James Ross Wildlife Reservation: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
James Ross Wildlife Reservation is 305 acres of public hunting land in York County, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 2. 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 Ross Wildlife ReservationOther SCDNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 305 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Game zone | Zone 2 |
| 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) |
| Phone | (843) 661-4767 |
| Nearest towns | York (3 mi), Sharon (3 mi) and McConnells (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on James Ross Wildlife Reservation?
SCDNR's Game Zone 2 table does not list James Ross Wildlife Reservation 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 Ross Wildlife Reservation?
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 Ross Wildlife Reservation?
SCDNR reports James Ross Wildlife Reservation together with Herbert Kirsch Wildlife Conservation Area and McConnells Tract WMA as "T. Crk/Kirsh/Ross/McConnells Tracts": 12 deer in the 2024 season on 1,192 acres (8 antlered bucks and 4 does). The figure is for all of that land, not this part alone.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest).
What does SCDNR say about James Ross Wildlife Reservation?
From SCDNR's property page: "The SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR) established the James Ross Wildlife Reservation on October 4, 1995. It was donated to the DNR by (Miss) Ms. Kitty W. Sandifer. Ms. Sandifer was born on the property and lived most of her life in nearby York, SC. She was a school teacher prior to her retirement and lived to be 96 years of age before her death in February 1994. In her will, Ms. Sandifer requested that this property be known as the James Ross Wildlife Reservation. A parking area is available and a sign dedicating the tract is present."
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, James Ross Wildlife Reservation, read October 2026.
Which county is James Ross Wildlife Reservation in, and what do hunters take there?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024 season | Per square mile of deer habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| York County | 305 | 4,727 | 10.9 |
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 Ross Wildlife Reservation?
Highways within 5 miles: SC 49, SC 5, US 321 and SC 161. Nearest towns: York (3 miles), Sharon (3 miles), McConnells (6 miles) and Hickory Grove (7 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (843) 661-4767.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Herbert Kirsch Wildlife Conservation Area (4.5 miles), McConnells Tract WMA (4.5 miles), Draper WMA (7.4 miles) and Worth Mountain WMA (9.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer with dogs on James Ross Wildlife Reservation?
No. Hunting deer with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2.
What county is James Ross Wildlife Reservation in?
York County, measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How big is James Ross Wildlife Reservation and where is it?
305 acres by measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary, in York County, about 3 miles from York, near SC 49 and SC 5.
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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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