Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge Turkey Hunt Lottery
Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Welcome to Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Nestled in the rolling sandhills of Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge offers more than 46,000 acres of longleaf pine forests, open grasslands, wetlands, and diverse wildlife habitat. Whether you're hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, photography, or simply enjoying the outdoors, the refuge provides opportunities to connect with some of the Southeast's most iconic landscapes and wildlife.
Established in 1939, the refuge was created to provide habitat for migratory birds, demonstrate sound natural resource management, and offer high-quality wildlife-dependent recreation. Today, it remains an important part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a nationwide network of lands and waters managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.
The refuge's longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem supports a rich diversity of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, migratory birds, and numerous native plants and pollinators. Through active habitat management, including prescribed fire, the refuge works to conserve these natural resources for future generations.
Hunting and fishing opportunities are managed to provide safe, responsible recreation while supporting sustainable wildlife populations. All activities are conducted in accordance with applicable federal regulations and South Carolina state laws.
For information on hunting and fishing opportunities that do not require a quota permit, visit the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge website
Permit & Season Information
This permit authorizes the permittee to participate in one designated three-day turkey hunting period on Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. During the assigned hunt, the permittee may hunt wild turkey in accordance with refuge regulations and South Carolina hunting laws.
Permit holders may harvest one bearded gobbler during their assigned three-day hunt. Any turkey harvested on the refuge counts toward the hunter's South Carolina seasonal bag limit and must be properly tagged with a state-issued transport tag immediately upon harvest, as required by South Carolina regulations.
Participation is limited to the specific hunt dates assigned through the permit, and all refuge and state hunting regulations remain in effect throughout the hunt.
Need to Know
Hunting Brochure Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Annual Hunting Supplemental (Seasons & Dates) Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Georeferenced Map of the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Permit & License Requirements
Each hunter must carry a copy of their permit (printed or digital) and present it upon request.
While hunting, you must possess:
Refuge turkey hunt permit
South Carolina hunting license (age 16 and older)
Government-issued photo ID (age 16 and older)
Turkey transport tags
Proof of hunter education certification, if required by state law
Important:
All participants, including hunters, callers, and observers, must have a valid refuge permit.
Permits are non-transferable.
The refuge bag limit is one bearded gobbler per season, including Youth and Quota hunts.
All harvested turkeys count toward your South Carolina state bag limit.
Harvested turkeys must be tagged and reported through the SC Game Check system.
All harvested turkeys must also be checked in at the refuge office.
Access Hours
Refuge open daily: 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset
On scheduled turkey hunt days, hunters may enter at 4:00 a.m.
Hunters must exit no later than 2 hours after legal sunset
Areas closed to turkey hunting are shown on refuge hunt maps and identified by roads and refuge boundaries.
Legal Weapons
Legal turkey hunting equipment includes:
Shotguns
Muzzleloading shotguns
Bows
Crossbows
All firearms must comply with federal, state, and local laws.
Vehicles & Roads
Licensed vehicles are allowed only on roads open to public vehicle use.
Obey all posted signs.
No motor vehicles are allowed in designated walk-in areas.
Do not block gates, roads, or fire lanes.
Maximum speed limit is 15 mph unless otherwise posted.
ATVs/UTVs are prohibited except for approved mobility-impaired hunters possessing a refuge special use permit.
Bicycles & E-Bikes
Allowed on:
Open refuge roads
Designated walk-in areas
Not allowed on:
Hiking trails
Only Class 1 e-bikes are permitted.
Accessibility
Hunters with mobility impairments should contact the Refuge Manager regarding special access opportunities.
Approved ATV/UTV use is limited to designated mobility-impaired hunt areas and requires:
A refuge special use permit
A valid state disabled hunting license
Prohibited Activities
The following are prohibited:
Harvesting jakes
Fanning or reaping
Electronic calls
Baiting or hunting near bait
Trail cameras or other monitoring devices
Shooting from, on, or across refuge roads
Loaded firearms within:
100 feet of maintained refuge roads
500 feet of paved roads
Entering closed areas or no-hunting zones
Camping or fires
Marking trees or refuge features with paint or flagging
Collecting antlers, skulls, plants, arrowheads, or other natural, cultural, or historic items
Drones
Falconry
Know before you go: It is the hunter's responsibility to understand all refuge regulations and South Carolina hunting laws before participating in the hunt.
Fee Policy
Application Fee: $10 per application. Applicants may apply individually or as a group of up to three hunters on a single application for one application fee.
Permit Fee: $15 per hunter.
If Selected in the Lottery: The applicant listed on the application becomes the primary permit holder and is responsible for:
Purchasing all permits associated with the application.
Paying the full permit fee for all hunters listed on the application.
Listing all hunters on the permit at the time of purchase.
Fees are non-refundable unless otherwise specified by the refuge.
Example: A group application with three hunters requires a $10 application fee. If selected, the primary permit holder must purchase three permits at $15 per hunter ($45 total).
Cancellation Policy
Application Cancellation Policy
Applications may be canceled any time before the application period closes on March 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
Application fees are non-refundable, regardless of when the application is canceled.
Permit Claim Period
Applicants selected through the lottery will have a 10-day claim period to purchase their permit(s).
The primary applicant is responsible for:
Purchasing all permits associated with the application.
Paying the required $15 permit fee per hunter.
Listing all group members before completing checkout.
Unclaimed Permits
Any permit not claimed during the designated claim period will be forfeited.
Unclaimed permits will be released for public sale beginning March 2, 2027, at 10:00 a.m. and will remain available until sold out.
Permit Cancellation Policy
Permit fees are non-refundable once a permit has been purchased.
Change Policy
No changes, substitutions, or additions to hunters listed on the permit are allowed after purchase.
Permits are non-transferable.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
23734 US Highway 1 McBee SC 29101
Phone Number
(843) 335-8350
