Fants Grove WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Fants Grove WMA is 10,381 acres of public hunting land in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 2. Hunters reported 87 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (36 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 48 does), by SCDNR's Deer Harvest Report. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are set on SCDNR's Game Zone 2 table: archery; the earliest dated hunt is Oct. 15-Dec. 22 (archery).
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 2 WMA table. Harvest: SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report.
Fants Grove WMAOther SCDNR WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 10,381 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary); SCDNR's WMA list and 2024 harvest report give 7,444 |
|---|---|
| County | Anderson County, Oconee County, Pickens County |
| Game zone | Zone 2 |
| Deer hunts | Archery |
| Archery deer | Oct. 15-Dec. 22 |
| 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-inch inside antler spread. |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3, limit 2 |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 87 (36 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 48 does) |
| Phone | (864) 654-1671 |
| Nearest towns | Pendleton (next to it), Central (2 mi) and Clemson (2 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Fants Grove WMA?
- Quality Deer Management Area Antlered deer must have a minimum 4 points on one side or a minimum 12-inch inside antler spread. No bear hunting.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Oct. 15-Dec. 22 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Small Game | WMA seasons and limits except no hunting during Archery Deer Hunts (Oct. 15-Dec. 22) and Youth hunt (Oct. 3). No hog hunting with dogs. Dove hunting allowed on designated Dove Fields. Raccoon and Opossum hunting allowed at night. Waterfowl hunting allowed on Wed. and Sat. AM only during federal waterfowl season. Refer to WMA seasons in chart. |
Source: SCDNR 2026-27 Game Zone 2 WMA seasons, read October 2026. SCDNR's rules are the final word.
When is turkey season on Fants Grove WMA?
Fants Grove WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: limit 2 gobblers.
Source: SCDNR spring 2027 turkey seasons on WMAs.
How many deer are taken on Fants Grove WMA?
Hunters reported 87 deer on Fants Grove WMA in the 2024 season: 36 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 48 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 7,444 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 86 acres on that figure.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest).
What does SCDNR say about Fants Grove WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "The 8,540-acre Fant's Grove Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is primarily owned by Clemson University (96%) and one other private landowner. Located principally in Anderson County, with smaller portions in Oconee and Pickens counties, Fant's Grove WMA sits on the shores of Lake Hartwell. Since 2000, Fant's Grove WMA has been under quality deer management where bucks must have at least four points on one side or a 12-inch antler spread. Archery Season for deer is October 15 - December 22 and the statewide WMA limit for deer applies. One Youth-only draw deer hunt is held on the property on the first Saturday in October."
- The Clemson Waterfowl Area is a Category II waterfowl area.
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Fants Grove WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Fants Grove 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | 5,966 | 7,773 | 22.7 |
| Oconee County | 2,851 | 2,314 | 5.2 |
| Pickens County | 1,564 | 3,147 | 9.2 |
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 Fants Grove WMA?
Highways through the area: US 29. Nearest towns: Pendleton (next to it), Central (2 miles), Clemson (2 miles) and Norris (2 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (864) 654-1671.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Keowee WMA (1 miles), Sumter National Forest Andrew Pickens Ranger District (7 miles), Brasstown Creek Heritage Preserve WMA (10.4 miles) and Buzzard Roost Heritage Preserve WMA (10.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Fants Grove WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Oct. 15-Dec. 22. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 2 table.
What is a legal buck on Fants Grove WMA?
Fants Grove WMA is a quality deer management area: antlered deer must have a minimum 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 Fants Grove WMA?
No. Hunting deer with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2.
Can you hunt turkeys on Fants Grove WMA?
Yes. It is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: limit 2 gobblers.
What county is Fants Grove WMA in?
Anderson County (5,966 acres), Oconee County (2,851 acres) and Pickens County (1,564 acres), measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Fants Grove WMA last season?
87 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 36 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 48 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.
South Carolina hunting All South Carolina WMAs Anderson County deer harvest Oconee County deer harvest Pickens County deer harvest