ACE Basin QDMA banquet

Custom knives on the silent auction displayed on a shed antler

Two members of the new RACK PACK on a Leopold bench

Lynwood Kearse address the ACE Basin branch banquet before the raffle

The third annual REACH banquet for the ACE Basin branch of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) was held February 10 in Walterboro. A large crowd of deer hunting enthusiasts turned out to support the chapter by bidding on auction items like knives, turkey hunts, football memorabelia, an oyster table, rocking chairs and more. Special guests included Joe Hamilton of Hendersonville, who is the founder of QDMA, and Lynwood Kearse of the SCDNR who addressed the crowd on behalf of the Take One Make One program. QDMA regional director Kevin Graves was proud that three members of the ACE Basin branch had just attended the first-ever QDMA Leadership Summit on January 28 and 29 in Athens, Georgia. This local branch has conducted two youth deer hunts during 2011, and a youth duck hunt in 2012. QDMA is also rolling out its new RACK PACK youth education program. Branch President Nicole Garris said that future efforts will focus on hunting heritage and an increase in the membership roster. Keep up to date with the ACE Basin branch's latest efforts by checking in with their FaceBook page!

To view past blog entries from the ACE Basin branch of QDMA click here.