ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge - Hollywood, SC - Wildlife Refuge with Hunting and Fishing

Created in 1990, ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge was a joint effort involving private conservation groups, local landowners, federal government agencies, and state government agencies. This effort was designed to protect and preserve the ACE Basin area. The "ACE'' in the Basin's name comes from combining the first letter of each of the following rivers: Ashepoo River, Combahee River, and Edisto River. The three rivers make up one of the East Coast's largest undeveloped estuaries.

The ACE Basin includes roughly 350,000 acres, and the ACE Basin Wildlife Refuge is situated on approximately 11,815 acres within the Basin. Additional land is still being purchased to add onto the refuge area. It is anticipated that the ACE Basin Wildlife Refuge could grow to encompass 18,000 acres once all lands have been purchased and added. The refuge is actually made up of two units. One unit is located off of the Edisto River. The other unit is located off of the Combahee River.

Some parts of the refuge are within the buffer area of the National Estuarine Research Reserve. The refuge's office is housed in a former plantation house. The plantation house was once part of a rice plantation and was built in 1828. There were only three antebellum mansions in the ACE Basin that survived the Civil War, and this is one of them. The building is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

The refuge is home to many different species. Painted buntings, turkeys, bald eagles, wood storks, white tailed deer, and alligators are just a few of the animals that live in the area. The bald eagles nest in both of the refuge's units. The wood storks, which are endangered, use the area during the summer. In the winter, ducks can be found in concentrations up to 30,000. Visitors are able to see a variety of different birds depending on when they visit the area. In addition, the refuge is made up of wetlands, tidal marsh, hardwoods, upland forest, and additional acres of shrubs and grass.

Deer hunting is permitted at the refuge during scheduled times. The refuge hosts bow hunts, black powder hunts, and mobility-impaired hunts. Waterfowl hunting is also permitted, but it is only permitted in specific areas at specific times. Hunters should be in possession of a Refuge Hunt Permit. To inquire about permits or hunting, interested parties can call 843-889-3084. Fishing is also permitted in specific areas during the fishing season. In addition to hunting and fishing, the refuge features nature trails and visitors have many opportunities to photograph the wildlife.

There is no charge for admission to the Refuge. Regular hours of operation are from dawn to dusk daily. The office is open from 7:30am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. The office is closed on weekends and on federal holidays. The ACE Basin Wildlife Refuge receives about 25,000 visitors each year. For safety reasons, portions of the refuge may be closed during public hunting days. Additional information on the refuge can be obtained by calling 843-889-3084.

Businesses in the surrounding area offer tours of the area, canoeing trips, kayaking opportunities, and campsites.