Bonneau Ferry WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Bonneau Ferry WMA is 10,551 acres of public hunting land in Berkeley County, owned by SCDNR, in Game Zone 3. Hunters reported 63 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (34 antlered bucks, 6 button bucks and 23 does), by SCDNR's Deer Harvest Report. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are set on SCDNR's Game Zone 3 table: archery (Side B), still gun hunts (Side B) and still gun hunts: Adult/Youth only (Side A); the earliest dated hunt is Sept. 15-30 (archery, Side B). Some deer hunts are by SCDNR lottery only.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 WMA table. Harvest: SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report.
Bonneau Ferry WMAOther SCDNR WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 10,551 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Berkeley County |
| Game zone | Zone 3 |
| Deer hunts | Archery (Side B), still gun hunts (Side B) and still gun hunts: Adult/Youth only (Side A) |
| Archery deer | Sept. 15-30 |
| Still gun deer | Sept. 15-Jan. 1 (Adult/Youth only, Side A); by lottery only (Side B) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog drive hunts listed for the area |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3 (youth only, Thurs.-Sat. only), limit 1 |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 63 (34 antlered bucks, 6 button bucks and 23 does) |
| Phone | (843) 825-3387 |
| Nearest towns | Goose Creek (6 mi), Moncks Corner (7 mi) and Hanahan (10 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Bonneau Ferry WMA?
- Adult/Youth side open only to youth 17 and younger who must be accompanied by only one adult 21 years of age or older. Youth hunters must carry a firearm and hunt. Adults with youth hunters may also carry a firearm and hunt. Includes all big game (except turkey) and small game hunts. WMA will be closed to public until 11:00 AM on Feb. 6 & Mar. 27 for special youth TOMO hunts. Data/use cards are required for hunters, fishermen, and all other WMA users. Completed cards must be returned daily upon leaving the WMA. Hunted areas are closed to general public access during scheduled deer, turkey and waterfowl hunts. Hunting access by boat is prohibited. Hunters may not enter WMA before 5:00 AM.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery (Side B) | Sept. 15-30 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Deer Still Gun Hunts (Side B) | No open season except for hunters selected by computer lottery. Oct. 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31, Nov. 5-7, 12-14, Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Dec. 7-9, 14-16 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Deer Still Gun Hunts: Adult/Youth Only (Side A) | Sept. 15-Jan. 1 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Small Game (including raccoon and opossum) (Sides A & B) | Jan. 2-Mar. 1 No fox squirrel or fox hunting. | Statewide limits |
Source: SCDNR 2026-27 Game Zone 3 WMA seasons, read October 2026. SCDNR's rules are the final word.
When is turkey season on Bonneau Ferry WMA?
Bonneau Ferry WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: youth only, Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 1 gobbler.
Source: SCDNR spring 2027 turkey seasons on WMAs.
How many deer are taken on Bonneau Ferry WMA?
Hunters reported 63 deer on Bonneau Ferry WMA in the 2024 season: 34 antlered bucks, 6 button bucks and 23 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 10,712 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 170 acres on that figure.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Does | Acres SCDNR counted | Per square mile of those acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 63 | 40 | 23 | 10,712 | 3.8 |
| 2023 | 117 | 35 | 45 | 10,697 | 7 |
| 2022 | 95 | 29 | 47 | 10,697 | 5.7 |
| 2021 | 80 | 32 | 34 | 10,697 | 4.8 |
| 2020 | 108 | 40 | 59 | 10,697 | 6.5 |
2024: SC Game Check reports corrected for non-reporting (Table 4); FilledTag works out the per square mile figure from SCDNR's deer and acres. 2020 to 2023: SCDNR's check station counts for the area, as printed in each year's report. Bucks in 2024 are antlered and button bucks added together. Some totals include deer of unknown sex.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest) and the reports for 2020 to 2023 (SCDNR deer harvest reports).
What does SCDNR say about Bonneau Ferry WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "The SC Department of Natural Resources acquired Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area (WMA) from MeadWestvaco in 2004. The area covers over 10,000 acres of pine savannahs, bottomland hardwoods, wildlife openings, wetlands and reservoirs. Recreational opportunities abound, from hunting and fishing to bird watching, hiking and viewing the area's rich cultural attributes, such as the ruins of the Comingtee Plantation House, the Rice Mill and the nearby Childsbury Heritage Preserve."
- Includes all big game and small game hunts.
- The area is open for general use, including birdwatching, hiking, and biking, during daylight hours any day that there is not a scheduled hunt.
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Bonneau Ferry WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Bonneau Ferry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County | 10,551 | 5,557 | 6.3 |
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 Bonneau Ferry WMA?
Highways through the area: SC 402. Nearest towns: Goose Creek (6 miles), Moncks Corner (7 miles), Hanahan (10 miles) and North Charleston (13 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (843) 825-3387.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Francis Marion National Forest WMA (next to it), Moultrie Hunt Unit WMA (12.4 miles), Wee Tee WMA (15.1 miles) and Santee Island WMA (22.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Bonneau Ferry WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (Side B): Sept. 15-30; Deer Still Gun Hunts (Side B): No open season except for hunters selected by computer lottery. Oct. 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31, Nov. 5-7, 12-14, Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Dec. 7-9, 14-16; Deer Still Gun Hunts: Adult/Youth Only (Side A): Sept. 15-Jan. 1. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 table.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Bonneau Ferry WMA?
No dog drive hunts are listed for Bonneau Ferry WMA on SCDNR's 2026-27 table, so deer are hunted without dogs there.
Can you hunt turkeys on Bonneau Ferry WMA?
Yes. It is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: youth only, Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 1 gobbler.
What county is Bonneau Ferry WMA in?
Berkeley County, measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Bonneau Ferry WMA last season?
63 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 34 antlered bucks, 6 button bucks and 23 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.
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