Crackerneck WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Crackerneck WMA is 11,096 acres of public hunting land in Aiken County, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 3. Hunters reported 53 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (30 antlered bucks, 2 button bucks and 21 does), by SCDNR's Deer Harvest Report. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are set on SCDNR's Game Zone 3 table: archery, primitive weapons and still gun hunts; the earliest dated hunt is Oct. 2-3 (archery).
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 WMA table. Harvest: SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report.
Crackerneck WMAOther SCDNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 11,096 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Aiken County |
| Game zone | Zone 3 |
| Deer hunts | Archery, primitive weapons and still gun hunts |
| Archery deer | Oct. 2-3 |
| Still gun deer | Oct. 16-17, 23-24, 30-31, Nov. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, Dec. 4-5, 11-12, 18, 26, Jan. 1 |
| Dogs for deer | No dog drive hunts listed for the area |
| Quality deer management | Antlered deer must have at least 4 points on one side or a minimum 12-inch inside antler spread. |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3 (Fri. & Sat. only), limit 2 |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 53 (30 antlered bucks, 2 button bucks and 21 does) |
| Phone | (803) 667-0721 |
| Nearest towns | Jackson (next to it), New Ellenton (9 mi) and Burnettown (15 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Crackerneck WMA?
- Quality Deer Management Area Antlered deer must have at least 4 points on one side or a minimum 12-inch inside antler spread.
- Gun hunts on Fri. & Sat. only during this period. Oct. 17-Jan. 1. Closed on Dec. 25. All individuals must sign in and out at gate. No buckshot or dogs allowed. Scouting days (no firearms or archery equipment) on Saturdays only during Sept., Mar. and May. Gate opens at 6:00 AM and closes at 6:00 PM. On deer hunt days, gate opens as follows: Oct., 4:30 AM-8:30 PM; Nov.-Dec., 4:30 AM-7:30 PM.
- Fri. & Sat. ONLY during regular Game Zone 3 seasons. No small game hunting before Oct. 17. Game Zone 3 limits. All individuals must sign in and out at gate. Bobcats, foxes, otters and fox squirrels may not be hunted. During hunts, gate hours will be as follows: Oct., 4:30 AM-8:30 PM; Nov. - Dec., 4:30 AM-7:30 PM; Jan. - Feb., 5:30 AM-7:00 PM.
- Oct. 17-Dec. 26 Sat. nights only; Jan. 1-Feb. 27 Fri. & Sat. nights only Raccoons - 3 per party per night. Opossum no limit. All individuals must sign in and out at gate. Hunt hours are as follows: 1 hour after official sunset to midnight. Hunters must exit gate by 1:00 AM.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Oct. 2-3 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Deer Primitive Weapons | Oct. 9-10 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Deer Still Gun Hunts | Oct. 16-17, 23-24, 30-31, Nov. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, Dec. 4-5, 11-12, 18, 26, Jan. 1 | Statewide WMA 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 Crackerneck WMA?
Crackerneck WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Fri. & Sat. only, limit 2 gobblers. Crackerneck WMA - Main gate opens at 5:30 AM and closes at 1:00 pm. All hunters must check in and out at main gate.
Source: SCDNR spring 2027 turkey seasons on WMAs.
How many deer are taken on Crackerneck WMA?
Hunters reported 53 deer on Crackerneck WMA in the 2024 season: 30 antlered bucks, 2 button bucks and 21 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 10,600 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 200 acres on that figure.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Does | Acres SCDNR counted | Per square mile of those acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 53 | 32 | 21 | 10,600 | 3.2 |
| 2023 | 75 | 37 | 38 | 10,470 | 4.6 |
| 2022 | 64 | 42 | 22 | 10,470 | 3.9 |
| 2020 | 74 | 40 | 34 | 10,470 | 4.5 |
2021 and 2019 are left off: the figures FilledTag extracted for those years repeat 2022's and 2023's exactly, which points to a copying error. 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 Crackerneck WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "Crackerneck Wildlife Management Area and Ecological Reserve is owned by the U. S Department of Energy and managed for them by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The area is open only during designated dates and times and public access is tightly controlled. The area offers diverse recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing and non-consumptive uses. Habitat: Crackerneck Wildlife Management Area contains a diverse mixture of habitats. One noteworthy habitat is a road-less section of the Savannah River swamp."
Visiting hours: Consult the Rules & Regulations and the Crackerneck WMA brochure for open dates and times. Brochure of Crackerneck WMA Property
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Crackerneck WMA and Ecological Reserve, read October 2026.
Which county is Crackerneck 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken County | 11,096 | 5,734 | 7.3 |
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 Crackerneck WMA?
Highways through the area: SC 125. Nearest towns: Jackson (next to it), New Ellenton (9 miles), Burnettown (15 miles) and Aiken (15 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (803) 667-0721.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Ditch Pond Heritage Preserve WMA (17.9 miles), Henderson Heritage Preserve WMA (19.1 miles), Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve WMA (22 miles) and Sumter National Forest Long Cane Ranger District (23.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Crackerneck WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Oct. 2-3; Deer Primitive Weapons: Oct. 9-10; Deer Still Gun Hunts: Oct. 16-17, 23-24, 30-31, Nov. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, Dec. 4-5, 11-12, 18, 26, Jan. 1. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 table.
What is a legal buck on Crackerneck WMA?
Crackerneck WMA is a quality deer management area: antlered deer must have at least 4 points on one side or a minimum 12-inch 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 Crackerneck WMA?
No dog drive hunts are listed for Crackerneck WMA on SCDNR's 2026-27 table, so deer are hunted without dogs there.
Can you hunt turkeys on Crackerneck WMA?
Yes. It is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Fri. & Sat. only, limit 2 gobblers.
What county is Crackerneck WMA in?
Aiken County, measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Crackerneck WMA last season?
53 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 30 antlered bucks, 2 button bucks and 21 does.
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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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