McCalla WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
McCalla WMA is 5,649 acres of public hunting land in Abbeville County, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 2. Hunters reported 27 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (17 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 9 does), by SCDNR's Deer Harvest Report. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are Game Zone 2's general WMA seasons, as SCDNR's table gives them for it: 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.
McCalla WMAOther SCDNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 5,649 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Abbeville 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 |
| Quality deer management | Antlered deer must have at least 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 | 27 (17 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 9 does) |
| Phone | (864) 223-1307 |
| Nearest towns | Calhoun Falls (2 mi), Lowndesville (3 mi) and Iva (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on McCalla WMA?
- Quality Deer Management Area. Antlered deer must have at least 4 points on one side or a minimum 12-inch inside antler spread.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Deer | Game Zone 2 WMA Seasons | Statewide WMA limits |
| Small Game | WMA seasons and limits. | |
| Hog Hunts (with dogs) | Jan. 2-9, Mar. 20-27 Refer to Reg. 2.16. | No Limit |
Deer: Game Zone 2's general WMA seasons
SCDNR's table gives McCalla WMA's deer seasons as "Game Zone 2 WMA Seasons", which are these:
| 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 McCalla WMA?
McCalla 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 McCalla WMA?
Hunters reported 27 deer on McCalla WMA in the 2024 season: 17 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 9 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 5,667 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 210 acres on that figure.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest).
What does SCDNR say about McCalla WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "The McCalla Wildlife Management Area was established through an agreement with U.S Army Corps of Engineers, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Special Use Area: An approximately 620-acre section of the property is designated and posted as a Special Use Area. No hunting at anytime in the Special Use Area, except for special hunts as designated by SCDNR. The "Causeway Road" is closed to hunting; NO shooting from, into, or across the road. It may be used to access the WMA on the east side of the road, but firearms must be unloaded while traversing."
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, McCalla WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is McCalla 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeville County | 5,649 | 4,063 | 11.7 |
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 McCalla WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: SC 81, SC 72 and SC 284. Nearest towns: Calhoun Falls (2 miles), Lowndesville (3 miles), Iva (9 miles) and Starr (14 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (864) 223-1307.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Sumter National Forest Long Cane Ranger District (9.8 miles) and Fants Grove WMA (13.5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on McCalla WMA in 2026-27?
Youth Deer Hunt Day: Jan. 2 (see Youth & Mobility Impaired WMAs); Archery only: Sept. 15-30; Deer Primitive Weapons: Oct. 1-10; Still Gun Hunts: Oct. 12-Jan. 1. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 2 table.
What is a legal buck on McCalla WMA?
McCalla WMA is a quality deer management area: antlered deer must have at least 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 McCalla WMA?
No. Hunting deer with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2.
Can you hunt turkeys on McCalla 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 McCalla WMA in?
Abbeville County, measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on McCalla WMA last season?
27 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 17 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 9 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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