2013 SCDNR deer draw hunt yields 8-point buck

Upstate hunter and Lowcountry buck

Coyotes and white-tailed deer management story

A record of past hunts prepared by SCDNR

The SCDNR deer draw hunt for multi-sites includes Donnelly WMA and Botany Bay WMA in Colleton County, as well as two properties in Hampton County. The Palachucola WMA and the Hamilton Ridge WMA adjoin the Webb Center and the total acreage under wildlife management between these three properties is 25,000-acres. Fortunate to be drawn for the 2013 Palachucola deer hunt I was informed at the safety meeting of the 4-points on one side or a 12-inch spread buck limit, with coyotes and hogs both on the menu. There is a three deer limit on this hunt, either one buck and two does, or three does. Things got off to a quick start when I terminated a coyote moving down a game trail at 4:30 p.m., but I didn't see anything else after doing the right thing and mowing down that 'yote. The next morning the temperature dipped into the 30's and the deer were moving. Unfortunately I had to pass up three bucks that did not qualify for the draw hunt buck standards. That evening the north wind was up but all of a sudden at 6:30, with plenty of shooting light left, the wind completely stopped. Just then a 6-point buck came out and began rubbing his antlers against a palmetto frond. Then a bigger 8-point buck joined him in the rubbing ritual and before you know it the two bucks were rubbing antlers and conducting a back and forth pushing session. Having seen enough, I aimed my trusty .270 at the 8-point and let fly a 150-grain BTSP bullet. The 8-point buck did a mule kick and followed the 6-point back down the trail from whence they came. Despite finding blood, a chunk of meat with bone fragments, and some white hair - fate was not kind and I was not able to locate the buck before nightfall. Returning the next day at dawn with a DNR staff member we searched those woods for three hours and found no sign of a downed buck, and I can only assume that I did not hit any vitals on the animal. I know I am not the only hunter in 2013 to feel the sting of remorse after losing a buck, but I think the shot was a good one, and would likely take it again in if given the same circumstance. Of course, I was glad to see that other hunters had come out of the woods with their deer, like the upstate hunter that harvested a nice 8-point while hunting in the hardwoods along the Savannah River. Thanks to the SCDNR staff members Jay Cantrell, Ted Rainwater , April Graves Atkinson and David Tant for their good work.

Draw hunters check in for Palchucola hunt

To view past blog entries from Palachucola WMA click hunting or shooting range.