SCDNR is accepting applications for deer lottery hunts on public lands through 5 p.m. Aug. 15. The Multi-site, Unrestricted Multi-site, Webb Gun, Webb Archery, and South Fenwick Archery lotteries operate independently and maintain separate preference points.
The unrestricted multi-site lottery application will cover hunting opportunities on Bear Island, Donnelley, and Bonneau Ferry WMA with no antler restrictions at these sites.
The multi-site lottery application includes Belfast WMA, Botany Bay WMA, Hamilton Ridge WMA, Palachoucola WMA, and Wateree River Heritage Preserve. Antler restrictions apply to these locations.
For each deer lottery, applicants may choose up to 15 hunt site selections. For more information click here.
The SCDNR is also accepting applications for the South Fenwick Island archery-only deer hunts until Aug. 15 at 5:00 p.m.
A $20 nonrefundable application fee is required to apply. A randomized computer drawing based on a preference point system will determine the selection of hunters. This hunt will maintain a separate preference point record, and as this is a new addition to the lottery, no preference points currently exist.
South Fenwick Island can only be accessed by boat and hunters must provide their own transportation to and from the island.
The hunt consists of 2 1/2 days of hunting beginning on a Thursday afternoon after a mandatory 12:00 p.m. orientation on the first day of the hunt. The primary access point is an SCDNR-marked dock on the Ashepoo River with limited tie-up space.
There are no facilities on South Fenwick, so visitors should be prepared for primitive conditions and plan to carry away any waste they produce for disposal on the mainland.
The bag limit will be two deer per hunter. Each hunter is limited to 1 antlered buck during the hunt (1 buck and 1 doe, or 2 does). Hunt dates for 2022 are Sept. 15-17, Oct. 20-22, Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 15-17.
The deadline to apply is by 5 p.m. on Aug. 15. Applicants will be notified by email of selection status.
Current applicants can change their application location preferences or convert to a points only (and vice-versa) up until the lottery closes.
For questions or assistance with applying contact Emily Kearse at (803)734-3887 or email kearsee@dnr.sc.gov, or Trista Bishop at (803)734-3892 or by email bishopt@dnr.sc.gov.