Palachucola WMA deer draw hunt

Thirty-five lucky hunters were drawn via lottery to hunt on a Wildlife Management Area for the weekend of November 19-21. With mild weather conditions making hunters vigilant for snakes and assorted stinging critters, hunter Julian Clark crept into the wilderness that is the Savannah River swamp. Hunting in a hardwood flat, three does came into view at looking to eat some acorns. Clark took aim at the largest doe and fired, knocking her to the ground momentarily before she jumped up and ran towards the river swamp that was now fully flooded. He lost track of the blood trail when she crossed a gulley filled with water, and darkness quickly descended. Clark and I decided to retrieve the doe at dawn, electing not to take a chance of getting lost at night in the swamp. When dawn arrived tracking was resumed and a two-man grid search was enacted and we located the doe, but to our surprise only a carcass remained as a pack of coyotes must have found the doe overnight and completely consumed all the flesh. The only parts we found were entrails, fur and legs! Lowcountryoutdoors can only imagine the teeth-gnashing flesh-tearing feast of the coyotes.

PhotosByJeffDennis: The 2009 deer harvest tallies for three WMA's; Hunters Shawn Wolters and Julian Clark at the draw hunt; Quality Deer Management is practiced on most SCDNR properties