Sand Hills State Forest WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Sand Hills State Forest WMA is 47,046 acres of public hunting land in Chesterfield, Darlington and Kershaw counties, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 4. Hunters reported 151 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (100 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 50 does), by SCDNR's Deer Harvest Report. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are set on SCDNR's Game Zone 4 table: archery and still gun hunts; the earliest dated hunt is Sept. 15-Oct. 10 (archery).
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 4 WMA table. Harvest: SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report.
Sand Hills State Forest WMAOther SCDNR WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 47,046 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Chesterfield County, Darlington County, Kershaw County |
| Game zone | Zone 4 |
| Deer hunts | Archery and still gun hunts |
| Archery deer | Sept. 15-Oct. 10 |
| Still gun deer | Oct. 12-Jan. 1 |
| Dogs for deer | No dog drive hunts listed for the area |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3, limit 2 |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 151 (100 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 50 does) |
| Phone | (843) 661-4766 |
| Nearest towns | Patrick (next to it), McBee (next to it) and Society Hill (next to it) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Sand Hills State Forest WMA?
- No hunting within the boundary of the H. Cooper Black, Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area during scheduled field trials. Inquire at Forest Headquarters about scheduled events or call (843) 378-1555. No quail hunting allowed on H. Cooper Black, Jr. Memorial Field Trial Area. Refer to WMA seasons in chart.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Sept. 15-Oct. 10 | Statewide WMA limits |
| Deer Still Gun Hunts | Oct. 12-Jan. 1 No man drives allowed. | Statewide WMA limits |
| Small Game |
Source: SCDNR 2026-27 Game Zone 4 WMA seasons, read October 2026. SCDNR's rules are the final word.
When is turkey season on Sand Hills State Forest WMA?
Sand Hills State Forest 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 Sand Hills State Forest WMA?
Hunters reported 151 deer on Sand Hills State Forest WMA in the 2024 season: 100 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 50 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 46,838 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 310 acres on that figure.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest).
What does SCDNR say about Sand Hills State Forest WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "The Sandhills State Forest WMA is owned by the South Carolina Forestry Commission, which has a cooperative partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for management purposes in Chesterfield County. Sandhills State Forest WMA offers excellent opportunities for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and biking. The property also features the Wilkes Chapel and the Davis dove fields, which provide opportunities for dove hunting on designated days."
Visiting hours: Open during daylight hours. Dove Field open for hunting on certain days. See the Regulations for specific open dates. Call (843) 498-6478 or (843) 661-4768 for details.
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Sandhills State Forest, read October 2026.
Which county is Sand Hills State Forest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield County | 45,432 | 4,479 | 7.7 |
| Darlington County | 1,150 | 3,969 | 8.9 |
| Kershaw County | 464 | 5,103 | 9.1 |
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 Sand Hills State Forest WMA?
Highways through the area: US 1, SC 102, SC 145 and SC 151. Nearest towns: Patrick (next to it), McBee (next to it), Society Hill (next to it) and Bethune (3 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (843) 661-4766.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Campbells Crossroads WMA (next to it), McBee WMA (next to it), Angelus WMA (5.6 miles) and Great Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve WMA (11.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Sand Hills State Forest WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Sept. 15-Oct. 10; Deer Still Gun Hunts: Oct. 12-Jan. 1. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 4 table.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Sand Hills State Forest WMA?
No dog drive hunts are listed for Sand Hills State Forest WMA on SCDNR's 2026-27 table, so deer are hunted without dogs there.
Can you hunt turkeys on Sand Hills State Forest 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 Sand Hills State Forest WMA in?
Chesterfield County (45,432 acres), Darlington County (1,150 acres) and Kershaw County (464 acres), measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Sand Hills State Forest WMA last season?
151 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 100 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 50 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 Chesterfield County deer harvest Darlington County deer harvest Kershaw County deer harvest