Overview
Address / Primary Access
151 Piedmont Nursery Rd, Tamassee, SC 29686 (Piedmont Forestry Center)
Acreage
~6,200 acres
Game Zone
Zone 2
Terrain
Planted pines, hardwood ridges, stream bottomlands
Agency
SCDNR / SC Forestry Commission
Phone
Known For
Poe Creek State Forest WMA offers diverse hunting across 6,200 acres of state forest land cooperatively managed by SCDNR and the SC Forestry Commission. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Pickens and Oconee counties, the area features a mix of planted pine stands, mature hardwood ridges, and productive stream bottomlands draining into Eastatoe Creek. Black bear season applies here — confirm zone-specific quotas with SCDNR before heading out. The squirrel population is excellent and frequently overlooked by hunters focused on deer.
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 Deer Day
Jan 3, 2026
Daily Bag
2 per day · 5 per season
⚠️ WMA seasons follow Game Zone 2 still-hunt rules. No baiting on WMA lands. Deer must be tagged at kill site before moving.
🐻
Black Bear
1 / season
Still Hunt
Oct 17 – Oct 30, 2025 (Game Zone 2)
Method
No dogs — still hunting only
Statewide Limit
1 bear per season
⚠️ Quota-managed. Season may close early once harvest quota is met — verify status with SCDNR 24 hours before hunting. Bear harvest must be reported immediately.
🦃
Wild Turkey
2 / season
Spring Gobbler
Apr 3 – May 3, 2026
Daily Bag
1 gobbler/day · max 1 before Apr 10
Season Limit
2 gobblers per season
⚠️ No jake (immature male) harvest — illegal as of 2025. Gobblers only. Hen turkey are protected.
🐿️
Gray Squirrel
10 / day
Dogs Only
Sept 1 – Sept 15, 2025
Guns & Dogs
Oct 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
Youth Only Day
Sept 27, 2025
Daily Bag
10 squirrels
🐇
Rabbit
5 / day
Dogs Only
Sept 1 – Sept 15, 2025
Guns & Dogs
Nov 27, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
Youth Only Day
Mar 7, 2026
Daily Bag
5 rabbits
🐗
Feral Hog
No limit
On WMA
During any open hunting season
Method
Daytime only on WMA lands
Access & Directions
1
From Spartanburg, take I-85 S toward Gaffney/Anderson, then exit onto US-25 N toward Greenville.
2
From Greenville, head northwest on SC-8 W through Easley toward Pickens.
3
Continue on SC-8 past Pickens, then follow signs northwest toward Scenic Hwy 11 (Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway).
4
Access interior state forest roads from Hwy 11 in northern Pickens County. State forest roads provide interior access — dry conditions only recommended.
Drive Time
~45 min from Spartanburg
Main Access
SC-8 in Easley area; Scenic Hwy 11 in northern Pickens County
GPS (approx.)
34.99°N, 82.93°W (Piedmont Forestry Center area)
Permits
WMA permit (SCDNR) required. State forest permit may also be required — verify with SCDNR and SCFC before entry.
Forest Roads
Interior roads passable in dry conditions only. High-clearance vehicle recommended for interior access.
Open in Maps
Field Tips
Scout with squirrels first. Early squirrel season (Oct 1) opens before gun deer season. Hunting squirrels in the hardwood ridges reveals fresh deer sign, mast production, and travel routes before the deer opener — one of the best pre-season scouting tools available here.
Bear quota is real. Game Zone 2 bear season is quota-managed and can close within days of opening. Check SCDNR's quota status hotline or website the night before your hunt. Do not drive hours only to find the season already closed.
Best deer sign on hardwood ridges above pine plantations and along stream drainages. Pine-to-hardwood transition zones concentrate both deer and squirrels during mast season.
Interior forest roads close in wet conditions. Do not attempt interior access after rain — roads are primitive and you can become stuck well inside the forest. Check conditions before leaving home.
Wear solid international orange vest and hat during all gun deer and bear seasons. No exceptions on WMA land.
Dual permit requirement: You may need both a SCDNR WMA permit and an SCFC state forest permit. Confirm current requirements at scfc.gov before your first trip.
All harvested deer and bear must be tagged at the point of kill before moving. Do not wait until you reach your vehicle.
Gear Checklist
Licenses & Permits
Safety & Navigation
Terrain & Weather
Harvest & Hunting
Emergency Info
Emergency Contacts
Emergency
Call 911
Pickens Sheriff
(864) 898-5589
SC DNR Dispatch
1-800-922-5431
SCFC Poe Creek
(864) 944-1104
Nearest Hospital
Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital
200 Fleetwood Dr, Easley, SC 29640
200 Fleetwood Dr, Easley, SC 29640
Cell service is limited in Poe Creek's interior ridges and hollows. Download this guide before your trip by adding it to your home screen (instructions in footer).