James L. Mason WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
James L. Mason WMA is 2,149 acres of public hunting land in McCormick County, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 2. Hunters reported 11 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (8 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 2 does), by SCDNR's Deer Harvest Report. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are Game Zone 2's seasons for WMAs SCDNR does not list by name: youth deer hunt day, archery only, primitive weapons and still gun hunts; the earliest dated hunt is Sept. 15-30 (archery only).
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 2 WMA table. Harvest: SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report.
James L. Mason WMAOther SCDNR WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 2,149 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | McCormick County |
| Game zone | Zone 2 |
| National forest land in it | 223 acres (measured on the Forest Service map) |
| Deer hunts | Youth deer hunt day, archery only, primitive weapons and still gun hunts |
| Archery deer | Sept. 15-30 |
| Still gun deer | Oct. 12-Jan. 1 |
| Dogs for deer | No; deer hunting with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2 |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3, limit 2 (regular WMA season) |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 11 (8 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 2 does) |
| Phone | (864) 654-1671 |
| Nearest towns | North Augusta (11 mi), Parksville (11 mi) and Edgefield (15 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on James L. Mason WMA?
SCDNR's Game Zone 2 table does not list James L. Mason WMA by name, so the zone's seasons for its other WMAs are the ones below.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Deer Hunt Day | Jan. 2 (see Youth & Mobility Impaired WMAs) | 2 deer total |
| Archery only | Sept. 15-30 | statewide WMA limits; all deer must be tagged |
| Deer Primitive Weapons | Oct. 1-10 | statewide WMA limits; all deer must be tagged |
| Still Gun Hunts | Oct. 12-Jan. 1 | statewide WMA limits; all deer must be tagged |
Source: SCDNR 2026-27 Game Zone 2 WMA seasons, read October 2026. SCDNR's rules are the final word.
When is turkey season on James L. Mason WMA?
SCDNR opens the regular WMAs in all four game zones, Forest Service land included, 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 James L. Mason WMA?
Hunters reported 11 deer on James L. Mason WMA in the 2024 season: 8 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 2 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 1,999 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 182 acres on that figure.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest).
What does SCDNR say about James L. Mason WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "In 1989, James L. Mason bequeathed a large tract of land to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) to be used in perpetuity for wildlife management and outdoor recreation. Mr. Mason and his wife are buried in the family cemetery located on the property. Situated along the Savannah River in southern McCormick County, the Mason Tract is dominated by mature loblolly and shortleaf pine in the uplands, mixed pine-hardwood along lower hillsides and hardwoods along the creeks and river. While the topography is generally gently rolling, slopes in many locations are surprisingly steep."
- Refer to current SCDNR Rules and Regulations for information on WMA and Game Zone 2 regulations.
- Major graveled roads are open seasonally to vehicular traffic.
- All roads are subject to opening and closing based on various factors such as weather, season, abuse/misuse, and overall road conditions.
- Please exercise caution, courtesy, and tread lightly.
Visiting hours: One hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset year-round except for legal hunting at night.
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, James L. Mason WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is James L. Mason 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCormick County | 2,149 | 1,659 | 5 |
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 James L. Mason WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: SC 28, SC 230 and US 221. Nearest towns: North Augusta (11 miles), Parksville (11 miles), Edgefield (15 miles) and Burnettown (15 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (864) 654-1671.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Sumter National Forest Long Cane Ranger District (next to it), Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve WMA (2.9 miles) and Henderson Heritage Preserve WMA (20.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer with dogs on James L. Mason WMA?
No. Hunting deer with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2.
What county is James L. Mason WMA in?
McCormick County, measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on James L. Mason WMA last season?
11 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 8 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 2 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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