Overview
Description
Covers the floodplain and upland terrain along the Broad River corridor. Known for its feral hog population — one of the most accessible year-round hunting opportunities in the region. Deer and turkey hunting are productive in hardwood bottoms and planted pines along the river corridor.
Acreage
18,422 acres
Game Zone
Zone 2
Counties
Newberry & Fairfield
Type
State WMA
Distance
~1 hr south of Spartanburg
Agency
SCDNR
SCDNR Contact
Known For
Species & Seasons
🦌
Whitetail Deer
5 / season
Archery Only
Sept. 15 – Sept. 30, 2025
Primitive Weapons
Oct. 1 – Oct. 10, 2025
Still Gun
Oct. 11, 2025 – Jan. 1, 2026
Youth Hunt Day
Jan. 3, 2026 (2 deer, no tags req.)
Daily Bag
2 per day · 5 per season · max 2 bucks
⚠️ Broad River Waterfowl MA (dedicated impoundments): Archery deer only, Sept. 15 – Oct. 31. Impoundments closed to public access Nov. 1 – Feb. 8 except scheduled hunts. WMA permit required.
🦃
Wild Turkey
2 / season
Spring Gobbler
Apr. 3 – May 3, 2025
Daily Bag
1 gobbler per day · max 1 before Apr. 10
Season Limit
2 gobblers per season
⚠️ No Jake harvest — immature males with beards under 6 inches and uneven tail fans are protected. Turkey tags required (Big Game Permit).
🐗
Feral Hog
No limit
WMA (Still)
During any open game season (daylight only)
Hog / Dog Hunts
Jan. 2–10 & Mar. 20–27 (Game Zone 2)
Weapons
Limited to weapon allowed for current deer season
⚠️ No dog hog hunting outside of scheduled special hog hunts. No night hunting on WMA. No limit — take every opportunity.
🦆
Waterfowl
Category I Draw
Early Teal
Sept. 20 – Sept. 28, 2025
Ducks / Coots
Nov. 22–29 & Dec. 12, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026
Early Canada Geese
Sept. 1–30, 2025
Access
Category I area — draw permit required
⚠️ The Broad River Waterfowl MA impoundments are a Category I designated waterfowl area. Hunts held ~once per week (Saturdays) by annual computer drawing. Apply through SCDNR Go Outdoors SC. Ring Neck, Wood Duck, Mallard, and Green-Winged Teal historically present. Non-toxic shot required. Limit 25 shells per hunt.
🕊️
Mourning Dove
15 / day
Segment 1
Sept. 1 – Oct. 4, 2025
Segment 2
Nov. 15 – 29, 2025
Segment 3
Dec. 22, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026
Hunting Hours
Afternoon only (no entry before noon)
Shell Limit
50 shells per day on public fields
⚠️ Dove on public WMA fields only on designated hunt days. HIP registration and Migratory Bird Permit required.
🐿️
Small Game
Varies
Squirrel
Oct. 1, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026 (guns & dogs)
Rabbit
Nov. 27, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026 (guns & dogs)
Quail
Nov. 24, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026 (guns & dogs)
WMA Limits
No small game before Sept. 1 or after Mar. 1
⚠️ No fox squirrel hunting on WMA lands. Dogs allowed for small game. Raccoon and opossum also available per WMA seasons.
Access & Directions
1
From Spartanburg, take I-26 West toward Columbia. Exit at Newberry (approx. 45 minutes).
2
Head east on SC-34 toward Blair, SC. The WMA straddles the Broad River corridor between Newberry and Fairfield Counties.
3
For the Broad River Waterfowl MA: From Newberry, take SC-34 east. After crossing the Broad River Bridge, take the first dirt road to the right. Proceed 1.2 miles and turn right at the Broad River WMA sign. The shed is approximately 0.5 miles past the sign.
4
Additional access via county roads off SC-34. Multiple parking areas along the river corridor. Check SCDNR WMA map for specific tract boundaries.
Road Type
Paved (SC-34) + dirt county roads to interior
Parking
Multiple pull-offs along SC-34 and county roads
Road Conditions
Bottomland portions subject to seasonal flooding — check conditions before hunting low ground
Nearest Town
Newberry, SC (fuel, supplies)
Cell Service
Spotty in river bottoms — download offline maps before leaving
Terrain & Habitat
The Broad River WMA encompasses a diverse mix of river floodplain, hardwood bottomlands, and upland pine stands along the Broad River corridor in Newberry and Fairfield Counties. At 18,422 acres, this is one of the larger public hunting tracts in the midlands of South Carolina.
River Bottomlands
Hardwood bottoms along the Broad River — oak flats, sweet gum, river birch. Prime deer habitat during the rut. Feral hogs concentrate in these low areas. Expect wet conditions and flooding after heavy rain.
Upland Pine Stands
Planted loblolly pine ridges transition to hardwood drainages. Good turkey territory in spring. Deer use pine edges, especially near food plots and clearcuts.
Waterfowl Impoundments
Five managed impoundments totaling ~130 acres, including a greentree reservoir with full oak canopy and fields planted in corn or millet. Historically hold Ring Neck, Wood Duck, Mallard, and Green-Winged Teal. Impoundments closed Nov. 1 – Feb. 8 to avoid disturbing migratory birds.
Creek Drainages & Wallows
Numerous creek feeders run into the Broad. Hog wallows and rooting sign concentrate along these drainages year-round. Deer crossings and rubs are common in the transition zones between pine and hardwood.
Field Tips
Feral hogs concentrate near river bottoms and food plots year-round. Hunt creek crossings and fresh wallows — rooting sign and muddy bank tracks are reliable indicators of active hog travel routes.
For deer, focus on hardwood drainages during the rut (late October through mid-November). Look for rubs and scrapes on the edges where pines transition to hardwood bottoms — these pinch points concentrate deer movement.
Bottomland portions flood seasonally. Always check road and field conditions before entering low ground, especially after any significant rain. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is strongly recommended for interior access.
Waterfowl hunting on the impoundments is by draw permit only (Category I). Apply early through SCDNR's Go Outdoors SC. Hunts historically held Saturdays during duck season.
Turkey hunting in spring — work pine edges near creek heads. Birds roost in tall pines and pitch down into the open hardwood flats to strut. Set up early at the base of ridges leading into the bottoms.
Download the SCDNR WMA Map #2 before your hunt. Cell service is unreliable in river bottoms. OnX or Gaia GPS with the SC WMA layer loaded offline is highly recommended.
Arrive well before legal shooting light — park at the trailhead and hike in. Hogs are most active at first and last light. For deer, the rut in Game Zone 2 typically peaks early-to-mid November.
Regulations
Licenses Required: SC Hunting License + WMA Permit required to hunt. Big Game Permit required for deer, turkey, and bear. Migratory Bird Permit + HIP registration required for dove and waterfowl. Federal Duck Stamp and SC Waterfowl Permit required for waterfowl.
No Baiting
Baiting or hunting over a baited area is prohibited on all WMA lands.
No Sunday Hunt
No Sunday hunting on WMA lands unless specifically stated.
Orange Required
During gun/muzzleloader seasons for deer, all hunters must wear solid international orange (hat, coat, or vest). Archery, dove, turkey, and waterfowl hunters exempt while hunting those species.
Firearms
All firearms in vehicles must be unloaded and secured in a case or trunk. No shooting from roads. No armor-piercing, tracer, or full-metal bullets. No buckshot during still gun deer hunts.
Hog Rules
No dog hog hunting outside special scheduled hunts. No night hunting on WMA. Weapons limited to those allowed during current open season.
Impoundments
Waterfowl impoundments closed to all public access Nov. 1 – Feb. 8 except during special hunts. Open to public Feb. 9 – Oct. 31 in designated areas.
Deer Tagging
Tag deer immediately at the point of kill before moving. Report harvest via SC Game Check by midnight on the day of harvest.
Man Drives
Man drives for deer permitted 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM only. Drivers may not carry weapons.
Gear Checklist
Licenses & Permits
Clothing (River Bottom Terrain)
Navigation & Safety
Hunting Equipment
Vehicle & Field
Emergency Info
Emergency Contacts
Emergency
SCDNR Law Enf.
Newberry Co. Sheriff
Fairfield Co. Sheriff
Nearest Hospital
Newberry County Memorial Hospital, 2669 Kinard St, Newberry — (803) 405-9000
SCDNR Office
2762 Wildlife Lane, West Columbia — (803) 755-2086
Cell service is limited in river bottoms and interior tracts. Save this guide to your home screen for offline access. Share your exact location and expected return time with someone before heading in.
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