Thurmond Tract WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Thurmond Tract WMA is 195 acres of public hunting land in Union County, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 2. Hunters reported 2 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (1 antlered buck and 1 doe), by SCDNR's Deer Harvest Report. Its 2026-27 deer seasons are Game Zone 2's seasons for WMAs SCDNR does not list by name: 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.
Thurmond Tract WMAOther SCDNR WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 195 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Union 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 |
| Spring turkey | April 3 to May 3, limit 2 (regular WMA season) |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 2 (1 antlered buck and 1 doe) |
| Phone | (864) 654-1671 |
| Nearest towns | Lockhart (3 mi), Union (7 mi) and Jonesville (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Thurmond Tract WMA?
SCDNR's Game Zone 2 table does not list Thurmond Tract WMA by name, so the zone's seasons for its other WMAs are the ones below.
| 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 Thurmond Tract WMA?
SCDNR opens the regular WMAs in all four game zones, Forest Service land included, 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 Thurmond Tract WMA?
Hunters reported 2 deer on Thurmond Tract WMA in the 2024 season: 1 antlered buck and 1 doe. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 195 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 98 acres on that figure.
Source: SCDNR 2024 Deer Harvest Report, Table 4 (WMA harvest).
What does SCDNR say about Thurmond Tract WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "The Thurmond Tract is located in the eastern portion of Union County. Approximately 4 miles west of the town of Lockhart, it is accessed from SC Hwy. 9. This property was purchased from the family of the late Senator Strom Thurmond in 1991. The tract is comprised of loblolly pine planted during the winter of 2001-2002, natural hardwoods with scattered pockets of natural pine that range from pulpwood to saw timber size, and open land utilized as a public dove field and other wildlife openings. The public dove field is prepared annually and has generally been a very good field, especially during the first season in early September."
Visiting hours: Regular Game Zone 2 seasons for hunting. Other allowable activities during daylight hours. Dove Field open for hunting on certain days. See the Regulations for specific open dates.
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Thurmond Tract WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Thurmond Tract 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 195 | 3,929 | 9.7 |
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 Thurmond Tract WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: SC 9, SC 49 and SC 105. Nearest towns: Lockhart (3 miles), Union (7 miles), Jonesville (9 miles) and Hickory Grove (14 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (864) 654-1671.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Sumter National Forest Enoree Ranger District (3.2 miles), Worth Mountain WMA (9.9 miles), Herbert Kirsch Wildlife Conservation Area (12 miles) and McConnells Tract WMA (14.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Thurmond Tract WMA?
No. Hunting deer with dogs is unlawful in Game Zones 1 and 2.
What county is Thurmond Tract WMA in?
Union County, measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Thurmond Tract WMA last season?
2 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 1 antlered buck and 1 doe.
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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