Belfast WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Belfast WMA is 6,395 acres of public hunting land in Newberry and Laurens counties, owned by SCDNR, in Game Zone 2. Hunters reported 20 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (10 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 9 does), by SCDNR's Deer Harvest Report. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are set on SCDNR's Game Zone 2 table: archery and still gun hunts; the earliest dated hunt is Sept. 15-Oct. 10 (archery). Some deer hunts are by SCDNR lottery only.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 2 WMA table. Harvest: SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report.
Belfast WMAOther SCDNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 6,395 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary); SCDNR's WMA list and 2024 harvest report give 4,664 |
|---|---|
| County | Newberry County, Laurens County |
| Game zone | Zone 2 |
| Deer hunts | Archery and still gun hunts |
| Archery deer | Sept. 15-Oct. 10 |
| Still gun deer | By lottery only |
| Dogs for deer | No; deer hunting with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2 |
| Quality deer management | Antlered deer must have a minimum 4 points on one side or a minimum 12" inside antler spread. |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3 (Thurs.-Sat. only), limit 1 |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 20 (10 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 9 does) |
| Sunday hunting | Allowed October 15 to January 31 for species in season |
| Phone | (803) 360-1097 |
| Nearest towns | Cross Hill (3 mi), Waterloo (8 mi) and Silverstreet (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Belfast WMA?
- Hunting is allowed on Sundays Oct. 15-Jan. 31 for species that are in season and listed below. No waterfowl hunting on Sunday. Quality Deer Management Area. Antlered deer must have a minimum 4 points on one side or a minimum 12" inside antler spread. Belfast WMA is closed to public access of all types from one half hour after sunset until one half hour before sunrise except for hunts regulated by SCDNR. Hunters may not enter the WMA prior to 5:00 AM on designated hunts. Public visitation is not allowed during scheduled hunts. Data/use cards are required for hunters. Completed cards must be returned daily upon leaving the WMA.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Sept. 15-Oct. 10 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Deer Still Gun Hunts | Still gun hunts by lottery only. See WMA Public Lottery Hunts. | |
| Small Game | Nov. 26-Mar. 1 No fox squirrel hunting | WMA bag limits. WMA seasons in chart. |
| Raccoon & Opossum | Game Zone 2 WMA seasons and limits. WMA seasons in chart. | |
| Dove | Designated fields on certain days. See Public Dove Fields List. |
Source: SCDNR 2026-27 Game Zone 2 WMA seasons, read October 2026. SCDNR's rules are the final word.
When is turkey season on Belfast WMA?
Belfast WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 1 gobbler.
Source: SCDNR spring 2027 turkey seasons on WMAs.
How many deer are taken on Belfast WMA?
Hunters reported 20 deer on Belfast WMA in the 2024 season: 10 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 9 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 4,664 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 233 acres on that figure.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest).
What does SCDNR say about Belfast WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "The Belfast Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a 4,664-acre tract located ten miles northwest of Newberry on Highway 56 near the Kinards community. The property is situated on the Newberry/ Laurens County line, with most of the land area in Newberry County. Col. John Simpson of Belfast, Ireland, settled the land in 1786. The historic Belfast Plantation house, located in Laurens County, was built by Col. Simpson in the early 1800's. Champion Paper Company formerly owned this property, followed by International Paper Company."
- Still gun hunts for deer are by drawing only, with some special hunts for youth and mobility-impaired participants.
- Data cards are required for hunter access.
- Completed data cards must be returned daily upon leaving Belfast WMA.
- All hunters must sign in and sign out upon entering or leaving Belfast WMA.
- Regulations for other hunting activities can be found in the SCDNR Rules and Regulation brochure.
- All adult hunters must have a valid hunting license and a WMA permit.
- Fishing is by special event permit only.
- During periods when hunting is not taking place, horseback riding is allowed on roads that are only open to vehicular traffic.
Closures for hunts: Public visitation is not allowed during scheduled deer or turkey hunts. 2026-2027 Closures for lottery hunts: Closed all day October 12-14, 24, 26-28 November 6-7, 9-11, 21, 23-25
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Belfast WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Belfast WMA in, and what do hunters take there?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024 season | Per square mile of deer habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry County | 3,624 | 3,896 | 7.8 |
| Laurens County | 2,771 | 5,891 | 11.9 |
Acres measured by FilledTag on SCDNR Public Lands property boundaries and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. County harvest: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 1 (county harvest), for the whole county.
How do you get to Belfast WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: SC 56, SC 39, SC 72 and SC 560. Nearest towns: Cross Hill (3 miles), Waterloo (8 miles), Silverstreet (9 miles) and Clinton (9 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (803) 360-1097.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Sumter National Forest Enoree Ranger District (6.1 miles), Indian Creek Quail Focal Area (14.5 miles), Cliff Pitts WMA (15.8 miles) and Sumter National Forest Long Cane Ranger District (17 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Belfast WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Sept. 15-Oct. 10; Deer Still Gun Hunts: Still gun hunts by lottery only. See WMA Public Lottery Hunts. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 2 table.
What is a legal buck on Belfast WMA?
Belfast WMA is a quality deer management area: antlered deer must have a minimum 4 points on one side or a minimum 12" inside antler spread. Statewide WMA limit: 2 deer a day, 5 in all, no more than 2 antlered, unless the area's rules say otherwise; antlerless deer 2 a day.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Belfast WMA?
No. Hunting deer with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2.
Can you hunt turkeys on Belfast WMA?
Yes. It is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 1 gobbler.
What county is Belfast WMA in?
Newberry County (3,624 acres) and Laurens County (2,771 acres), measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Belfast WMA last season?
20 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 10 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 9 does.
Get a South Carolina hunt plan when they open
South Carolina plans are not open yet. They are coming soon. Join the waiting list; the first 50 hunters get one plan free.
Use the map while you wait for your plan.
You need a South Carolina hunting license, a WMA permit and big game tags; statewide WMA limit: 2 deer a day, 5 in all, no more than 2 antlered, unless the area's rules say otherwise; antlerless deer 2 a day. The WMA rules on one page. FilledTag is not part of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; numbers are copied from SCDNR or measured from public maps, each with its source above.
South Carolina hunting All South Carolina WMAs Newberry County deer harvest Laurens County deer harvest