Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA is 3,662 acres of public hunting land in Richland and Sumter counties, in SCDNR's WMA program, in Game Zone 3. Hunters reported 18 deer taken on it in the 2024 season (8 antlered bucks and 10 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.
Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMAOther SCDNR WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 3,662 acres (measured by FilledTag on SCDNR's mapped boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Richland County, Sumter 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 (Thurs.-Sat. only), limit 1 |
| Deer reported, 2024 season | 18 (8 antlered bucks and 10 does) |
| Phone | (803) 353-6215 |
| Nearest towns | Eastover (5 mi), Sumter (13 mi) and Elgin (14 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA?
- Data/use cards are only required for all hunters. Completed cards must be returned daily upon leaving the WMA. Quality Deer Management Area Antlered deer must have a minimum 4 points on one side or a minimum 12” inside antler spread. Turkey hunting by lottery 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 hunts. | |
| Small Game (including raccoon and opossum) | Jan. 2-Mar. 1 No fox squirrel hunting. | Statewide Bag 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 Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA?
Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 1 gobbler.
Source: SCDNR spring 2027 turkey seasons on WMAs.
How many deer are taken on Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA?
Hunters reported 18 deer on Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA in the 2024 season: 8 antlered bucks and 10 does. SCDNR's Table 4 counts the area as 3,674 acres (SCDNR's figure, not the measured size above), about one deer for every 204 acres on that figure.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Does | Acres SCDNR counted | Per square mile of those acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 3,674 | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 3,674 | 3.1 |
| 2022 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 3,674 | 1.7 |
| 2021 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 3,674 | 3.1 |
| 2020 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 3,674 | 2.4 |
| 2019 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 3,674 | 3.8 |
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 Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA?
From SCDNR's property page: "Wateree River Heritage Preserve Wildlife Management (WRHP) was purchased by Haile Gold Mine as partial mitigation for a mining operation that was permitted in Lancaster County, SC. WRHP will protect upland, bottomland and managed wetland habitats and provide recreational opportunities including hunting and fishing for the people of South Carolina. One important objective is to protect and enhance jurisdictional wetlands and streams on the property by restoring the natural hydrological flow in those areas where the water was historically diverted and by re-establishing bottomland hardwood species on other areas of the property."
- Wateree River HWMA is a Category I Waterfowl Area.
- Designated Waterfowl.
- Waterfowl hunting is permitted only by means of special permit obtained through an annual lottery.
- All visitors must wear international orange from Oct. 1 through March 1.
- No Fox Squirrel Hunting No horseback riding without a permit.
- A completed application must be submitted to SCDNR for approval 10 days prior to the use of the area.
Closures for hunts: 2026-2027 Closures for lottery hunts: Closed all day October 12-14, 26-28 November 7, 9-11, 23-25 Half-day (closed from sunrise until 12:00 noon) December 15, 22, 29 January 5, 12, 19, 26 February 6 Waterfowl Impoundment Buffer areas are closed seasonally from November 1 to February 8. See property map.
Visiting hours: Open 7 days a week for public use from the hour before sunrise to the hour after sunset. With the exception of days with scheduled hunts.
Source: SCDNR Public Lands, Wateree River HP WMA, read October 2026.
Which county is Wateree River Heritage Preserve 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County | 3,642 | 2,884 | 5.4 |
| Sumter County | 20 | 4,808 | 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 Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 378, US 76, US 601 and SC 263. Nearest towns: Eastover (5 miles), Sumter (13 miles), Elgin (14 miles) and Columbia (14 miles). SCDNR's number for the area: (803) 353-6215.
The closest other South Carolina WMAs with a page here: Manchester State Forest WMA (5.1 miles), Bobwhite Hills WMA (13.1 miles), Oak Lea WMA (19.1 miles) and Hickory Top WMA (21 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery: Sept. 15-Oct. 10; Deer Still Gun Hunts: Still gun hunts by lottery only. See WMA Public Lottery hunts. From SCDNR's 2026-27 Game Zone 3 table.
What is a legal buck on Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA?
Wateree River Heritage Preserve 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 Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA?
No dog drive hunts are listed for Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA on SCDNR's 2026-27 table, so deer are hunted without dogs there.
Can you hunt turkeys on Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA?
Yes. It is on SCDNR's list of WMAs open for spring turkey, April 3 to May 3, 2027: Thurs.-Sat. only, limit 1 gobbler.
What county is Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA in?
Richland County (3,642 acres) and Sumter County (20 acres), measured on SCDNR's boundary.
How many deer were killed on Wateree River Heritage Preserve WMA last season?
18 in the 2024 season, reported through SC Game Check and corrected by SCDNR for non-reporting: 8 antlered bucks and 10 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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