Hamilton Ridge WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Hamilton Ridge WMA is 13,269 acres of public hunting land in Hampton County, owned by SCDNR, in Game Zone 3. Hunters reported 62 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (33 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 26 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.
Hamilton Ridge WMAOther SCDNR WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 13,269 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| 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 4 points on one side or a minimum 12" inside antler spread. |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3, limit 2 |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 62 (33 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 26 does) |
| Sunday hunting | Allowed October 15 to January 31 for species in season |
| Phone | (803) 625-3569 |
| Nearest towns | Scotia (5 mi), Estill (8 mi) and Furman (8 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Hamilton Ridge WMA?
- Hunting is allowed on Sundays Oct. 15-Jan. 31 for species that are in season and listed below. No waterfowl hunting on Sunday. Quality Deer Management Area Antlered deer must have a minimum 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 Hamilton Ridge WMA. No ATVs allowed on area. Hunters may camp at designated camp ground one day prior to and during deer, hog and turkey hunts.
| 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 Hunts. | |
| Hog Still Gun Hunts | July 20-Aug. 15 See Reg. 2.16. | No Limit |
| Hog Hunts (with Dogs) | Mar. 1-6. See Reg. 2.16. | No Limit |
| 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 | Nov. 26-29, Dec. 15-Mar. 1 No fox squirrel hunting. | Statewide limits |
| Raccoon & Opossum | Oct. 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31, Nov. 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 23-28, Dec. 1, 5, 8, 12, Dec. 15-Mar. 1 On Saturdays prior to Dec. 15, hunters may not enter the WMA prior to 1 hour after official sunset. | 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 Hamilton Ridge WMA?
Hamilton Ridge WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: limit 2 gobblers (listed as Webb-Palachucola-Hamilton Ridge WMAs). 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 Hamilton Ridge WMA?
Hunters reported 62 deer on Hamilton Ridge WMA in the 2024 season: 33 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 26 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 13,281 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 214 acres on that figure.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Does | Acres SCDNR counted | Per square mile of those acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 62 | 36 | 26 | 13,281 | 3 |
| 2023 | 60 | 39 | 21 | 13,281 | 2.9 |
| 2022 | 97 | 39 | 58 | 13,281 | 4.7 |
| 2021 | 84 | 39 | 45 | 13,281 | 4 |
| 2020 | 86 | 38 | 48 | 13,281 | 4.1 |
| 2019 | 73 | 37 | 36 | 13,281 | 3.5 |
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. 2019 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 2019 to 2023 (SCDNR deer harvest reports).
What does SCDNR say about Hamilton Ridge WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "Hamilton Ridge, owned and operated by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, is a 13,280-acre wildlife management area designed to demonstrate multiple-use wildlife and timber management and provide outdoor recreational opportunities. Hamilton Ridge was acquired in 2006 as a cooperative habitat protection effort involving multiple private, state and federal partners to protect upland pine habitat, bottomland hardwoods and 8.5 miles of river frontage in the Savannah River flood plain. The tract is adjacent to 12,600 acres of SCDNR-owned Webb and Palachucola WMAs."
Closures for hunts: Hamilton Ridge WMA is closed during the following dates in 2026 for special hunts. October 22-24, 29-31 November 5-7,19-21 December 3-5
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Hamilton Ridge WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Hamilton Ridge 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton County | 13,269 | 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 Hamilton Ridge WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: SC 119 and US 321. Nearest towns: Scotia (5 miles), Estill (8 miles), Furman (8 miles) and Luray (11 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (803) 625-3569.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Webb Wildlife Center WMA (next to it), Palachucola WMA (1.1 miles), Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve WMA (7.4 miles) and Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve WMA (19 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Hamilton Ridge WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Sept. 15-Oct. 10; Deer Still Gun Hunts: Still gun hunts by lottery only. See WMA Public Lottery Hunts. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 table.
What is a legal buck on Hamilton Ridge WMA?
Hamilton Ridge WMA is a quality deer management area: antlered deer must have a minimum 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 Hamilton Ridge WMA?
No dog drive hunts are listed for Hamilton Ridge WMA on SCDNR's 2026-27 table, so deer are hunted without dogs there.
Can you hunt turkeys on Hamilton Ridge 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 Hamilton Ridge WMA in?
Hampton County, measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Hamilton Ridge WMA last season?
62 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 33 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 26 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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