2019 Old Bonnie Doone Plantation Youth Deer Hunt

Take One Make One Hunt Results on Nov. 16

A low pressure system pushing through the Lowcountry last weekend did nothing to hinder the success of a youth deer hunt in Colleton County last Saturday. The Take One Make One (TOMO) program is a product of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and Officer Mark Ferrell serves as the hunt coordinator. Since the hunts are scheduled months in advance, and applicants arrange their own transportation, these hunts go on no matter the weather. Six hunters went into deer stands in driving afternoon rain, and three were able to harvest a fine 8-point buck.

            

The mission statement for the TOMO program is taking youth on their first hunt, while teaching values that last a lifetime. “The TOMO program is open to youth ages 10 – 17 who would like to go hunting,” said Ferrell. “In most cases, their parents do not hunt, and they don’t have anyone to take them hunting or to educate them about hunting. The TOMO program can take that youth and get them on a hunt, plus we show them the bigger picture of land conservation, planting food plots, and hopefully even skinning out a white-tailed deer.”

            

“This is the third year the TOMO program has hunted at Old Bonnie Doone Plantation,” said Ferrell. “One of our youth hunters named Trey Bowers was on his first ever deer hunt and was able to harvest his first ever 8-point buck. Seeing that kind of success for a first time hunter is what makes TOMO hunts special. The other youth that harvested a buck, Joey Luther and Tyler Bowers, got their first bucks last year during a TOMO hunt. Our other three hunters were Jake Stilwell, Sebastian Robinson and Tyler Hancock. We only have a limited number of hunts each year, and while the youth are eligible with TOMO until they graduate from high school, many of them branch out and find a regular place to hunt on their own after a TOMO hunt experience.”

To read the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entires from Take One Make One click on 2017 White Hall Plantation -  2011 Bamberg - 2009 Newberry

To view past blog entries on youth hunting click on 2012 Waterfowl Hunt at Bear Island WMA  - 2019 State Youth Coon Hunt at Webb Center WMA