Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA is 12,471 acres of public hunting land in Jasper and Hampton counties, owned by SCDNR, in Game Zone 3. Hunters reported 10 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (3 antlered bucks and 7 does), by SCDNR's Deer Harvest Report. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are set on SCDNR's Game Zone 3 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 3 WMA table. Harvest: SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report.
Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMAOther SCDNR WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 12,471 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary); SCDNR's 2024 harvest report gives 10,570 |
|---|---|
| County | Jasper County, Hampton County |
| Game zone | Zone 3 |
| Deer hunts | Archery and still gun hunts |
| Archery deer | Sept. 15-Oct. 10 |
| Still gun deer | By lottery only |
| Dogs for deer | No dog drive hunts listed for the area |
| Quality deer management | Antlered deer must have a minimum of 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 | 10 (3 antlered bucks and 7 does) |
| Phone | (803) 625-3569 |
| Nearest towns | Yemassee (3 mi), Ridgeland (9 mi) and Furman (11 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA?
- Quality Deer Management Area Antlered deer must have a minimum of 4 points on one side or a minimum 12” inside antler spread Data cards/use cards are required for hunters, fishermen, and all other WMA users. Completed cards must be returned daily upon leaving the WMA. All deer must be checked at check station. No ATVs allowed.
| 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 Hunt. | |
| Dove | Designated fields on certain days. See Public Dove Fields List. | |
| Quail | Nov. 28, Dec. 2, 16, 19, 23, Jan. 2, 20, 23, Feb. 10, 20 Shooting hours end 30 minutes prior to official sunset. | Statewide limits |
| Other Small Game including raccoons & opossum | Jan. 2-Mar. 1 | 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 Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA?
Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 1 gobbler. On Webb, Palachucola, Hamilton Ridge, Coosawhatchie, Belfast, Wateree, Santee Cooper and Oak Lea WMAs, all turkey hunters must pick up and return data cards daily to kiosk and display hang tags on vehicles.
Source: SCDNR spring 2027 turkey seasons on WMAs.
How many deer are taken on Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA?
Hunters reported 10 deer on Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA in the 2024 season: 3 antlered bucks and 7 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 10,570 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 1,057 acres on that figure.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Does | Acres SCDNR counted | Per square mile of those acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10,570 | 0.6 |
| 2023 | 35 | 10 | 25 | 3,700 | 6.1 |
SCDNR's acreage for the area changed between reports (10,570 and 3,700 acres), so per square mile figures from years with different acres are not like for like. 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. 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 2023 report (SCDNR deer harvest reports).
What does SCDNR say about Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve (HP) and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is owned and managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and is located in Jasper County. Coosawhatchie HP WMA offers excellent opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, and biking."
- Coosawhatchie is a Cat II waterfowl area, except for the designated Waterfowl Management Area, which is a Cat I waterfowl area and is permitted only by means of a special permit obtained through an annual lottery.
- Please see property map for location.
- The Coosawhatchie waterfowl management area has three impoundments that are planted and flooded seasonally to provide feeding areas for waterfowl.
- Selection for waterfowl hunting is by lottery.
- Management Area is closed from November 1 to February 8.
- See property map.
- Category II waterfowl hunting is allowed on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until noon from Dec. 18-Jan. 31.
- Data/use cards are required for hunters, fishermen and all other WMA users.
Closures for hunts: Coosawhatchie HPWMA will be closed during the following days in 2026 for special hunts. October 15-17, 29-31 November 12-14, 19-21 December 10-12
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Coosawhatchie HPWMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper County | 6,712 | 2,156 | 4.5 |
| Hampton County | 5,759 | 5,110 | 10.1 |
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 Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-95, US 17, US 278 and SC 462. Nearest towns: Yemassee (3 miles), Ridgeland (9 miles), Furman (11 miles) and Varnville (12 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (803) 625-3569.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: St. Helena Sound Heritage Preserve WMA (13.8 miles), Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve WMA (14.3 miles), Palachucola WMA (15 miles) and Donnelley WMA (15.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Sept. 15-Oct. 10; Deer Still Gun Hunts: Still gun hunts by lottery only. See WMA Public Lottery Hunt. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 table.
What is a legal buck on Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA?
Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA is a quality deer management area: antlered deer must have a minimum of 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 Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA?
No dog drive hunts are listed for Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA on SCDNR's 2026-27 table, so deer are hunted without dogs there.
Can you hunt turkeys on Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve 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 Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA in?
Jasper County (6,712 acres) and Hampton County (5,759 acres), measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA last season?
10 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 3 antlered bucks and 7 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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