National Wildlife Refuge · South Carolina · FWS Region 4

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Charleston County, South Carolina, Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 12,186 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 11 mapped hunt units: 7 open with special regulations and 4 closed, covering about 7,903 huntable acres.

7 with special regs4 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
11hunt units
7.9Khuntable acres
12.2KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and tidal / saltwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge has long been a favorite spot for local hunters, who return year after year to pursue deer on this 12,000-acre refuge.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow South Carolina regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (11)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 7,903 (65%)Closed: 4,285 (35%)7.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations7,903 ac 65%
  • Closed4,285 ac 35%
Units by size (acres)
Jehossee Island
2,549 ac
Jehossee Island Waterfowl
2,028 ac
Grove Tract
1,773 ac
Combahee Fields
1,566 ac
Bonny Hall Tract
1,441 ac
Upper Combahee Unit
1,344 ac
Barrelville Tract
712 ac
Cuckolds Creek Area
310 ac
Grove Waterfowl Unit
296 ac
No Hunting Zone
132 ac
Administrative Area
38 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Barrelville Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 712 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
Bonny Hall Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,441 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
Cuckolds Creek Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 310 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
Grove Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,773 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
Grove Waterfowl Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 296 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
Jehossee Island Waterfowl
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,028 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
Upper Combahee Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,344 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
Administrative Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 38 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
Combahee Fields
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,566 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
Jehossee Island
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,549 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.
No Hunting Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 132 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR by the numbers

With about 7,903 huntable acres, Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR ranks #6 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in South Carolina and #222 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 65% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Jehossee Island Waterfowl (2,028 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Grove Waterfowl Unit, covers 296 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

4 units totaling 4,285 acres are closed to hunting (Administrative Area, Combahee Fields, Jehossee Island, and No Hunting Zone). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. South Carolina sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters and anglers require signed brochure.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid South Carolina hunting license and any required tags or stamps — South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

Fishing is allowed in the Beaufort County portion of the refuge only. Impounded waters contained within dikes and levees are opened seasonally, from April 1-August 31 from sunrise to sunset.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR

Navigate

Destination: Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
32.63354, -80.36470
DMS
32°38′00.7″N 80°21′52.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Beaufort, SC23 mi NE of town
  • Charleston, SC27 mi W of town
  • Savannah, GA57 mi NE of town
  • Georgetown, SC81 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • CHS Charleston Intl26 mi
  • SAV Savannah/Hilton Head60 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in New York local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM7:48 PM12h 52m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM7:29 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM7:07 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM6:49 PM11h 26m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM5:31 PM10h 54m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM5:21 PM10h 31m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM5:16 PM10h 11m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM5:17 PM10h 01m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM5:25 PM10h 02m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM5:36 PM10h 13m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:52 PM10h 36m

Computed for 32.634, -80.365 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Why many refuges allow — and encourage — feral hog hunting, how refuge rules handle hogs, safe shot placement, disease…

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR?

Yes. Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 7 units (7,903 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR?

Yes — Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, online through fws, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing and tidal / saltwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR located?

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is in Charleston County, South Carolina, about 23 miles NE of Beaufort, SC (straight-line). GPS: 32.63354, -80.36470.

What are legal shooting hours at Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Bears Bluff NFH

Charleston County, SC · 6.5 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pinckney Island NWR

Beaufort County, SC · 35 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🎣

2.4K huntable acres

Tybee NWR

SC · 52 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Savannah NWR

Jasper County, SC · 53 mi SW

9 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

29.8K huntable acres

Cape Romain NWR

Charleston County, SC · 57 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🕊️🐇🎣

27.1K huntable acres

Santee NWR

Clarendon County, SC · 61 mi N

4 special2 closed
🦌🐇🐗🎣

12K huntable acres

All refuges in South Carolina →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.