Edisto River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Edisto River WMA is 1,745 acres of public hunting land in Dorchester and Colleton counties, owned by SCDNR, in Game Zone 3. Hunters reported 21 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (7 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 13 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).
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 WMA table. Harvest: SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report.
Edisto River WMAOther SCDNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,745 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary); SCDNR's WMA list and 2024 harvest report give 1,394 |
|---|---|
| County | Dorchester County, Colleton County |
| Game zone | Zone 3 |
| Deer hunts | Archery and still gun hunts |
| Archery deer | Sept. 15-Oct. 10 |
| Still gun deer | Oct. 12-Jan. 1 |
| Dogs for deer | No dog drive hunts listed for the area |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3 (Thurs.-Sat. only), limit 2 |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 21 (7 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 13 does) |
| Sunday hunting | Allowed October 15 to January 31 for species in season |
| Phone | (843) 844-8957 |
| Nearest towns | Cottageville (4 mi), Ridgeville (8 mi) and Summerville (12 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Edisto River WMA?
- Hunting is allowed on Sundays Oct. 15-Jan. 31 for species that are in season and listed below. No waterfowl hunting on Sunday.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Sept. 15-Oct. 10 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Deer Still Gun Hunts | Oct. 12-Jan. 1 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Raccoon & Opossum | Refer to chart. | Statewide limits |
| Other Small Game | Nov. 26-Mar. 1 No fox squirrel 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 Edisto River WMA?
Edisto River WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 2 gobblers.
Source: SCDNR spring 2027 turkey seasons on WMAs.
How many deer are taken on Edisto River WMA?
Hunters reported 21 deer on Edisto River WMA in the 2024 season: 7 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 13 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 1,394 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 66 acres on that figure.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest).
What does SCDNR say about Edisto River WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "Edisto River Wildlife Management Area is located in southwestern Dorchester County, SC, just north of US Highway 17-A. The Edisto River forms the western boundary of the tract. The area is comprised of two separate tracts separated by a narrow, private land parcel, which extends east to west from County Road 137 (River Road) to the Edisto River. Two small adverse tracts also intrude into the property from the east. The area may be accessed from County Road 137 (River Road) and from County Road 162. Road 137 joins US Highway 17-A just east of the Edisto River. From Summerville, travel west on Highway 17-A for approximately 4 miles."
Visiting hours: Edisto River WMA is open during daylight hours. All visitors please be aware and ALERT for hunters during designated hunt seasons.
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Edisto River WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Edisto River 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester County | 1,393 | 3,530 | 7.5 |
| Colleton County | 352 | 6,136 | 7.8 |
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 Edisto River WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: SC 61, SC 651 and SC 27. Nearest towns: Cottageville (4 miles), Ridgeville (8 miles), Summerville (12 miles) and Lincolnville (14 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (843) 844-8957.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Dungannon Plantation Heritage Preserve WMA (17.5 miles), Donnelley WMA (19.2 miles), Bear Island WMA (20.1 miles) and Moultrie Hunt Unit WMA (23.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Edisto River WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Sept. 15-Oct. 10; Deer Still Gun Hunts: Oct. 12-Jan. 1. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 table.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Edisto River WMA?
No dog drive hunts are listed for Edisto River WMA on SCDNR's 2026-27 table, so deer are hunted without dogs there.
Can you hunt turkeys on Edisto River WMA?
Yes. It is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 2 gobblers.
What county is Edisto River WMA in?
Dorchester County (1,393 acres) and Colleton County (352 acres), measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Edisto River WMA last season?
21 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 7 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 13 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 Dorchester County deer harvest Colleton County deer harvest