Belfast Wildlife Management Area Field Report

Today’s agenda was to head out and explore the Belfast WMA and get a look at the old Belfast Plantation house. I needed to check this place out before hunting season starts and since dove season is almost upon us, time was running out.

Belfast WMA - Belfast Plantation A white, two-story plantation house with a green roof and black shutters stands at the edge of a wide, manicured lawn, backed by tall pine trees under a clear blue sky. In the foreground, a historical marker details the site’s origins as Belfast Plantation, established before 1750, and its later ownership by the McIntosh family. — Belfast House at the Belfast Wildlife Management Area—where centuries of Carolina history meet the ongoing stewardship of land and heritage.

I was a little wary as I my GPS announced that I had arrived at my destination. Belfast House is right next to the road and the sign for the WMA is a little ways past the driveway. I was pretty sure that the house is part of the WMA and on public land, but as I slowly pulled into the drive, I was a little nervous that I was pulling up to a private home. That’s about the time that I spotted the kiosk near the back side of the house and felt much better as I parked and got ready to venture around the house and the rest of the grounds.

I knew going in that the house isn’t open to the public and I wasn’t expecting any facilities like I’d find at a state park. I thought that at least someone could throw down a picnic blanket or wander through the woods enjoying nature. Unfortunately the grass around the house a little long to enjoy a picnic and there aren’t any clearly visible trails.

Near the kiosk I found a cubby with maps of the area and a hunter check in area. As it’s currently off season, there wasn’t anyone around, but there were plenty of maps. I didn’t venture into the woods here as again there aren’t any trails and this is also the archery range.

Belfast WMA – Archery Stand A wooden archery practice stand sits elevated in a forest clearing, surrounded by tall pine trees and lush greenery. The structure features a staircase leading to a railed platform, designed for safe shooting and observation. The grass below is neatly maintained, and the sky is clear and blue, suggesting a calm, sunny day in a managed woodland area. — Elevated focus in the Carolina pines—this archery stand blends recreation with responsible land use, offering a quiet space for skill, stewardship, and connection to the forest.

The archery range has no shortage of practice positions including a raised platform for practicing hunting from a tree stand. Practice locations can be found all around the back of the house.

After leaving this first and main kiosk area, I drove down HWY 56 to the next kiosk and entrance along Main Road that leads deep into the WMA. All the accessible roads in the WMA are gravel and pretty well maintained. Better than other dirt and gravel roads I’ve driven down before.

Belfast WMA – Along Main Road A sunlit dirt road winds through a dense forest of tall pine trees, with green grass growing between the tire tracks and along the edges. The sky is clear and blue, casting warm light across the quiet, rural landscape. The scene evokes a sense of solitude, natural beauty, and peaceful retreat. — A legacy of care etched in Carolina soil—this forest road reflects decades of quiet stewardship, where access meets conservation and every pine stands as a testament to managed resilience.

One thing I noticed along main road is that parts of the area have the feel of a managed forest or tree farm. The trees are all pine and planted in uniform rows. It’s probably just me, but this unnatural growth pattern is a little unnerving as I walk past. But looking further away from the road, it looks like there’s more natural diversity.

After heading back down to the highway, I turned south once again to go check out the final kiosk entrance. This one is much further down 56 than the Main Road kiosk and easy to miss if you’re driving south. The kiosk is on the right side of the gravel road and I didn’t see it until I was already on it.

Belfast WMA Dove Field—where managed habitat supports both wildlife conservation and responsible outdoor recreation.

After turning around and backtracking, I made my way down Silver Gate Road to the dove field located in the middle of the WMA. I was really struck by the silence here. I didn’t hear cars and trucks barreling down the highway. Just the wind and lots of birds chirping away.

The rows of dried up sunflower plants provide lots of food not only for doves but other native or migratory birds that may pass through.

After spending some time enjoying the chorus of wildlife, I made my way back to the car and went on abut my day.

Belfast WMA– Dove Field Sunflower Plant Dried A dry, reddish field filled with rows of brown, wilted sunflower stalks, their leaves shriveled and heads drooping. Sparse patches of green grass grow between the plants. In the background, a line of green trees stands beneath a clear blue sky. — Now a sea of faded stalks under the late-summer sun, this field will transform by spring into a golden expanse—sunflowers standing tall, their faces turned skyward, swaying in the breeze like a living tide of light.

As I said, Belfast isn’t a state park dedicated to all types of recreation, instead it exists as a way to preserve nature and provide a natural habitat for wildlife. Although you won’t find any picnic tables or campsites with power and water hookups, you will find nature in a wilder state than in a park campground. As I drove off, I couldn’t help but wonder what the dove field might look like in spring when the sunflowers are in full bloom.

One major caveat to anyone thinking about visiting, this is a nature preserve and the animal population is managed by controlled hunting. So, if you’re not hunting (and some hunting at Belfast is allowed by random draw) best to visit only during the off season. If in doubt, stop in at Belfast house and check out the postings at the hunter info center.