South Saluda WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
South Saluda WMA is 1,069 acres of public hunting land in Pickens County, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 1. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are set on SCDNR's Game Zone 1 table: archery; the earliest dated hunt is Oct. 1-Jan. 1 (archery).
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 1 WMA table. Harvest: SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report.
South Saluda WMAOther SCDNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,069 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Pickens County |
| Game zone | Zone 1 |
| Deer hunts | Archery |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-Jan. 1 |
| Dogs for deer | No; deer hunting with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2 |
| Quality deer management | Designated as a Quality Deer Management Area. |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3 (Thurs.-Sat. only), limit 2 |
| Phone | (864) 654-1671 |
| Nearest towns | Pickens (11 mi), Travelers Rest (12 mi) and Easley (16 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on South Saluda WMA?
- Designated as a Quality Deer Management Area.
| Hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Oct. 1-Jan. 1 | |
| Bear Still Gun Hunts | Oct. 12-16 | |
| Small Game | Game Zone 1 WMA seasons and limits. Refer to chart. | |
| Hog Hunts (with dogs) | Jan. 2-10, Mar. 20-27 | |
| Raccoon & Opossum | Game Zone 1 WMA seasons and limits. Refer to chart. |
Source: SCDNR 2026-27 Game Zone 1 WMA seasons, read October 2026. SCDNR's rules are the final word.
When is turkey season on South Saluda WMA?
South Saluda WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 2 gobblers.
Source: SCDNR spring 2027 turkey seasons on WMAs.
How many deer are taken on South Saluda WMA?
SCDNR's 2024 Deer Harvest Report does not list South Saluda WMA on its own; it counts 844 deer on its other and unnamed WMA lands together. Around it, Pickens County's harvest was 3,147 deer in the 2024 season (9.2 per square mile of deer habitat).
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest); SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 1 (county harvest).
Which county is South Saluda 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 | 1,069 | 3,147 | 9.2 |
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 South Saluda WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 276, SC 288, SC 8 and SC 11. Nearest towns: Pickens (11 miles), Travelers Rest (12 miles), Easley (16 miles) and Liberty (18 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (864) 654-1671.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Eva Russell Chandler Heritage Preserve WMA (next to it), Tall Pines WMA (1.2 miles) and Ashmore Heritage Preserve WMA (1.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on South Saluda WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Oct. 1-Jan. 1. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 1 table.
What is a legal buck on South Saluda WMA?
South Saluda WMA is a quality deer management area: designated as a Quality Deer Management Area. 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 South Saluda WMA?
No. Hunting deer with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2.
Can you hunt turkeys on South Saluda WMA?
Yes. It is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 2 gobblers.
What county is South Saluda WMA in?
Pickens County, measured on SCDNR's boundary.
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