Which of the SCDNR wildlife management areas are in the vicinity of Lake Secession? I cannot find a wma in Abbeville county.

My wife and four adult daughters want to spend Thanksgiving in SC. (my youngest lives in Pendleton). We might be staying at her friend's house by Lake Secession. Is there any place relatively close by I could spend some mornings looking for deer? I don't need anyone's honey hole but just some public land to wander in the mornings to keep my sanity.

They pulled this stunt a few years ago but we stayed north of Clemson.  I had nice little spot close by and saw turkeys and deer so I was happy in spite of never drawing my bow.

Thanks

Good luck in your search.

Never been hunting up there but Lake Secession is a GREAT lake to fish. Shhhhhh .... It's my honey hole.

A good many other tradganers live in the upstate that could help you with hunting spots. Hopefully they'll speak up.

Blaino: thanks for the heads up on the fishing possibility which would be a good backup (I'll take some fishing gear) but I need to be in the woods on cool November mornings.  

Look at the SCDNR web site. I dont hunt in that area so I don't know any specifics but it shouldnt be a problem finding some public land in reasonable driving distance.
Good luck

Best I can tell, your closest option (30 mi) will be the Long Cane District of Sumter Nat Forest. Never hunted in that part of the state but hopefully someone can be of some help.

SC has a lot of hunting opportunities! We hunted near Lake Murray last spring for turkeys. They have listed and unlisted WMAs. The listed had more rules (eg drawings, quotas, etc). We hunted the unlisted and Sumpter NF. Great hunting! Did not see many deer though! Tons of coyotes however! No pigs!

Try to find the unlisted WMAs!!!

I'd stay with your youngest in Pendleton. Then you can walk out your door and hunt Fant's Grove WMA.  It's archery only all season (except for a week in December for a youth hunt).  Or drive a few miles north to the top side of Lake Hartwell to hunt Keowee WMA, also archery only.

Fant's Grove is 39 miles from Lake Seccession; maybe less if you're on the north end of the lake.

Pete is right.  I use to work in Pendleton an know a little something about The Grove.  It's big woods that sit on the banks of Hartwell.  Good bucks because of the antler restriction.  Also check out Keowee WMA.  It's located not far from the Grove and both areas have good deer numders and are bow only.

Thanks to all.
I've been in the Fants Grove area. Hopefully I can stay in Pendleton.