Palachucola WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Palachucola WMA is 6,354 acres of public hunting land in Hampton and Jasper counties, owned by SCDNR, in Game Zone 3. Hunters reported 46 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (24 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 21 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.
Palachucola WMAOther SCDNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 6,354 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Hampton County, Jasper 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 | 46 (24 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 21 does) |
| Sunday hunting | Allowed October 15 to January 31 for species in season |
| Phone | (803) 625-3569 |
| Nearest towns | Scotia (5 mi), Furman (6 mi) and Estill (10 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Palachucola 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 Palachucola WMA. All deer must be checked at check station. Hunters may camp at Palachucola camping area one night prior to and during deer, hog and turkey hunts only.
| 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 Hunt. | |
| Dove | Designated fields on certain days. See Public Dove Fields List | |
| 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 Palachucola WMA?
Palachucola 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 Palachucola WMA?
Hunters reported 46 deer on Palachucola WMA in the 2024 season: 24 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 21 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 6,757 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 147 acres on that figure.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Does | Acres SCDNR counted | Per square mile of those acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 46 | 25 | 21 | 6,757 | 4.4 |
| 2023 | 61 | 33 | 28 | 5,947 | 6.6 |
| 2022 | 73 | 35 | 38 | 5,947 | 7.9 |
| 2021 | 71 | 28 | 43 | 5,947 | 7.6 |
| 2020 | 57 | 30 | 27 | 5,947 | 6.1 |
| 2019 | 45 | 21 | 24 | 5,947 | 4.8 |
SCDNR's acreage for the area changed between reports (6,757 and 5,947 acres), so per square mile figures from years with different acres are not like for like. 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 Palachucola WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "The Palachucola Wildlife Management Area is a 6,492 acre-tract owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources near Garnett in Hampton County. Palachucola is a Creek Indian name associated with a town and fort located on the Savannah River at or near what is now Stokes Bluff Landing and thought to have been occupied between 1680 and 1716 by a band of Appalachicola Indians. In the early 1980s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake."
Closures for hunts: Palachucola WMA will be closed on the following dates in 2026 for special hunts: October 15-17 and 29-31 November 12-14 and 19-21 December 3-5 Migratory Waterfowl Season Open Dates: Mon. through Sat. AM only during special and scheduled small game seasons and full week of Thanksgiving.
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Palachucola WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Palachucola 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 | 4,719 | 5,110 | 10.1 |
| Jasper County | 1,635 | 2,156 | 4.5 |
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 Palachucola WMA?
Highways through the area: SC 119. Nearest towns: Scotia (5 miles), Furman (6 miles), Estill (10 miles) and Luray (14 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), Hamilton Ridge WMA (1.1 miles), Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve WMA (2.5 miles) and Meyer Lake Heritage Preserve WMA (14.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Palachucola WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Sept. 15-Oct. 10; Deer Still Gun Hunts: Still gun hunts by lottery only. See WMA Public Lottery Hunt. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 table.
What is a legal buck on Palachucola WMA?
Palachucola 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 Palachucola WMA?
No dog drive hunts are listed for Palachucola WMA on SCDNR's 2026-27 table, so deer are hunted without dogs there.
Can you hunt turkeys on Palachucola 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 Palachucola WMA in?
Hampton County (4,719 acres) and Jasper County (1,635 acres), measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Palachucola WMA last season?
46 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 24 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 21 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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