Draper Wildlife Management Area

Property Location

1080 Draper Rd.
McConnells, SC 29726

Latitude: 34.867  Longitude:-81.191
Acreage: 806
County: York
Game Zone: 2


Property Type: WMA Specific

Hours of Operation

This area is open during daylight hours year-round.


Activities / Facilities

Biking Fishing Hunting Nature Viewing Hiking

Property Description

The SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR) purchased the Draper Tract in 1995 from The Nation Ford Land Trust using York County game and fish funds. The property was previously owned by R. Fisher Draper and is sometimes referred to as the Brattonsville Tract because of its proximity to the community of Brattonsville.

The Draper Tract consists of 806 acres and lies approximately 10 miles south of the town of York in York County, SC. The property is located south of State Road 322 and west of Secondary Road 165 (Brattonsville Road), bordering Love Creek to the south. It is situated at a latitude of N 34 degrees and 52 minutes and a longitude of E 81 degrees and 12 minutes. Access to the property is limited with a parking area provided.

Since its purchase in 1995, the York County Legislative Delegation has authorized over $200,000 of the York County game and fish funds for management of the property.

Approximately 80 acres of planted loblolly, natural loblolly, shortleaf and Virginia pine are present. Hardwood stands on this tract comprise approximately 371 acres (46 percent) and occur in both upland and bottomland sites. A significant number of desirable mast-producing hardwood species such as red oak, white oak, water oak, willow oak and swamp chestnut oak along with hickory, black walnut, dogwood and redbud occur.

About 386 acres (48 percent) of this tract is open land or is non-forested and consists primarily of abandoned fields, powerline right-of-ways and ponds. Many of the fields or open areas are relatively large in size, some in excess of 50 to 75 acres. The open areas are managed by periodic mowing, disking and burning to maintain an early successional habitat.

This Wildlife Management Area is managed specifically for small game, however good white-tailed deer and wild turkey populations are present. Special seasons and/or bag limits apply for quail, rabbit and turkey. There are two dove fields on the property, one youth / adult field and one adult field.

Although managed for hunting, other forms of outdoor recreation such as hiking, biking and bird watching are popular at this WMA because of its proximity to Rock Hill, SC, and Charlotte, NC. No horseback riding is allowed. The property contains 3 stocked ponds and special limits and open times apply. See a list of DNR State Lakes in a current copy of the Rules and Regulations booklet for details.

In Spring 2004, the DNR partnered with the Rock Hill Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, local businesses and the York County Legislative Delegation to conduct a Youth Fishing Rodeo and Jakes event. It was a great success with over 100 youth in attendance. In 2008, over 700 youth participated in this annual event.