Antlers will abound throughout the Palmetto State as the search
for new state record deer antlers gets underway during the S.C.
Department of Natural Resources' annual series of scoring sessions.
Each year during March, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) scores deer antlers throughout the state, with a major scoring
effort during the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic.
A total of 3,998 sets
of white-tailed deer antlers, including 3,854 typical racks and 144 nontypical,
are currently ranked on South Carolina's all-time antler records list, according
to Charles Ruth, Deer Project supervisor for DNR. Minimum scores for state
record listing are 125 points for typical antlers and 145 points for nontypical
antlers. Scoring is based on the Boone and Crockett system.
The objectives of the state records list are to recognize outstanding animals
and to identify areas that produce quality deer, according to Ruth. This
information allows biologists to take a closer look at habitat, deer herd
condition and offer land management suggestions to
landowners.
Although record deer have been recorded from all counties, Aiken, Orangeburg,
Anderson and Kershaw counties have produced the greatest numbers in the past
three to four years. Generally, larger deer are more
abundant in areas that have fewer deer, as compared to parts of the state with
high deer numbers, according to Ruth. Last year's scoring sessions produced 154
new entries into the South Carolina records list, up slightly
from the 149 recorded in 2001.
Hunters must provide necessary documentation, such as the date and county of
the kill, and sign a "fair chase" statement when they bring in a set of antlers
for scoring. Broken and repaired racks or antlers separated
from the skull plate cannot be officially measured for the state records list.
If the lower jawbone of the animal was extracted during taxidermy or otherwise
saved, it should be brought to the scoring session so biologists
can determine the deer's age. An accurate weight measurement at the time of the
kill is also helpful.
Results from DNR's antler scoring activities for 2001 and 2002 can be found
on the agency's Web site at
www.dnr.state.sc.us/wild/deer/img/deerantler0102.pdf
2003 ANTLER
SCORING SESSIONS
Date, time, location, and telephone:
* Tuesday, March 4, 2-6 p.m., Clemson, Ole Norm's,
SC 93 and SC 123, (864) 654-1652
* Thursday, March 6, 2-8 p.m., Belton, Finley's
Taxidermy, 4027 Belhaven Road, (864) 224-5464
* Friday, March 7, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Langley/Bath, Wilson's Taxidermy, 158 Victory Lane (803) 593-3357
* Friday, March 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Orangeburg,
City Gym, 1420 Broughton St., (843) 825-3387
* Tuesday, March 11, 2-8 p.m., Six Mile, Durham's
Grocery, 3210 Walhalla Highway, (864) 868-2070
* Tuesday, March 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Walterboro,
Colleton County Clemson Extension Service office, 219 S. Lemacks St., (843)
549-2595
* Thursday, March 13, 2-8 p.m., Taylors, Rocks
Country Store, 430 Groce Meadow Road, (864) 895-8324
* Thursday, March 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Garnett,
Webb Wildlife Center Office, 1282 Webb Ave., (803) 625-3569
* Friday, March 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bonneau,
Dennis Wildlife Center, 305 Black Oak Road, (843) 825-3387
* Thursday, March 20, 3-7 p.m., Georgetown,
Richmond DNR office, north of Georgetown on west side of US 701, (843) 546-8119
* Friday, March 21, 2-7 p.m., Florence, Florence
DNR office, 2007 Pisgah Road off of US 52 north near the State Farmers Market.
(843) 661-4768
* Saturday, March 22, 9 a.m. to noon, Sumter,
Central Carolina Technical College, Natural Resources Management Center,
Brewington Road, west of the airport, (843) 661-4768
* Tuesday, March 25, 4-7 p.m., Bennettsville, Lake
Wallace headquarters off SC 385 North (843) 661-4768
* Thursday, March 27, 3-7 p.m., Conway, Conway DNR
office in the M. L. Brown public safety bldg. on US 701 North, (843) 248-6013
* Friday, March 28, noon to 9 p.m., Columbia,
Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic, State Fairgrounds, (803) 734-3886
* Saturday, March 29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Columbia,
Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic, State Fairgrounds, (803) 734-3886
* Sunday, March 30, 1:30-6 p.m., Columbia, Palmetto
Sportsmen's Classic, State Fairgrounds, (803) 734-3886
* Greenwood: At DNR office, 2751 Hwy. 72 East,
Abbeville, by appointment only during March, (864) 223-2731
* Union: At DNR office, 124 Wildlife Drive, by
appointment only during March, (864) 427-4771
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