Keowee WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Keowee WMA is 5,380 acres of public hunting land in Pickens and Oconee counties, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 2. Hunters reported 41 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (24 antlered bucks and 17 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.
Keowee WMAOther SCDNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 5,380 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Pickens County, Oconee 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 | 41 (24 antlered bucks and 17 does) |
| Phone | (864) 654-1671 |
| Nearest towns | Central (2 mi), Clemson (2 mi) and Norris (2 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Keowee 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 & limits except no hunting during Archery Deer Hunts Oct. 15-Dec. 22 and no hog hunting with dogs. Shotguns only north of Highway 123, west of the Keowee arm of Lake Hartwell and west of Highway 291. All other areas archery only. Raccoon and Opossum hunting allowed at night. 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 Keowee WMA?
Keowee WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: limit 2 gobblers. Keowee WMA - Shotguns only - north of Highway 123 and west of the Keowee Arm of Lake Hartwell and west of Highway 291. Archery Only on other sections.
Source: SCDNR spring 2027 turkey seasons on WMAs.
How many deer are taken on Keowee WMA?
Hunters reported 41 deer on Keowee WMA in the 2024 season: 24 antlered bucks and 17 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 4,930 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 120 acres on that figure.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest).
What does SCDNR say about Keowee WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "Clemson University owns Keowee Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Located primarily in Pickens County, with a smaller portion in Oconee County, Keowee WMA is located predominately around the shores of Lake Hartwell. Archery season for deer is October 15 -- December 22. The limit is 3 deer, but not more than one buck. No gun hunting for deer is allowed on Keowee WMA. Clemson Experimental Forest Website Small game hunting is allowed primarily from December 23 until March 1. Shotguns may be used on certain sections of Keowee WMA during turkey and small game seasons."
- Archery season for deer is October 15 -- December 22.
- The limit is 3 deer, but not more than one buck.
- No gun hunting for deer is allowed on Keowee WMA.
- Small game hunting is allowed primarily from December 23 until March 1.
- Shotguns may be used on certain sections of Keowee WMA during turkey and small game seasons.
Visiting hours: This property is open during daylight hours year-round.
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Keowee WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Keowee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens County | 3,784 | 3,147 | 9.2 |
| Oconee County | 1,596 | 2,314 | 5.2 |
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 Keowee WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 123, SC 28, US 76 and SC 93. Nearest towns: Central (2 miles), Clemson (2 miles), Norris (2 miles) and Seneca (4 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (864) 654-1671.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Fants Grove WMA (1 miles), Mill Shoals WMA (10 miles), Stumphouse Mountain Heritage Preserve WMA (10.6 miles) and Jocassee Gorges WMA (10.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Keowee 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 Keowee WMA?
Keowee 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 Keowee WMA?
No. Hunting deer with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2.
Can you hunt turkeys on Keowee 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 Keowee WMA in?
Pickens County (3,784 acres) and Oconee County (1,596 acres), measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Keowee WMA last season?
41 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 24 antlered bucks and 17 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 Pickens County deer harvest Oconee County deer harvest