievers is strongly recommended. All dogs must be kept on a leash when not hunting. While hunting, retrievers must remain in close proximity to the hunter except during actual retrieving. Hunters are limited to one dog per party.
  10. Nontoxic shot (steel, bismuth or other Federally approved shot) is required on all areas. Each hunter will be limited to 25 shells; 10 gauge or larger guns are not allowed.
  11. Blinds for mobility impaired hunters may be available. Mobility impaired hunters on all areas where accessible blinds are available are required to call prior to the hunt date and notify area personnel of access needs. Mobility impaired blinds are not available at Bear Island/Springfield, Santee Coastal–Cedar Island, Santee Coastal-Murphy Island, Samworth, and Santee Delta East and West.
  12. Geese can be taken at all sites on those dates that fall within the established goose season for that area of the state where your selected hunt site is located.
  13. Alcohol is prohibited. Participation in the hunt constitutes consent to search of persons and their belongings. Any violation of any law or WMA regulation may result in immediate dismissal from the hunt.

Apply for Lottery Hunts

County: Colleton

  • Report to the check station no later than 4:30 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Blinds, decoys and transportation will be provided.

Directions: Proceed on US Hwy 17 in Colleton County to the intersection of State Secondary Road S-15-26 (Bennett's Point Road) located 3 miles east of Green Pond and 8 miles west of Jacksonboro. Continue approximately 13 miles on S-15-26. After crossing the Ashepoo River, proceed approximately 2 miles and turn left into the Bear Island WMA entrance (TiTi Road). Follow this dirt road to the check station.

County: Anderson

  • Report to the check station no later than 5:30 AM. Blinds, decoys and transportation will be provided.

Directions: Beaverdam Creek WMA is located near Townville, SC in Anderson County. Take Hwy 24 to Fairplay Road near the Townville Post Office. Go west for 0.1 miles on Fairplay Road. Take the first left (southeast) on Fred Dobbins Road for 1.1 miles. Take the next right (southwest) on McAdams Road for 1 mile. Turn left on the dirt road before the next bridge. Directional signs are posted.

County: Fairfield

  • Report to the check station no later than 5:00 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Blinds, decoys and transportation will be provided.

Directions: The Broad River Waterfowl Area is located just south of Highway 34 in Fairfield County. From Newberry, take the first dirt road to the right after crossing Broad River Bridge. Proceed 1.2 miles and turn right at the Broad River WMA sign. The shed is approximately 0.5 miles past the sign.

County: Anderson

  • Report to the check station no later than 5:30 AM. Blinds and decoys will be provided.

Directions: The Clemson Waterfowl Area is located on Fants Grove WMA near Pendleton, SC. Go west on Highway 76/28 from Anderson or east from Clemson. Turn across from Tri-County Tech on Woodburn Road (left if from Anderson, right if coming from Clemson). Go 1.25 miles, turn left into pasture on dirt road. Garrison Arena is on the right. There is a sign at the entrance to the road. Follow the dirt road to the shed where you will meet SCDNR personnel.

County: Colleton

  • Report to the check station no later than 5:00 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Blinds, decoys and transportation will be provided.

Directions: Donnelley is located in Colleton County approximately 40 miles south of Charleston and 15 miles east of Walterboro, SC near Hwy 17. To reach the check station from Hwy 17, turn onto Bennett’s Point Road (SC-26) and proceed approximately 4 miles to the marked entrance of the gravel road to the area. The check station is located 2 miles from the intersection.

County: Georgetown

  • Report to the check station no later than 4:30 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Hunters must furnish decoys. Transportation will be provided.

Directions: From Georgetown travel 7.8 miles north on US Hwy 701. Once crossing the Black River, turn right onto Plantersville Rd (SC-S-22-4/SC-S-22-52). Continue approximately 6 miles and turn right onto Samworth Loop. Follow to stop sign and turn left. Travel about 300ft and turn right onto Dirleton Road arriving at Samworth WMA.

County: Berkeley

  • Report to the check station no later than 5:00 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Blinds, decoys and transportation will be provided.

Directions: From St. Stephen, take Hwy 45 West – travel about 8.75 miles. Turn left onto Sandy Beach Road, which is just across from a fire tower. Continue down Sandy Beach Road for 3.75 miles until you get to the equipment shed (along the way you’ll cross the dike at a large power-line right-of-way where the road will jog right then left).

If you are coming from the Cross area, heading East on Hwy 45 toward St. Stephen, your turn-off for Sandy Beach Road will be on your right, about 6.75 miles after you cross the Diversion Canal. Continue down Sandy Beach Road for 3.75 miles until you get to the equipment shed (along the way you’ll cross the dike at a large power-line right-of-way where the road will jog right then left).

County: Georgetown

  • Report to the check station no later than 4:30 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Hunters must furnish decoys. Transportation will be provided. Marsh stools encouraged.

Directions: Proceed on US Hwy 17 south from Georgetown. After crossing the South Santee River Bridge, turn left on the first paved road (South Santee Road). Travel 1.3 miles and turn left on Santee Gun Club Road (dirt road) at the sign indicating Santee Coastal Reserve WMA. Do not turn off of this road. Follow the signs to the check station, a distance of 3.2 miles.

County: Charleston

  • Report to the check station no later than 4:30 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Hunters must furnish decoys. Transportation will be provided. Marsh stools encouraged.

Directions: Proceed on US Hwy 17 south from Georgetown. After crossing the South Santee River Bridge, turn left on the first paved road (South Santee Road). Travel 1.3 miles and turn left on Santee Gun Club Road (dirt road) at the sign indicating Santee Coastal Reserve WMA. Do not turn off of this road. Follow the signs to the check station, a distance of 3.2 miles.

County: Charleston

  • Report to the check station no later than 4:30 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Hunters must furnish decoys. Transportation will be provided. Marsh stools encouraged.

Directions: Proceed on US Hwy 17 south from Georgetown. After crossing the South Santee River Bridge, turn left on the first paved road (South Santee Road). Travel 1.3 miles and turn left on Santee Gun Club Road (dirt road) at the sign indicating Santee Coastal Reserve WMA. Do not turn off of this road. Follow the signs to the check station, a distance of 3.2 miles.

County: Georgetown

  • Report to the check station no later than 5:00 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Hunters must furnish decoys. Transportation will be provided. Marsh stools encouraged.

Directions: Santee-Delta East WMA is located on the east side of US Hwy 17 between the North and South Santee Rivers, approximately 12 miles south of Georgetown.

County: Georgetown

  • Report to the check station no later than 5:00 a.m. for mandatory orientation. Hunters must furnish decoys. Transportation will be provided. Marsh stools encouraged.

Directions: Santee-Delta East WMA is located on the west side of US Hwy 17 between the North and South Santee Rivers, approximately 12 miles south of Georgetown.

County: Richland

  • Report to the check station no later than 5:00 AM for mandatory orientation. Hunters must furnish decoys. Blinds and transportation will not be provided.

Directions: From Columbia, proceed East on US Highway 378 for approximately 15 miles in Richland County cross over US Highway 601 and continue for another 2 miles until you come to Goodwill Baptist Church. After Goodwill Baptist Church take a left onto Goodwill Road. Continue on Goodwill Road for about 200 yards and the kiosk will be on the right side of the road.

  • WMA PERMIT: All successful applicants must possess a WMA permit. If selected, the notification on the licensing portal will indicate how to obtain a temporary $5.50 WMA permit, good only for the hunt you are selected for. A temporary WMA permit is not needed if you possess a Sportsman License, Junior Sportsman License, a regular WMA permit, a Gratis Over 64 License, Senior License, or are under the age of 16. Non-residents are not eligible for temporary WMA permit.
  • All cancellations must be made through the Columbia office. DNR may cancel hunts at their discretion Please contact Emily Kearse at 803-734-3887.
  • There are no transfers! All slots are filled by the computer drawn program. Any alternates have been pre-selected by the computer lottery system to fill slots which may become available.
  • Only those selected can attend the hunt. Extra youth or adults are not permitted.
  • Any questions regarding site-specific information should be addressed by the staff at your hunt site. See hunt site contact information below:

    Bear Island / Donnelley
    843-844-8957
    Tanner Adair

    Beaverdam / Clemson WFA
    864-986-6241
    Bob Miller

    Broad River Waterfowl Area
    843-661-4768
    Jake Oates

    Santee Coastal/Santee Delta WMA
    843-546-8665
    Joachim Treptow

    Bonneau Ferry/Sandy Beach Dennis Wildlife Center
    843-825-3387
    Will Carlisle

    Wateree Heritage Preserve
    803-609-4522
    Travis Bennett

    Samworth WMA
    843-546-8665
    Zoey Fletcher