DNR to host alligator hunting seminar at Horry Georgetown Technical College

     The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in cooperation with the Forestry and Wildlife Program at Horry Georgetown Technical College, will conduct its first alligator hunting seminar on Saturday, Aug. 7 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Georgetown Campus.  This seminar is for the public alligator hunt participants, hunting assistants and other interested persons.  The program will cover such topics as alligator capture and handling techniques, rules and regulations, alligator hunting equipment, processing, and other helpful information.
     This is the first in a series of four alligator hunting seminars scheduled during the month of August.  Interested alligator hunting equipment manufacturers and retailers are invited to attend to display and demonstrate their equipment in conjunction with the seminars; however, DNR does not endorse any type, brand, or make of such equipment. Any vendors should plan on bringing their own tables, set-ups, or displays as dedicated space or tables may not be available. On premises sales are restricted at certain sites and vendor space may be limited so all interested vendors should first check and pre-register with DNR at (803) 734-3886. Vendors may be charged a fee for attendance at the Spartanburg seminar.
     The seminars dates and times are scheduled as follows:
     * Aug. 7-10 a.m. - Georgetown County
     Horry-Georgetown Technical College
     4003 South Fraser Street, Georgetown
     * Aug. 14-10 a.m. - Berkeley County
     Santee Cooper Auditorium
     1 Riverwood Drive, Moncks Corner
     * Aug. 21-12 p.m. - Lexington County
     Midlands Technical College
     Airport Campus
     1260 Lexington Drive, West Columbia
     * Aug. 28-2 p.m. - Spartanburg County
     Harry Hampton Hunting & Fishing Expo
     Spartanburg Expo Center
     6655 Pottery Road, Spartanburg
     (An entry fee for the Expo will be charged)

 

 

             New law brings changes to bear hunting in Upstate

     The South Carolina General Assembly recently passed a new law that affects bear hunting in the Upstate, and the law will bring some changes that hunters will need to know before the bear season begins in October.
     A two-week black bear season is held only in Game Zone 1, which consists of the northern sections of Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens counties. Still hunt season for bear is Oct. 17-23, and party dog season is Oct. 24-30.
     One of the main changes in the bear hunting law is the requirement that all persons harvesting bears in South Carolina during both the still and party dog seasons must possess a bear tag and must tag the animal before moving it from the point of kill, according to Richard Morton, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife biologist based in Clemson. This tag will cost $25 for residents and $100 for non-residents and will be issued in the name of the individual hunter.  Youth under the age of 16 can obtain tags at no charge.  Bear tags will be available online, by mail and at DNR regional offices. The revenue generated from these bear tags will go to bear research and management and to administer the tag system.
     Purchase a bear tag online at: www.dnr.sc.gov/purchase.html.
     Another change brought about by the new law is that during the party dog hunt, the limit was raised to five bears per party per season. All persons wishing to register for the party hunt must register by Sept.1 each year and must provide a valid hunting license number. "It will be more important than ever that hunters get their application in on time and that they be accurate," Morton said. "The DNR will not substitute members of a party after Sept. 1."
     The application for party dog hunts is available online at www.dnr.sc.gov/bearhunting/Bearpartyhunt.pdf.
     Other changes brought about by the new law include:
     * Archery hunting for deer will be allowed during the bear season.
     * DNR will be allowed to set bear hunting seasons in other game zones as bear populations increase.
     * The harvest of an undersized bear is now a magistrate court case, which means DNR officers can issue a courtesy summons for this violation. Previously, an undersized bear charge resulted in the violator being taken to jail. Other bear law violations will remain circuit court cases.
       Hunters who have additional questions about the new bear law are urged to contact their nearest DNR enforcement officer or wildlife biologist. The new bear hunting law can be viewed at: www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/3541.htm.
       More information on black bears in South Carolina can be found at: www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/bear/index.html.

 

       Changes to Francis Marion National Forest 2010 deer season

Some changes in the 2010 deer season will occur on the Francis Marion National Forest as a result of hunter concern and supportive biological data related to decreasing deer numbers.
     Hunts for deer with any type of weapon will not occur until Sept. 1.  The entire month of September for all of the Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), which includes Hellhole, Wambaw, Santee, Northampton and Waterhorn, will be archery only except for scheduled deer hunts with dogs on certain WMAs.  Deer hunts with firearms will begin on all WMAs Oct. 1 and continue until Jan. 1, 2011.  On dates not designated as a county wide either-sex days, individual antlerless deer tags are still allowed on still gun and muzzleloader hunts only from Oct. 1 - Jan. 1.  The total bag limit for all firearm and muzzleloader hunts (including deer hunts with dogs) has been decreased from 8 to 4 deer for the entire Francis Marion National Forest for the 2010 season.  A new regulation will be in effect that makes it unlawful for an individual to attempt to harvest a deer with a gun or muzzleloader once the individual has reached the season bag limit for deer.        
     Deer hunts with dogs that were previously scheduled in August were moved to days later in the year to take advantage of potentially cooler weather. During the three previous deer seasons, August deer harvest only represented an average 1.6 percent of the total deer harvest on the Francis Marion National Forest. Several of the deer hunt with dog days continue to be on dates when children are out of school and can participate in the events. All of the youth only deer hunts with dogs remain the same on all areas.  In an effort to spread out hunters, the either-sex deer hunt with dogs on the Santee WMA and the Hellhole WMA will take place on the same date. Likewise the either-sex deer hunt with dogs on the Wambaw and Northampton will also take place on the same date.
     Hunters have been voicing concern over the lack of deer on the National Forest for several seasons.  Deer spotlight surveys conducted on the Waterhorn, Hellhole and Santee WMAs resulted in few deer being observed.  Other data suggestive of a lower deer herd density include the fact that the Francis Marion Forest has the lowest deer harvest per square mile of any other WMA throughout the entire state.  Factors possibly contributing to the decline in the deer population could be coyote predation, feral hogs competing for similar habitats and food as well as the illegal harvest of deer.
     View the 2010-2011 copy of the Rules and Regulations brochure to view the changes to the deer hunting season at: www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html.