Lowcountry outdoors

Woodrows in the fog and rain

2012-01-27T12:09:00.000-05:00

Ducks Unlimited and S.C. wood ducks

This is what a foggy beaver swamp woodie shoot looks like

Notice the fog in the background

Cleaned wood ducks ready for the kitchen

If there is something about Mary - the memorable comedy motion picture - then there is something about hunting wood ducks that is just as memorable! With temperatures in the 70's during this last week of duck season, and the drought in full effect, it was finally time for waterfowlers to harvest some of those wood ducks that they had been keeping a check on. Hunting in a beaver swamp in a thick fog one morning, a great blue heron came in to land on the hummock of land I was standing on, resulting in a close encounter with the LARGE wading bird. After the heron flew off into the swamp and fog, we began to hear the squeal of wood ducks filtering into the flooded timber. Plenty of wood ducks offered some great wingshooting for the three guns that were in position, and a trusted black lab named Josie made all of the necessary retrieves. That morning the wood ducks were coming into the swamp at daybreak, but a different type of hunt came the following day when a rainy morning offered an opportunity to shoot wood ducks as they were leaving an upland pond they were roosting in. If it had been clear weather, the woodies would have left out before legal shooting time, but that was not the case this day as two guns gave the passing woodies a few salutes on the way to picking up a limit. Both hunts provided great fellowship and a chance to enjoy the Lowcountry Outdoors, even with the potential of the hunt being over after three shots. Thank You Mr. Wood Duck - we can always count on you!

To view past blog entries about wood duck hunting click here.

Ducks Unlimited 75th Ann. Book Release

2012-01-26T12:32:00.002-05:00

The very first DU conservation project - Photo Courtesy DU

Ducks Unlimited is commemorating its 75th anniversary year at fundraising banquets all across North America. DU also recognizes that this was a prime time to unlock their memorabelia vault and share with others 'The Story of Ducks Unlimited' - the title of their new coffee table book. The entire history of DU is laid out for readers in such a compelling fashion that it makes anyone appreciate this organization being a leader in the area of waterfowl conservation. The photography in the book is top notch and will please duck hunters, and plenty of historical photos help to tell the story of how the tough times during the depression and dust bowl led to the foundation of this organization, who owes everything to their volunteer members. I am glad to share a preview of this book for everyone as published in the Charleston Mercury.

To view past blog entries about DU in S.C. click here.

45th Charleston Trident Fishing Tournament - Awards

2012-01-25T08:47:00.005-05:00

Eren Bracewell with the winning King at the JIYC in June

Attractive plaques got to TFT winners

January 24, 2012 marked the annual awards banquet for the year-long Trident Fishing Tournament. The awards were once again held at the Edisto meeting facility on James Island County Park, since Chas. Co. Parks Dept. is the principal sponsor of this tournament. Of course, all of the local fishing clubs line up to help promote the tournament, but this night features the anglers that made the special catches that made the 45th TFT memorable. Outstanding offshore lady angler went to Eren Bracewell of Team Eren's Addiction for her monster King mackerel caught at the JIYC tourney that went 43-pounds and 15-ounces! Oustanding Inshore Charter Boat went to Capt. Ben Floyd, and Outstanding Inshore Fly Roder went to Capt. John Ward. Oustanding Freshwater angler went to Thomas Durr. Placing in the photo contest was Capt. Robert Olsen and Monica Waller, daughter of Capt. Mike Waller. For the complete listing of winners in the 45th Trident Tournament check out LowcountryFishScales.

Capt. Mike Waller and his daughter places in the photo contest

Thomas Durr and SCSSA's Laird Staley

Jack and Eren Bracewell at the TFT awards

Capt. Robert Olsen and the subject of his photograph

To view my blog entry from past TFT award banquets click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report - 1/24/2012

2012-01-24T13:56:00.004-05:00

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Charleston Inshore Report:
Scott Hammond from Haddrell's Point West says that he isn't trying to jinx anything, but no one can remember nicer weather in January! Large schools of reds are all over the shallow water flats and they are eating Zman Smokey Shad paddlerz and Gulp jerkshads in black bass color. If you don't have any artificials to cast, set up on an oyster point with some cut mullet and then hang on. Sheepshead fishing continues to produce with most of the big ones coming from inshore waters where heavy structure is in 8 to 20-feet of water. Black drum are taking cut shrimp at the jetties on the falling tide. Target the tips of the jetties where the rocks first become submerged heading towards the Atlantic Ocean. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at HaddrellsPoint.

Capt. Peter Brown with a fine speckled trout - photo by Joel Arrington

Bart Manley from the Charleston Market location of The Charleston Angler reports consistent water temperatures in the 50's, and the water is as clear as it gets here. Fishing is slow unless an angler locates a school of redfish. Approach them with stealth, then toss either a mud minnow under a popping cork or a Zman Streakz curly tail in black and gold flake color. Anglers wishing to use fly tackle will want to use darker patterns with bead chain eyes around low tide. Anticipate where the school will move to and cast ahead of them for the best chance of hooking up a winter redfish. The trout bite has slowed, so remember to target the strong currents using a D.O.A. shrimp under a popping cork. Darker colors that offer a chartreuse tail work well this time of year. For all the latest seminar information visit CharlestonAngler.

Captain Peter Brown tells me that locating impressive numbers of red drum in the shallows is typical for this time of year. Schools of fish into the hundreds can be found in water one to three-feet deep and are being caught using sight-casting techniques. Soft plastics like Gulp shrimp rigged on Falcon worm hooks have been extremely effective during this unseasonably warm winter. Hard baits like the Bomber Long-A and Heddon Swim-n-Image are working well also. Catching double-digit numbers of redfish is not uncommon in January and February, and Brown reports one client catching a 19-pound hoss redfish in less than one foot of water during a Bull's Bay trip! Fly fishermen are having success with clouser minnows and Enrico Puglisi crab patterns when they are presented correctly. It varies from day to day whether the reds want a slow retrieve or a fast retrieve. Trout fishing can be rewarding if anglers are patient enough to work mirrolures slowly. For more info about Capt. Brown check out SaltCharters.

Charleston Offshore Report:
Bart reports a few sailfish still being caught, but the real focus for offshore fishermen might be trolling for wahoo. Winter is a good time to taget hoos since they bite well in the cold, when others tend to get sluggish. Pay attention to moon phases, and troll Black Bart Rum Candy lures at high speeds.

Scott reports that wahoo in the 40 to 60-poiund range have been caught recently just outside the ledge in 200 to 350-feet of water. The wahoo are not in great numbers however. At the nearshore reefs like the Lowcountry Anglers Reef, the North Edisto Nearshore Reef and the Charleston Nearshore Reef try dropping down some fiddlers to stop some medium-sized convicts in their tracks.

To view past fishing reports click here.

Deer management is at a crossroads

2012-01-23T16:33:00.002-05:00

Roadkill buck from 1/22/12 in Colleton County

Deer herd management is a constant balancing act for Mother Nature, ...and then mankind gets involved. When deer season ends, a host of deer hunters immediately quit putting out feed corn (all of a sudden the corn is way too expensive) and deer become stressed and step up their search for food. All too often, January and February appear to be have high deer and vehicle collision rates, as deer ramble close to roadways looking for green grass to eat. The small 8-point buck pictured here, made it through hunting season just fine. He did not fall under QDM guidelines for some sportsman, and he slipped by all the others. Despite having the potential to become a shooter buck next season, he did not make it past a busy Saturday night of automobile traffic. Broken pieces of auto headlights in the road were not hard to find, and one hopes that the auto's occupants drove off just fine. Deer mortality is coming under new focus these days, with the influx of coyotes likely at least partially to blame for the decrease in deer herd numbers. Habitat changes have also negatively affected deer herd numbers, but with the SCDNR set to propose buck limits to the S.C. General Assembly, hunters had better prepare for changes. South Carolina may join other states that have already chosen buck limits. For an overview of the deer management recommendations click here.

75th Ann. of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program

2012-01-23T10:44:00.003-05:00

Hardwood Bottomlands at the Webb WMA

Have you ever purchased firearms, ammunition, bow and arrows, fishing equipment and the licenses for legal hunting and fishing? If you answered YES, then you are already a part of the efforts of the conservation programs run by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program(WSFR). The WSFR is celebrating 75 years of outdoor traditions in 2012 and their efforts have resulted in millions of acres of habitat saved. Increased levels of game and fish from protected acreage give sportsmen more of the opportunities they desire in the outdoors. A review of the history of the WSFR shows contributions in South Carolina beginning n the 1940's for projects like developing the Waterhorn Tract in the Francis Marion National Forest as a turkey management unit - which of course was a Huge success. In 1941they purchased the Webb Center Wildlife Management Area, all 5837-acres of it for $37,725! The funds they administer are combined with matching dollars from each state to fund conservation, and this program remains in full blossom and deserves credit for work in all the states across the U.S.A.

Debutante Hunters Film

2012-01-17T17:44:00.002-05:00

Lowcountry ladies armed and ready for the hunt

Several local lady hunters came together to make a short documentary film in 2011 about why they choose to hunt. The film debuted at the Terrace Theatre on James Island and is now featured at the Sundance Indie Film Festival. I am proud to have shot guns alongside Susan Frampton, a retired SEWE executive, and Sara Frampton - at Safari Club outings. The mother and daughter hunting team are just one of the storylines during the 12-minute film, that does a good job showing how some girls are comfortable in the field, as well as at home. One female hunter even has a good cry over the fact that she loves the hunt, and I just wanted to salute these Lowcountry ladies for doing a good job of promoting our outdoor traditions as honorable and worthy of their best efforts. To view the film click here.

To view past blog entries about lady hunters click here.

2011 SCDNR Weather Recap

2012-01-16T17:53:00.001-05:00

A lack of rain made 2011 a good time to be outside with family

2011 South Carolina Weather in Review

2011 was another year of extreme weather events in South Carolina.

June through August 2011 was the second warmest on record statewide (out of 117 years). The year’s temperature extremes ranged from a low of 5 degrees at Jocassee, Jan. 13, to the summer’s warmest temperature set at the University of South Carolina campus, 107 degrees, July 22.

It was also another year of drought for South Carolina with portions of the state in incipient and moderate drought with six counties upgraded to severe drought in Nov. It was the driest year since records began in 1903 for Walterboro receiving only 27.78" (normal 48.5") !!

Mount Pleasant Regional Airport recorded the state's unofficial highest accepted observed heat index value, 124 F, on July 13 at 3 p.m. "Thankfully there were no hurricanes that made landfall for South Carolina this year," noted Assistant State Climatologist Wes Tyler, "but Hurricane Irene did bring bands of rain, gusty winds and significant beach erosion."

SCWA Walterboro - Conservation banquet

2012-01-15T10:07:00.001-05:00

Custom SCWA cornhole gameboards on the auction

The Walterboro Chapter of the S.C. Waterfowl Association held their annual conservation banquet on January 14 at the armory building. Funds raised go towards the Craig Crosby memorial scholarship fund which pays for youths from Colleton County to attend Camp Woodie, SCWA's environmental education facility. A large turnout of waterfowl enthusiasts enjoyed a seafood meal for dinner before partaking in silent and live auctions and special raffles too. A large number of sponsors and donors made the event a success even before the spirited bidders began to claim the merchandise, guns, duck hunts and turkey hunts that were on the menu. A special SCWA 25th anniversary Browning shotgun was just one of the unique items available, as well as the custom oyster tables and cornhole boards made by Walterboro committee members. Several youths that had already attended Camp Woodie spoke to the crowd about what they liked about their experience, and these same youths stayed front and center and engaged during the entire auction. The general raffle ended the evening on a high note when an excitable female patron won the Drake apparel package and jumped up and down with excitement and screamed loudly. Special thanks to Big Lake Duck Calls for donating calls, a lanyard and a Camp Woodie scholarship check too!

For past blog entries on the SCWA Walterboro chapter click here.

Chapter Co-Chair Jim Minor and the raffle girl smile in the armory

Camp Woodie alumni address the crowd

SCWA Walterboro sweeties

Sportsmen support Vick for Congress

2012-01-14T17:08:00.002-05:00

Duck hunters who support Ted Vick for Congress with their waterfowl on January 14

Andy Lawrimore, holding his wire-haired puppy,
alongside Lee Daniel after the duck hunt

Holly, Taylor and Lee are the next generation of the Lawrimore family

Ted Vick, Kyle Daniel, Jeff Dennis and Andy Lawrimore

State Representative Ted Vick (d) has announced that he will run for the U.S. Congress, in the new district that encompasses Myrtle Beach and the Pee Dee Region. Sportsmen who support Vick, a proven outdoorsman himself, will be able to participate in fundraising options during the first quarter of 2012. With the election set for June, Vick will canvas the Lowcountry Outdoors in Georgetown, Williamsburg and Horry counties - and into the Pee Dee. Andy Lawrimore and family hosted Vick and his supporters at their private property in Johnsonville for a chance to rally other sportsman and to consult with Clive, a truster senior advisor. An afternoon hog hunt did not yield any meat, but many deer were spotted moving around due to the cold weather. An evening meal of barbecue chicken was served with the vinegar-based sauce that is a trademark of the Kingstree area. The fellowship that followed the meal inside the nostalgic confines of the renovated tobacco barn was a combination of past history and the present rural farming traditions that continue today. Representative Ted Vick is in tune with this rural way of life and understands that hunting and fishing are honorable traditions worthy of being held high in terms of public opinion. The entire extended Lawrimore family personifies these same values and their property is a perfect example of how the preservation of rural aesthetics can and should be achieved.

To view past blog entries about Ted Vick in the outdoors click here.

Charleston Mercury - Quail and Sporting Gear Story

2012-01-13T07:09:00.001-05:00

English Setters on Point for an upland hunter

Browning's Bird'N'Lite series comes in a coat or vest

Thanks to Eddie Salter for recommending TEK4 clothing

The fits and starts of cold weather have made the upland hunting season a challenge thus far in 2012. Timing these hunts to coincide with cold snaps is important for the dog work, and the feature article in the Charleston Mercury discusses some of the new gear to consider carrying into the woodlands. Also, be sure to check out the new look fishing reports link!

To view past blog entries about sporting gear and Eddie Salter click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report - 1/11/2012

2012-01-11T06:52:00.002-05:00

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Cole and Neal Whittaker from Tennessee
Photo by AffinityCharters.com

Charleston Inshore Report:
Bart Manly at The Charleston Angler, in their new Market Street location, reports that water temps remain variable in the lower 50's - which isn't too shabby for fishing! The redfish are schooling up on the flats, following their instincts to avoid the predators which can use the clear waters of winter to their advantage. Once located, cast a Z-man Streakz curly-tail in black and gold flake at the channel bass schools. If you want to make your bait disappear quickly, ask Bart about the new Houdini paddle tails! Another bait option is the Berkeley Gulp jerk shad in sapphire shine color. Fly fisherman should continue to use darker fly patterns in hopes of not spooking the schools. A good tactic is to try and anticipate where the school will be moving to and cast there well ahead of them, then wait for a well-timed TWITCH. To target trout Bart recommends a DOA shrimp under a popping cork like the glow color with chartreuse tail. Look for strong currents that trout favor and switch to Gulp jigheads with white curly tails if you need to keep your bait down. For the latest seminar information visit their website.

Scott Hammond at Haddrell's Point West states that while a few bitter cold days may have slowed down the number of anglers hitting the water, it has not slowed the fish down at all. Fantastic numbers of redfish, including schools of 100 fish, have been found on low tide flats and are eager to eat an assortment of baits. Gulp jerkshads, Gulp swimming mullet, Zman paddler series, and Zman ultra shrimp with pro cure scent have all been deadly on the schooling redfish. In addtion, old standby baits such as mud minnows and cut mullet are also effective this time of year. Sheepshead are still feeding heavily along structure in 8 to 20-feet of water with fiddler crabs, oysters and barnacles the best baits. Often over-looked by anglers, black drum can often be found with consistency in the same areas that sheepshead are found. Using cut shrimp is hard to beat for black drum. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet.

Charleston Offshore Report:
Scott repeats that with grouper season closed as of January 1, opportunities for offshore anglers are fairly limited. However, good reports of triggerfish continue, especially in water 60 to 90-feet deep. The nearshore reefs can be a great option this time of year to target sheepshead, weakfish and black drum. Scott recommends the shallow reefs in 25 to 35-feet of water. Drop your favorite color 4-inch grub on a .5-ounce jighead to get on those weakfish!

Bart says there is not alot of offshore activity with the grouper and black sea bass closures. There are still a few scattered sailfish and wahoo to be found though. For sailfish, use small sea witch lures in either blue and white or pink and white combinations, paired with a dink ballyhoo. For wahoo, high-speed trolling with Black Bart san sal candy lures is always a good bet.

To view past fishing reports click here.

TIDE magazine - Sheepshead article

2012-01-10T12:50:00.003-05:00

Cover photo for the Jan. / Feb. 2012 issue

The January / February 2012 edition of CCA's TIDE magazine contains several stories about fisheries conservation. On page 28 you will find my feature entitled "Chief Thief"which is regarding the S.C. fishery for sheepshead. The article addresses how sheepshead are being managed differently from now on, since it no longer will fall in the snapper / grouper complex. Another feature in TIDE is the Coastal Conservation Association Cook 'N' Tell archives and this edition features a Texas style Lowcounty Boil from the Redfish Lodge.

For past blog entries about TIDE magazine click here.

2012 Grand American and Coon Fest

2012-01-08T17:59:00.001-05:00

4th/3rd Nite Champion/High Scoring English Female: NITE CH ‘PR’ Swamp Bottom Star, owned by Greg Ervin, right, of Watkinsville, Georgia, 550+. Also shown is Blake Ervin and Alan Short. Photo by UKC.

Great independent logo for the event

An array of lights were available for sale

Choose a hat with your favorite coon dog breed on it

The 47th Annual Grand American Hunt and Coon Fest was held in Orangeburg on January 6 -8 at the fairgrounds. Known as the Super Bowl of coon hunt competitions, it draws dog lovers from states all across the Southeast. The gates for Coon Fest opened at 7 a.m. on Friday, followed by opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. and a treeing contest after lunch. A Bench Show, or dog show, is also a part of coon fest and entrants registered for the Saturday show competitions which included a kids division. Two nights of hunting for UKC-registered dogs were held on Friday and Saturday nights with the presentation of trophies and results taking place at 3 a.m. on Sunday morning after competitors come out of the woods of Orangeburg County. Racoons are hunted, tracked and trees but none are injured or killed during the Grand American. Coon fest is a two-day celebration of all things involved in the coon hunting lifestyle, including vendors selling clothes and night-lites, and breeders selling coon dogs. A community spirit graced the 2012 coon fest and the hunt competition between dog breeds like Reedbone, BlueTick, Plott's, English and Walker. Congrats to Greg Kennedy of New Zion, S.C. for his coon dog named McGhee's Sailorman taking first place on Saturday night. For all the Grand American results view the UKC site.

For past blog entries on the Grand American click here.

Canada Geese, the Wrecking Crew and bird bands

2012-01-07T19:33:00.001-05:00

Father and Son enjoy a goose hunt together

Another goose band for Drake Field Expert, Daryl Hodge

Blake Hodge and Jeff Dennis after the first volley

When booking a hunt with The Wrecking Crew Guide Service there is often a degree of flexibility that is required, since migratory waterfowl like ducks and geese tend to travel on their own schedule. When the conditions are right, such as last week when a flock of Canada geese pushed into Lancaster County with the freezing temperatures, I decised to travel outside of the Lowcountry for a hunt. Hunt guide Daryl Hodge and lead caller Blake Hodge set out 30 goose decoys alongside an ag field pond that had ben hosting up to 100 geese just days before. Using six layout blinds for the guides and their happy customers, we did not have to wait long for the first flight of 'early birds' to show up right at shooting time. They circled the pond only once and then Blake hit then with his trademark realistic calling and they dropped over the heads of the phalanx of guns. Two geese were peeled out of the flock and the group of hunters held high hopes that more flocks were on the way. For one father and son hunting team, the excitement level was about to go nuclear, as a flock of 40 Canada geese flew overhead, circled three times and dropped into the pond. Our guns opened fire and three more geese were harvested, including a goose with a federal bird band!! Elation and electricity ran throughout the entire hunt party as the guide Daryl Hodge called in the band number and found out that the goose had migrated to S.C. from Ontario, Canada after having been banded there in 2011. The trophy bird and band were awarded to the youth hunter who was on his first ever goose hunt!!

To view past blog entries about the Wrecking Crew Guide Service click here.

9-point buck is FIRST buck for 7-year old

2012-01-05T07:29:00.004-05:00

David Peeples Jr. on 12/28

Add caption

The big bucks showed up right at the end of deer season for those who had food plots ready to go. When the cold snap kicked in between Christmas and New Year's many hunters were in place to capitalize on any increase in deer movement, which had been at a record low level prior. David Peeples works at WiseBatten in Estill and took his 7-year old son David Jr. hunting for deer on December 27, and while they saw two nice bucks - they presented no broadside shot. Back in their 16-foot tower stand on a Robertville hunting lease the very next day, the father and son team waited from 4:30 until 5:25 before they saw any activity and then SIX bucks rambled into the food plot! Experienced hunters know that sometimes late in the deer season the bucks can reform their bachelor groups since the does have been bred. "Five rack bucks and a spike came into the food plot that is planted in oats, crimson clover and alfalfa," said Peeples. "The 9-point fed in the direction of our stand and towards the middle of the plot, and my son picked him out as a good target. He put his Savage .243 into position, it was 5:35, and I asked him if he was ready to shoot." The gun went off in reply to the father's question and the 130-pound buck dropped in his tracks after a long 200-yard shot, setting off a celebration in the blind. "I don't know who was more excited," said Peeples. The Peeples process their own venison and its a good thing because just three days later 13-year old daughter Emily shot her first ever buck. Her 5-pointer makes Dad just as proud.

The hunt took place in the Savannah River Preserve area and for past blog entries about the SRP click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report - 1/4/12

2012-01-04T19:47:00.001-05:00

To see that latest fishing report in the Charleston Mercury click here.

RAIN OR SHINE, SCOTT HAMMOND CATCHES FISH!!

The Local Palate - January 2012 Seafood Issue

2012-01-03T08:15:00.003-05:00

Located at 479 King Street

My photo as it appears in The Local Palate magazine

The food culture of Charleston, and particularly seafood, is in focus in the January issue of The Local Palate magazine. My feature story assignment was to accompany Chef Jeremiah Bacon on the water and to visit him at The MacIntosh in order to share his career journey. A local from John's Island, the Chef's story of success takes readers from tidal creeks of the Lowcountry, to the city streets of New York, and back again. Thanks to Chef Bacon for his time, and to The Local Palate for allowing me to join a distinguished group of contributing writers.

The contributing writer's section states - "Jeff writes a blog at www.LowcountryOutdoors.com in order to share worthy stories from the sporting lifestyle, which includes the harvest and preparation of wild game for the table, and a focus on sustainable seafood."

Birding Journal Observations / Nov. - Dec. 2011

2012-01-01T13:12:00.004-05:00

Great Blue Heron photo by Dr. Patrick Dennis Sr.

Drought conditions and a lack of rain continue to make any bird bath a powerful attractant for songbirds. On the subject of waterfowl however, the lack of rain and unusually warm temperatures has left waterfowl sightings a bit thin. The November waterfowl season was fruitful with a number of gadwall in the Atlantic Flyway along with green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, northern shovelers and pintails. The same areas that waterfowl utilize are home to plenty of other birds and I also witnessed bald eagles, great blue herons, wood storks and ibis. At the backyard bird feeder I recorded a Carolina chickadee, hairy woodpecker, cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, white-throated sparrow, chipping sparrow, yellow-bellied sapsucker, white-breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, downy woodpecker and pileated woodpecker.

To view past birding journal blog entries click here.

New Year's Toast to 2011

2011-12-31T13:13:00.002-05:00

English Setters on point eye Gentleman Bob (on left)

Year number three is in the books at LowcountryOutdoors.com and I am thankful for the first 94 blog followers that keep tabs on the writings and photography of this conservationist and naturalist. Things change each year in the outdoors and 2011 will be remembered for drought conditions, affecting both fish and terrestrial species, and for the impact that coyotes are having on the deer herd. The SCDNR leadership is scheduled to change in 2011 - and lots of NGO's and regular folks are talking and watching for what the outcome will be. Our natural resources deserve the highest possible admiration and care from our DNR, the legislators of the General Assembly and from the general public. I salute those that carry the torch for conservation so that wildlife habitat, water quality and rural aesthetics can be preserved throughout the Palmetto state. Hunting and fishing are honorable traditions and I look forward to spreading that positive message, along with more coverage of everyday recreational pursuits that take place in the Lowcountry Outdoors, which we are so very blessed to live in.

To view past New Years' Toasts click here.

8-point buck down, LATE in the season

2011-12-30T08:01:00.001-05:00

Edward Hart and I on December 29

Charles Waring and I with my 8-point buck

Patience and perseverance are but two of the keys to becoming a successful deer hunter. Harvesting a decent buck during the season is always a goal for this seasoned hunter, but for whatever reason the best bucks had not come into view for me this year. Sure I had glimpsed some racks here and there, but nothing that even had me consider raising the gun. However, I never gave up on my quest for a quality buck during the 2011 campaign, and I did not settle for lowering the gold standard: a shooter buck must possess a minimum of 8-points and the antler spread should be outside the ears or better. With just THREE days to go in deer season, I was patiently awaiting my turn and on December 29th while hunting with two friends at Snipe Hill my opportunity presented itself. Sitting on a winter food plot on a 12-foot Strongbuilt ladder stand, two deer appeared at 5:45 in dim light conditions. They were 150-yards away and I confirmed with binoculars that one was a doe and one was a good buck with the tell-tale white rim of antlers around the ears. Shooting free-handed, I steadied the Browning .270 stainless steel stalker the best I could while dialing up the magnification on my Leopuld scope. The buck gave me a long look at his broadside, the type of look that says this must be right! After squeezing the trigger, the buck ran into the woods and I heard ONE mighty crash. Retrieving my hunt buddies from their stands was the next priority and when we returned together to look for the buck via flashlight, I took the lead. Only about 20-yards into the woods I saw the great eight-point in the brush, clearly expired from a clean kill shot. A celebration broke out, but I was especially gratified that this nice buck came after a season of 'paying dues'.

To view past blog entries about fishermen who tag nice bucks click here.

A live oak makes a great backdrop for a quality 8-point

Charleston Mercury / Wounded Warrior hunt story

2011-12-28T21:10:00.001-05:00

Veterans and hunt participants on December 11

Reporting on the December 11 military appreciation duck hunt in the Santee Delta, brings both a sense of honor and duty. The December 29th edition of The Charleston Mercury helps to raise awareness about the mission of this hunt by publishing the story and group photo on the front page! To view the feature story click here.

To view past blog entries about this hunt, including more photos, click here.

The hunt resulted in a fine mixed bag harvest

Santee Delta man drive for deer

2011-12-27T20:42:00.001-05:00

Joe Sloan with his 9-point buck he harvested

David Ingle and youth hunter with Dave's doe

A large group of hunters on holiday gathered for a large-acreage man drive that figured to involve deer and pigs. With the unusually dry conditions in place, the pigs were nowhere to be found, but the deer were not so lucky. Joe Sloan, visiting from Jacksonville, was one of the drivers and he was able to jump and then shoot a fine 9-point Lowcountry buck. The first drive of the day yielded no venison even though several does were pushed, but on the second hunt the drivers bolstered there voices and made a mighty commotion. Besides the 9-pointer, a doe was also shot by hunt master David Ingle, who managed to keep all the hunters safe and sound until it was time to socialize under the oak avenue while the sun set. The weather was crisp and cool, making for near perfect hunt conditions. The drivers worked very hard during these hunts and it was their spirit which made the hunt a big success!

To view past entries about man drives click here.

Dowse Rustin and Jeff Dennis after the hunt

A large crowd gathered for the driven hunt

Christmas Eve deer story

2011-12-24T20:21:00.001-05:00

Early Christmas present for Jeff

The weather had been warm and the deer had not been moving at all in the evenings. High hopes for another doe harvest to convert into venison for the freezer were diminishing quickly. A new winter food plot was only just now greening up due to a lack of moisture, but it was the best option to hunt over. After an hour in the deer stand and the sun now setting, no deer movement was seen. Then the deer movement dilemma came to an abrupt end when five deer walked out single file into the food plot. Binoculars helped reveal that it was four does followed by a spike buck, who was acting amorous towards doe number four. The first two does did not stop to eat, but rather walked towards my stand from 150-yards away. The buck stopped to eat and does three and four began to play by rubbing their heads together in a back and forth fashion. For whatever reason, those first two does came right towards my stand like I had deer candy in my pocket! The first doe looked up at me from 20-yards away, got spooky and ran away - but the other four deer did not. Doe number two looked at my position very hard and I did not flinch, somewhat easing her concern, and then doe number one came back and walked just beneath my stand. With doe number one now too close to shoot, I raised my rifle and shot at doe number two from 20-yards away. She absorbed the lethal blow and stumbled to within ten paces of my deer stand and fell over dead. The other deer scattered and I was thankful for such a pulse-pounding hunt with multiple deer, and it renewed the sentiment that you have to stay ready for any situation when still hunting for white-tailed deer.

DUDE e-zine / Quail article

2011-12-22T10:23:00.001-05:00

Check out the winter 2012 edition of DUDE magazine! It's SWEET - DUDE! The publisher DUDE has asked for me to contribute photos (pg. 46) and a feature story on quail hunting too (pg. 19). Just check out the SWEET photo on that page! Again..... DUDE!
The Bluffton and Hilton Head Area is the home base for the DUDE and readers can find all sorts of interesting news from that area and beyond. And yes, DUDE magazine appeals mainly to the fellows of the Lowcountry, and is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. I am thankful for the warm welcome I receive on page three, and I readily accept the invitation to become a part of the DUDE family. SWEET!

To view the winter 2012 edition of DUDE e-zine click here.

To view a past blog entry about the DUDE and view a link to the fall 2011 edition of DUDE e-zine click here.

Georgia DNR celebrates 100 years

2011-12-21T19:00:00.001-05:00

Our sister state just south of the Savannah River has lots of great outdoors traditions. Trout fishing in North Ga., quail hunting in Middle Ga. and lots of outdoor opportunities (very similar to the Lowcountry) in their coastal plain. Their wildlife resources department was formed in 1911 and is now known as the Georgia DNR - and they are celebrating 100 years of conservation!!

William Jackson and his Georgia trophy buck

One outstanding buck harvested in Georgia in 2011 came from the Panola Mountain State Park Hunt. Hunter William Jackson harvested this 11-pointer with a heavy rack, which was aged at just 3.5-years of age and carried a 22.25-inch main beam. Nice Buck!!

To view past blog entries about Georgia outdoors click here.

2011 Palmetto Wild! e-zine / flounder article

2011-12-19T07:25:00.001-05:00

Captain Mark Nichols, founder of DOA Lures,
demonstrates catching flounder from underneath a dock

The annual glossy magazine of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation has been mailed to their members across the state. My article on page 8 in the 2011 edition focuses on fishing for flounder using DOA lures, with special insight from Capt. Mark Nichols and Capt. Reed Simmons. To view the 2011 e-zine click here. Special thanks to the SCWF and Executive Director Ben Gregg for being supportive of hunting and fishing.

To view my past article in the 2010 Palmetto Wild! e-zine click here.

Purvis Crew joins Wrecking Crew for ducks, geese

2011-12-17T08:33:00.001-05:00

Shane, Vernon and Chris Purvis on Dec. 10 after the hunt

Drake Waterfowl Gear and the Dec.10 harvest

Purvis Crew (plus two) during the Sept. 2011 early goose season

The opening day of duck season in S.C. after the split is a great time to hunt waterfowl that have gathered up during the break. The Purvis family hunted Canada geese during the September season and were keen to call in some ducks this December. For each hunt they chose to join the Wrecking Crew guide service based out of Lancaster County. These waterfowl guides are Pete, Daryl and Blake Hodge - which are three generations of waterfowlers. Add in the Purvis crew of father Vernon and brothers Shane and Chris - and you have a special family celebration going on in the field. Guide Daryl Hodge is a Drake Waterfowl field expert and always supplies the best gear for the Wrecking Crew hunts. On Dec. 10 the hunt party left a boat landing on the Catawba River to hunt public waters that the Wrecking Crew had scouted out during the season split. The guides and Robbie Boone had been out to set up the dekes well before the Purvis family joined them. Lead caller Blake Hodge worked four groups of mallards this day, and all but one of the groups locked up, letting their bright orange feet lead the way into the spread while back-paddling with their wings. When the shooting was over, a harvest of six mallards was accomplished and a lone ringneck who decided to buzz the decoys was also brought down by the Purvis guns. There is no doubt this won't be the last time the Purvis crew taps the Wrecking Crew for some waterfowl action!

To view past blog entries about the Wrecking Crew click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report - 12/16/11

2011-12-16T07:22:00.001-05:00

Capt. Mike Waller with a 10-pound 6-ounce sheepeshead

The latest Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina, as published in the Charleston Mercury.

For past fishing reports click here.

Year Of The Pig - Book Review

2011-12-15T07:04:00.001-05:00

My latest contribution to the Charleston Mercury newspaper is a review of Year Of The Pig.

To see a past blog entry about hog hunting click here.

SHOOT 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM - 11/6/2011 in Santee Delta

Wounded Warrior Project - duck hunt report

2011-12-14T07:20:00.002-05:00

WWP's Chris Uggiano and Vietnam veteran Alex Miller after the hunt

WWP hunters and their guides with lots of ducks after the hunt

The Wounded Warrior Project's (WWP) mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. With one war ending in Iraq and another war winding down in Afghanistan, there is no better time to thank our veterans and Wounded Warriors. Chris Uggiano is a regional coordinator for physical health and wellness from the WWP, and is based at Fort Bragg. WWP and Patriot Hunts accepted the invitation to bring four Wounded Warriors and sixteen active duty soldiers to the Santee Delta for a special Dec. 12 duck hunt. That invitation was issued by the Georgetown Chapter of Ducks Unlimited in parternership with the plantations of the Santee Delta that actually hosted these deserving waterfowlers. The premise began when Dan Ray of Annandale Plantation asked himself what more could he do to thank our wounded warriors, so he picked up the phone and soon was in contact with the top brass at DU HQ in Memphis, as well as the WWP leadership. When neighboring landowners agreed to join in this idea to sponsor a hunt, then the Inaugural Wounded Warrior duck hunt in the Santee Delta was moved into execution mode. Sunday night included a catered supper for the Warriors which was followed by a special auction and country music concert. Celebrity Rusty Wallace and driver-son Steven Wallace were present to shake hands with Warriors and to donate items, while Nashville recording artists Lee Brice (Curb Records) and Tyler Farr (Sony Records) flew in to join local crooner Phillip Lammonds for the concert. After an overnight stay on the plantations, the Warriors and their guides fanned out into duck blinds with high hopes of successful duck hunting. Cloudy, cold and windy conditions cooperated nicely and the ducks flew well - with a mixed bag of gadwall, black ducks, pintails, wood ducks, a mottled duck, green-winged teal and blue-winged teal being harvested. After the hunt, I spoke with a Warrior named Jim (last name withheld) who told me that he had not smiled this much in a long time!! He also added that he was keen to go deer hunting again too, after three years of service in West Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is recovering well, after a traumatic brain injury. In summary, this hunt was all about getting the Warriors into the outdoors to enjoy the positive dividends of a duck hunt. However, taken as a whole, the entire event exceeded all expectations.

Willie and Jason, Organizer Dan Ray, Scott

More WWP hunt details will follow in the Dec. 29 edition of The Charleston Mercury newspaper.

For more photos from the Wounded Warrior Project duck hunt click here.

To view past blog entries about DU in SC click here.

To view blog entries from past Santee Delta duck hunts click here.

DU staffers James Meadows, Jim West and Brett Baker

Wounded Warrior Project - duck hunt photos

2011-12-14T06:50:00.003-05:00

Twenty Warriors from Fort Bragg, N.C. and their Santee Delta hunting guides on Dec. 11

Rico, guide Jim Clark, Sam

NASCAR's Rusty Wallace donated a racing fire suit to the auction with help from his son Steven

Linda Ray, Nan Johnston, Dianne Peace, Emily and Schall Ragsdale

Phillip Lammonds shares the stage with Nashville stars Lee Brice and Tyler Farr

Hampton Plantation State Park

2011-12-13T14:19:00.001-05:00

The Rutledge family home is only open for tours

The grounds at Hampton are well-maintained

Old plat of the rice fields of Hampton Plantation

The Avenue that Archibald Rutledge planted circa 1937

Situated along Wambaw Creek in the Santee Delta, Hampton Plantation is preserved now as a state park. Best known as the former home of Archibald Rutledge, the mansion is open to the public for tours on certain days of the week. The grounds of Hampton offer a look into mature pines and live oaks, the kind that have marked a homesite for a long, long time. The history of Hampton involved the rise and fall of rice culture, and later the sporting tales of Archibald Rutledge, which would forever label the Santee Delta as a mecca for wildlife adventures. The road leading to Hampton offers a stark reminder of the dangers of wildfire - since a large swath of privately-owned acreage was blackened over 6 months ago. The pine trees have now been clearcut to salvage their timber value, which also ensures that insects will not invade the already stressed ecosystem. The open acreage has been re-planted in native longleaf pine trees which will restore a natural beauty that visitors will enjoy on their way to Hampton Plantation. Archibald Rutledge was also an avid gardener and he gathered native plants and trees from his property and transplanted them into the yard. Dogwoods and Holly trees line the driveway, offering a look at the softer side of the Bard who wrote this poem entitled "The Garden I Made."

Whenver I think of life's light that must fade, the gleams and the glow that must pass in the shade, when hopes that I had now but leave me afraid, with joy I remember the gardens I made.
The redbuds and dogwoods I planted will grow, the flaming azaleas will blossom I know, the chaliced syringa's wild beauty will snow, when I shall be one with the long, long ago.
The glimmering gardens, the wildflowers wan, the red rose, the lilly as white as a swan, the garden I made will keep blossoming on when life with its fevers is faded and gone.

For a past blog entry about coastal state parks click here.

10-point buck harvested in O'burg man drive

2011-12-12T18:47:00.001-05:00

B.J. Compton is is 29 years old, started hunting at the age of six with his Dad, and he was just nine when he harvested his first deer. What started out as a friendly traditional hunt on Saturday Dec. 10 ended as a great day. Every year his friends get together at the end of deer season for a traditional man drive on some private property in Orangeburg County. Man drives are a popular practice across the Lowcountry late in the deer season. They met up at 7:30 am to go over their safety plans on how they would conduct the drive. When the first man drive began, deer were jumping up and slipping out of the woods but none came into any openings to present a shot for any standers. For the second man drive they moved down towards the North Edisto River. This tract is a one-year old 90-acre cutover, and the drivers slowly and carefully slipped around to the back of the cutover and got into position to start pushing. Once the last driver got into place, he let out the first holler and the drive began. Immediately shots rang out on the other side of the cutover from the standers. The cutover was just tall enough that you couldn't see across it, but there were stumps about three-feet tall which allowed the drivers to hop up on for a better view. Standing on a stump, B.J. heard something crashing through the weeds and all of a sudden a huge 10-point buck ran right into a skidder lane and stopped at 20-yards from him presenting a perfect broad side shot. He shouldered the Mossberg 835 12-gauge, took aim, and fired. The 3-inch double 00 buckshot took down the buck with the first shot. He went up to him noticed the buck trying to get back onto his feet and so Compton quickly fired a second shot behind the shoulder so that this buck of a lifetime would not get away. After finishing the drive, they looked for another nice buck that was shot at but never found. Also, 135-lb doe was harvested by a young stander. Everyone is very excited about Compton's 10-point buck and B.J. said he knew this deer was definitely going on his wall. His personal best buck carries an 18-inch inside spread, and it weighed 155-lbs. Compton is grateful to have connected on his very nice buck and to have shared this hunt with his friends.

To see past blog entries about fishermen who also tag nice bucks click here.

The 10-point buck was also captured on trail cam

SCWA Walterboro hunts second season opener

2011-12-11T06:28:00.001-05:00

A nice mixed bag of ducks from the SCWA second season opening hunt

Walterboro Committee in the pole barn blind, wearing a Drake Old School parka

Decoys and still conditions on Dec. 10

Stuart Cochran is the Duck Breast Commander

The S.C. Waterfowl Association has a tradition of giving back to their local chapter committees by hosting them for a hunt at the Camp Woodie education center in Rimini. Opening day after the split in waterfowl season saw the Walterboro committee chairmen, plus several other leadership teams from other chapters, come into camp for a dinner and banquet the night before the duck hunt. Dinner featured grilled duck breasts and a barbecue pig, followed by a live auction for gear and duck hunts, plus a special donation from the Marlowe family to SCWA in memory of their loved one. The next day the blinds were buzzing with the wingbeats of waterfowl under cloudy but still conditions. Most blinds hunted until 10 a.m. and came away with a mixed bag of green-winged teal, northern shovelers, ringnecks, bluebills and mallard ducks. A Lowcountry breakfast was served up after the hunt to committee members before they left to head back to their respective counties. The Walterboro Chapter is in the planning stages right now for their January 14, 2012 banquet and auction at the armory - so please save the date!

To view past entries on the Walterboro Chapter of SCWA click here.

Hortman Taxidermy - waterfowl specialist

2011-12-10T15:33:00.001-05:00

A Drake Green-Winged Teal

Jimmy Hortman holds a coot next to a coot, David Wielicki

A drake spoonbill, or Hollywood mallard

The Real Deal - Opening day ducks!

Jimmy Hortman of Pawley's Island is delighted that hunting season is in full swing, meaning that lots of deer and ducks are heading his way to be mounted. Case in point, Capt. John Ward's recent 10-point buck harvest is now in Hortman's capable hands. Hortman grew up in Moncks Corner, and LowcountryOutdoors.com has great respect for the artistic talents of his father Robert who is an accomplished sculpter, painter and also and avid saltwater angler. Jimmy has all the tools to excel in the field of taxidermy and beyond, and he also has saltwater in his veins with a deep love for king mackerel fishing. Hortman knows the Lowcountry well and supports organizations like the S.C. Maritime Foundation, the S.C. Memorial Reef, and the S.C. Waterfowl Association. Hortman traveled to Rimini to support Camp Woodie for the annual opening of duck season banquet and displayed a few of his waterfowl mounts, including a drake green-winged teal, a drake spoonbill (or Hollywood mallard) and even a coot!

Winter food plot planting

2011-12-08T19:13:00.001-05:00

Use a grain drill to get the seed into the dirt

A powerline can make an excellent food plot

Quality Seed is always a must

A good example of food plot dividends

Land managers know the value of having 'green patches' during winter to help wildlife populations remain in good shape when other food sources are scarce. The lack of rain is a concern when planting, but in general these type food plots can flourish with even a little ground moisture in the soil. Disc the ground, then apply fertilizer, and then disc the seedbed again. A mixture of oats and wheat is a good combo to capture the interest of the deer, turkeys and other non-game species that will use these food plots until spring corn crop planting begins. Remember, a working farm requires that the land be worked to some degree, and food plots are an affordable way to make that happen.

For past blog entries about land management click here.

Chas. Co driven deer hunt - 2011

2011-12-07T18:10:00.001-05:00

Harrington Bissell, Buist River and Michael Lolich in the swamp

Standers enjoy the hunt recap in between drives

Harrington accepts payment from Dan Mengedoht for a MISS

The annual end of the season driven hunt for white-tailed deer was held at a Charleston County property that practices still hunting and quality deer management. After very cold weather hunting on this annual hunt the past two years, the pendulum swing was notable with sunny skies and 70-degree temperatures in the woods. A snake was seen crossing the road and deer hunters were mindful that Mr. No Neck was still in business. The first drive of the day began with three horse drivers and a small pack of dogs. Anticipation ran high for all and when the first two does were pushed, they ran right through the three-shot barrage offered by Dan Mengedoht, making him the first to pony up for a big miss. On the second drive of the morning a different doe slipped into 'the front pocket' of Buist Rivers causing him to make a shot that did not connect with its target - chalk up another big miss. The final drive of the day saw the driver's push up a big 8-point buck with a perfectly symmetrical rack, and although I was sitting on my 'lucky stand' from 2009 I never saw the buck. In fact, no deer were harvested on this hunt which demonstrates that no one ever knows if they will get to shoot on a driven hunt - but they all come to enjoy the outdoors and to play their role in order to continue the heritage of hunting. A great meal in the form of mustard fried venison followed the hunt.

Henry Lowndes and Jeff Dennis after the hunt

For past blog entries about the Chas. Co. driven deer hunt click here.

Rural Resource Coalition values natural resources

2011-12-05T19:07:00.001-05:00

Birdwatching, like on this DNR tour, is a good example of nature-based tourism

The first public meeting of the new Rural Resource Coalitionof SC was held on Tuesday November 29. While the meeting was inside the USDAbuilding in Allendale, the focus was on the rural counties in the Lowcountryregion. The carefully crafted mission statement promotes sustainable economicdevelopment in rural communities through wise stewardship of Lowcountry landand waters.

Anarray of leaders keen on rural economic development were on hand to participatein the audience discussion portion of the meeting that followed severalspeakers. One audience member from Bamberg County asked for help to developtheir Cathedral Bay Heritage Preserve as a tourist destination.

Creating a destination for visitorswas a common idea. Colleton County already has the Great Swamp preserve, butsomehow the urgent need for a public education and outreach center to accompanyit has not been realized. Far more grandiose plans are lined up for CountyCouncil to consider, while the Great Swamp project still needs guidance tobecome a first-class destination with an education building.

Charles Lane is chairman of the ACEBasin Task Force and he spoke about the need for agricultural income to rise inour region. The meeting encompassed Allendale, Hampton, Barnwell, Bamberg,Colleton and Orangeburg counties which all have a significant agriculturalheritage. “A lot of ag practices have left our state, and the East Coast, butnow there is more demand for locally grown food,” said Lane. “We want to createjobs that are tied to the rural community.” Lane cited much higher ag incomeper acre in the neighboring states of North Carolina and Georgia.

Tim Adams with the S.C. ForestryCommission spoke about the pulp and paper industry that is a large part of ourregional economy. “Ag lands have decreased while forest lands have increased,and we have more wood volume now than ever,” said Adams. After showing a map ofwood mills across the Lowcountry region, Adams cited the need for more‘secondary’ mills.

Colleton County Clemson ExtensionAgent Bob Franklin added that Colletonians should push for such mills. “EveryCounty wants more industry but the focus seems to be only on high-tech jobs,when these secondary wood products industries might make more sense,” saidFranklin. A secondary mill is a workplace that takes wood products and buildssomething of greater value. Taking boards and then making tables or furniturefor sale would be a good example.

Each speaker seemed to agree thatoutdoor recreation is the strong suit of these rural counties. The S.C. Wildlife Federation is heading up the Rural Resource Coalition and is lookingfor leaders in each county to speak up. One such party represented the SavannahRiverkeeper group, which provides tours and oversight along and in the SavannahRiver.

Whether it’s fishing in theSalkehatchie swamp or hunting in the ACE Basin, Colleton County should continueto let our quality of life contribute towards drawing in new businesses.Historical and cultural tourism are other outlets to consider. But for peopleto come they will require improved rural roads, safe lodging and goodrestaurants.

The Rural Resource Coalition wasformed with input from affordable housing, community development, conservation,forestry, and tourism when they all recognized their overlapping goals. Thiscoalition wants to capitalize on the human and natural resources of this regionto produce income from local food markets, the conservation of working farmsand forests, renewable energy, and by placing a high value on wildlife habitat.

One audience member expressedconcern about the rate of hardwood cutting he had witnessed recently. Thisrural county leader wanted to make sure that hardwoods get planted back inthese areas for future markets, and not to convert them to pine stands. At somepoint, hardwoods stands are most valuable as a natural catalyst for waterquality, which is another concern for rural populations in the future.

To view past blog entries about the camo coalition click here.

Yemassee Revitalization - 2011 Plantation Tour

2011-12-04T19:54:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays from the 2011 Yemassee Plantation Tour

Patrons enjoyed lunch on the grounds at Richfield

Bonny Hall is home to horses and history

Yemassee's historic train station is still in use today

The Yemassee Revitalization Committee (YRC) remains on the right track as they continue toward their goal of a financially healthy community. With the renovation of the historic train depot nearly complete, revenue begins to shift towards upkeep and annual maintenance fees. The December 3 Holiday Tour showcased several plantations, the renovated train station and a home in the downtown area. The tour began with a trip to Tomotley Plantation which resides just off of the Old Sheldon Church Road in the historic planation belt. The oak avenue at Tomotley is unique in that it winds with the road as approaches the main house and guest quarters - the planing and planting of these oaks some 200 years ago shows great foresight regarding oak avenues and their aesthetic values. Lunch was served up at Richfield Plantation and tour patrons enjoyed fried fish and shrimp and grits on the front yard and grounds of Richfield. Sweet tea and sporting conversations helped to wash down the dessert course and prepare for yet another drive, this time down River Road to Bonny Hall Planation. Some might know Bonny Hall via their landmark pecan grove, but historians know that Bonny Hall was once a central piece to the rice planting culture of the Combahee River. The once-private ricefields are now part of the Combahee Unit of the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge, and benefit waterfowl migration year after year. The grounds of Bonny Hall also offered a view of dog kennels, horse pastures, belted galloway cows and a three-story treehouse in a grand live oak! The Gatch house served as the 'Town' portion of the Yemassee Holiday Tour.

For past blog entries about the YRC click here.

SCWA Walterboro Chapter - Sponsor Event

2011-12-03T08:17:00.001-05:00

Custom SCWA oyster table ready for auction

Allen Bell, sponsor gun winner Harry Hiott and Jeremy Burnham

Reaves McLeod, Miles Crosby and Calvert Huffines

Good family fun by the fire kettle at the SCWA sponsor event

The Walterboro Chapter of the S.C. Waterfowl Association is gearing up for their January 14, 2012 fundraising banquet. The sponsors of the Walterboro Chapter were treated on to an oyster roast for their continued support of the scholarship fund that will send youths from Colleton County to SCWA's Camp Woodie for summer camp. The sponsor event on Dec. 2 took place in the outdoors at Deux Cheneaux Plantation during cold weather, and the fire kettle was fired up to provide warmth. Sustenance was offered to the sponsors in the form of crab dip, local oysters, boiled shrimp and baked chicken - all of which came from separate members of the chapter's dedicated steering committee. Local conservationists and waterfowlers shucked oysters and shared stories while watching the photos by Jim Minor that were displayed via slideshow on the side of the barn. A sponsor door prize drawing helped punctuate the evening and two great SCWA framed prints were given away, and that was followed by a sponsor card deck raffle for a CZ over-and-under shotgun donated by Atlantic Game and Tackle.

To view past blog entires about SCWA click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report - 12/2/11

2011-12-02T16:54:00.001-05:00

The latest Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina, as published in the Charleston Mercury.
For past fishing reports click here.

My friends Capt. Danny Rourk and Scott Whitaker with a Port Royal inshore slam

Camo Coalition Update

2011-12-01T13:25:00.001-05:00

It's time for an update on the S.C. camo coalition as published in the Charleston Mercury.

For past blog entries about the S.C. camo coalition click here.

November '11 WMA waterfowl hunt results

2011-11-30T20:24:00.001-05:00

Bear Bay Pond at daybreak in 2008 - on Bear Island's East Unit

It can be tough for wishful waterfowlers to get psyched upwhen a moderate drought is in effect and the weather temperature has been at80-degrees. Abundant water for ducks to use is always important, andsome cold weather to bring the ducks down from up North is also a requirement.With those thoughts in mind a double whammy might have been in effect for the Thanksgiving season. Lots of regular wood duck holes are simplybone dry right now, which should limit their overall harvest somewhat. Consider that the Hickory Top WMA, a greentree reservoir inRimini that is consistently one of the top public wood duck hunt areas is closed this year. OnNovember 9 the SCDNR announced that water is not available to pump and flood Hickory Top this year as a consequence of the low lake levels in the Santee Cooper system. In Colleton County a bright spot for the DNR draw hunts was the East Unit at Bear Island WMA. Gadwall, blue-winged teal and green-winged teal were the in droves. Thirty-one hunters killed 142 ducks giving them an average of 4.6-ducks per gun! The West Unit of Bear Island saw decent action at 3.4-ducks per gun. Meanwhile in the Santee Delta (The Cape, Murphy Island, and Cedar Island) their were many American widgeon in the bag along with Northern Shovelers - in addition to gadwalls, GWT and BWT. Fifteen Northern Pintail were also harvested at The Cape hunt. The average for all three Santee hunt units was 5.1-ducks per gun. Duck hunting season resumes after the split in between seasons which includes a YOUTH hunt day on December 3. The second part of duck season runs from December 10 through January 29. Goose season kicks back in on December 3 and runs until Feb. 3.

To view past blog entries about the November waterfowl hunt report click here.

Upper Dorchester County Historical Society - Tour

2011-11-29T21:47:00.001-05:00

The once a year open house for the Koger-Murray-Carroll house was held by the Upper Dorchester County Historical Society. The house was decorated by the Ivy Garden Club of Dorchester and the docents wore period clothing. The house was built in 1800 for Joseph Koger Jr. who was the Colleton County Sheriff - and in fact, Upper Dorchester County used to be a part of Colleton County! Koger went on to be a state representative and a state senator. The house had undergone some renovation in the roof area, but otherwise the original heart pine wood was still looking good. Area residents donated heirloom furniture to decorate the house and a makeshift museum of Upper Dorchester press clippings and implements occupied one room. The house is located at the corner of Wire road and I-95.

Wrecking Crew places in World Duck Calling Contest

2011-11-28T20:14:00.001-05:00

Blake Hodge competes in Arkansas

Blake Hodge and Delta hunting in the Bayou Meto

Blake Hodge, the lead caller with the Wrecking Crew in Lancaster, S.C. travelled to Stuttgart, Arkansas over the Thanksgiving holiday to compete in the Intermediate Division of the World Duck Calling Competition. Callers have to compete in their own state competitions in order to qualify to compete in the world contest - which is considered the holy grail of duck calling competitions. Mack's Prairie Wings store hosts the November 25 event that is actually held on Main Street in Stuttgart, not very far from the hallowed grounds of the Bayou Meto WMA. In fact, on the morning of the competition the Wrecking Crew hunted in the WMA and made a video with the Cuttin' Outdoors Crew headed by Taylor Sweetin. Delta the black lab fetched up five wood ducks and four mallards so that the hunting party could head into town for the competition. Hodge is wearing a cast on his arm from a football injury, but he took his Rich-N-Tone MVP duck call and really rocked that world stage - finishing in fifth place overall. CONGRATS!

To view past blog entries about the Wrecking Crew click here.

Filming with Cuttin' Outdoors in Arkansas

Intermediate Division winners are as follows:
First place went to Dan Goetz from St. Louis, Missourri.
Second place went to Will Nanney from Gleason, Tennessee.
Third place went to Tate Douglas from Harrisville, Utah.
Fourth place went to Alex Hodges from South Rockwood, Michigan.

10-point birthday buck for fishing captain

2011-11-27T08:23:00.001-05:00

What better day than your birthday to harvest a personal best 10-point buck on a bow hunt down deep in the swamp?! Whoever can pull off that feat would certainly earn the admiration of all the blog readers who would love to bag a buck like this on their own birthday! Cheers to Captain John Ward of Affinity Charters for harvesting the 164-pound, four-year old mature buck, that came to within 22-yards of his bow stand. The day began with Ward running late after putting a buddy into a different deer stand at daybreak, and then making a trek into the swamp to his own stand. Ward had hunted for an hour when he considered getting out of his stand at around 8:30 a.m. and then by fate he decided that he would stay a while longer to make up for the time that he had lost while running late. Not ten minutes later a 6-point buck showed up at his stand and the big 10-point was not far behind, and Ward aimed his Bear Truth 2 bow and let fly a three-blade 100-grain Muzzy broadhead at 8:40. The arrow passed through the buck's vitals and yet it still it splashed off even deeper into the swamp, but not so far that Ward could not find and retrieve his birthday trophy.

To view past blog entries about fishermen who tag nice bucks click here.

Thanksgiving Driven Deer Hunt - 2011

2011-11-26T08:45:00.001-05:00

Deer standers happy in their work show off a big 9-point buck

Jeremy Dempsey came from Cummins to drive deer via horseback

Van Horton of Dale, and his trophy buck

The annual day after Thanksgiving man drive took place in cold weather, with clear skies and little wind. The ideal conditions helped to draw a record number of man drivers, ensuring that the woodland bushes of the Yemassee property would be thoroughly checked in order to flush any white-tailed deer to the standers. Only trophy bucks and does were on the menu, according to the huntmaster's safety talk before the hunt, with all participants required to wear hunter orange hats and vests. The drivers jumped the largest buck of the day not long into the first drive and began hooting and hollering a great deal - before a shotgun sounded off twice in the direction that the buck headed. Then I witnessed the buck coming out of a hedgerow and into an open field - quartering away from my position with his head up and under full power - making a clean escape into nearby woods. Even from my distant viewpoint, I could tell that this buck had grown a super rack of antlers. That first drive yielded a small 7-point buck and a spike buck, and then the standers were picked up and taken to a second area to hunt. A horse driver named Jeremy Dempsey was able to see a nice buck in a powerline not far from a line of standers, and he pushed the buck to them and shots rang out. Hunter Van Horton stopped the 9-point buck with a heavy-rack and really put an exclamation point on the entire holiday man drive effort. One doe was harvested on the second drive as well and then everyone gathered up back at the barn to share their stories about what they had seen in the woods.

A large crowd of hunters, all in safety orange

To view past blog entries about man drives click here.

10-point buck for lady hunter on Thanksgiving morning

2011-11-25T20:13:00.001-05:00

Amy Whittle on a frosty Thanksgiving morning with her FIRST buck

Amy Whittle and her fiancee Geoff Williams of Lexington were in the Lowcountry to deer hunt on Thanksgiving morning in Bamberg, and Amy took her FIRST ever buck. Not just any buck, she harvested a 10-point animal that would make any fiancee super proud. The cold 32-degree weather did not cause Whittle to hesitate to get in the woods at the Southern Pines hunt club, and by 7:50 the deer was spotted moving in the direction of their shooting lane about 75-yards away. Geoff blew his grunt call and the buck came into clear view standing broadside at 8 a.m. when Amy's Marlin lever-action rifle barked one time, bringing down the 165-pound buck. While she had harvested a hog before, and a pig, she had never taken a buck and this harvest made her even more thankful for the holiday time in the woods. The Southern Pines hunt club is proud of the fact that they work towards youth hunting (Take One Make One) and getting women in the outdoors. Many of their stories can be found on SCoutdoorNews.com.

For past blog entries about lady hunters click here.

Geoff and Amy pose with the Marlin rifle and the 10-point buck

Youth hunter bags 8-point in velvet for first buck

2011-11-24T07:18:00.001-05:00

What a great first buck for youth hunter Jordan Singleton

Winning the Buck of the Week contest at Cordray's

A perfect shot by nine-year old youth hunter Jordan Singleton on August 27 put a big Orangeburg County 8-point in velvet on the ground for good. Alex Singleton is the MeadWestvaco Harvest Manager for the South Region, and he began taking his son Jordan hunting in 2010 on a property near Eutawville that is managed for trophy bucks. Armed with a brand new Remington .243 the father and son hunt team watched four or five does early on that August afternoon before two bucks stepped out - one small and one BIG. The big buck was facing them about 80-yards away offering no shot, but Jordan could see that this was a BIG buck and he began to nearly hyperventilate with excitement. His father coached him on how to breathe and try to be calm in case the buck stands broadside to them. Jordan's older sister had already killed her first buck and he was anxious to collect his first buck. When the buck finally turned, the rifle barked one shot at 7 p.m. and the buck went down like a sack of potatoes! After whooping out loud, Jordan asked to call his sister, and then they took the deer down to Cordrays Processing where the buck weighed in at 202-pounds. The heavy buck was good enough to win the "Buck of the Week" award from Cordray's and were awarded with a tanned deerskin. Jordan has added to his 2011 buck total by knocking down a 4-pointer as well.

To read past blog entries about bucks in velvet click here.

New S.C. State Record African Pompano

2011-11-23T08:17:00.001-05:00

Courtland Babcock and his state record African Pompano

Angler Courtland Babcock III of Hilton Head Island was fishing from his 23-foot Contender on Nov. 13 when a very large pompano ate his jig. Fishing near the underwater outcrop known as the Deli, Babcock handled the 44-pound and 3-ounce pompano after a 15-minute fight in the early afternoon. The Studio Oceanmark Blue Heaven reel and the 4' 8" Jigging Master rod proved just the right combo to bring in this new state record, which beats the 2008 mark set by Bryan Powell of Mount Pleasant. For all the S.C. saltwater records click here.

To view past entries about S.C. state record fish click here.

Close-up view of the African Pompano S.C. state record

10-point buck for two lady hunters

2011-11-22T10:57:00.001-05:00

Susan Wood and Hallie Seibels celebrate in full camo down in the hardwoods after a great hunt in the Lowcountry Outdoors

Hallie Seibels and her G'town 10-point buck

On October 20th the first chill of autumn was in the air and experienced huntress Hallie Seibels was able to harvest her first ever 10-point buck! Seibels was not alone since she had invited first-time deer hunter Sue Woods along to sit beside her in the ladder stand, set up down in the hardwoods on her Georgetown hunting property. In the stand by 4 p.m., the girl power duo saw very little deer movement, except for some does back in the woods that offered no sporting shot. "Then around dusk, just before it was going to get dark, the big buck just materialized at the corn feeder," said Woods. "We never saw him before this moment and Hallie raised up her .308-rifle and took aim. The deer was eating and she waiting for his head to be down before taking the 30-yard shot." The buck fell in a clump right at the base of the feeder and the gal pal celebration was on, since their husbands had not shot that evening while hunting nearby. The buck weighed 135-pounds and had one tine that had been broken off during fighting. "This kind of hunting luck never happens for me," said Seibels - who will keep on hunting deer in 2011 even though she has just achieved a personal best with the nice 10-point buck. Well done ladies!

To view past blog entries on lady hunters click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report - 11/21/11

2011-11-21T17:53:00.001-05:00

The latest Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina, as published in the Charleston Mercury newspaper.

To view past fishing reports click here.

Speckled sea trout caught off the dock

Bluffton / Hilton Head DU banquet

2011-11-20T19:39:00.001-05:00

Joe Sweigart is known as the Cigartainer, here with DU chairman Larry Muething
and Brad McDonald, publisher of DUDE magazine

Anna and Josh Boyles support conservation for DU

DUDE cigars ready to smoke in the name of conservation

Bryan Weathersbee, Don and Deborah Monroe and Kevin Sevier

The 33rd annual DU in HHI fundraising banquet was held Nov. 19 at the Honey Horn Plantation picnic shelter. The evening began with lots of fun and games including the Hi - Lo card game for a 45-quart Yeti cooler, and raffle tickets were sold for the 3-tire raffle that included guns on level one and hunting gear on levels one and two. A silent auction included DU artwork, sporting collectible plates, vintage books and lots of rounds of golf - a Hilton Head staple. Sponsors had their own drawing for prizes, and a meal of shrimp and pasta plus baked chicken kept the crowd fueled up and ready for the live auction that included a hog hunt, a lab puppy and an offshore fishing trip. Check out the chapter's Facebook page for the latest updates on events.

To view the Fall 2011 issue of DUDE e-zine click here.

To see past blog entires about DU in SC click here.

Duck season opener at S.C. Waterfowl

2011-11-19T12:58:00.001-05:00

Mac Bagnal and the Clarendon Chapter leaders hunt from the duck blind

SCWA biologist Stuart Cochran with his redhead and pintail
and Hugh McLaurin of Big Lake Ducks Calls

The 25th anniversary of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association continued with the annual Opening Day of Duck Season duck hunt at their education facilities near Rimini. SCWA volunteers from across the wetlands of the Palmetto state came to celebrate the start of another waterfowling season, and to share in the fun of following up a meal and auction on Friday night by climbing into a duck blind in the 'pole barn' the next morning in order to try and bag a limit of ducks. Cold weather came in overnight and the 29-degree temperature made it feel more like duck season weather. Mac Bagnal is the SCWA Director of Chapter Development and he addressed the crowd by thanking his volunteers for all they do during banquet season - and for a list of upcoming dates click here. SCWA staff members serve as guides on this hunt and even the SCWA auctioneer got to go hunting! A unique environmental education camp dubbed Camp Leupold is being started at the existing Camp Woodie facilities and the buzz around SCWA is how they hope to bring many youths into a fuller understanding of the outdoor world via this education program. To read all the latest SCWA news in their e-magazine Waterfowl and Wetlands click here. The SCWA hunt harvest included several species of waterfowl like wood ducks, bluebills, ringnecks, redheads, pintails, buffleheads, spoonbills, green-winged teal and mallards. A fantastic breakfast was served back at the lodge and all the hunters felt like the 2011 waterfowl season campaign was off to a fast start.

Robert and Jeremy from Atlantic Game and Tackle

My opening day bag of ducks: ringneck and mallards

To view past blog entries on SCWA click here.

His and Hers Archery in Western Colleton County

2011-11-18T07:19:00.001-05:00

Randy Murdaugh has his bow serviced by Billy Aiken

Six years ago in 2004 Billy Aiken and his wife Anita beganto sell bowhunting equipment from their home in Western Colleton County. Since then, they have been drawinghunters from local communities who want the best archery equipment availableand friendly service to back it up after the sale.

AttorneyRandy Murdaugh of Hampton has known Aiken as a friend for years. “Billy is veryknowledgeable about archery and is like a hidden secret over here in thecountry,” said Murdaugh. “I am here for an adjustment to my peep sight and I’llbe hunting again with confidence by this evening since I don’t have to drive toCharleston or Pooler, Ga. to find archery service.”

His and Hers has everything the bowhunter needs

Thethree employees at His and Hers archery offer a combined 33 years of experienceand they have attended workshops with nine different bow manufacturers in orderto become a dealer. As an authorized dealer the local archery shop becamequalified to do warranty work for the brands they carry which include Mathews,PSE, Mission, Athens, Elite, Martin, Bear and Alpine.

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Thefull service pro shop on Miracle Road offers everything from arrows tobroadheads for traditional archers. They also sell fishing bows, recurve bowsmade by Ben Heape of Ridgeland, camo apparel, bow cases and even 3-D targets.The proliferation of 3-D target shooting archery competitions is just one signthat this form of primitive hunting is gaining popularity. Look for His andHers archery to sponsor a 3-D competition for Colleton County in 2012.

“Whenyou buy a bow from me it comes with free set up, tuning and shooting lessons,”said Aiken. “My wife is always ready to help women and youths get introduced toarchery equipment, which makes for good family fun in the backyard.” If a bowneeds some work in the pro shop, then Aiken will use his bowpress andchronograph in order to help customers shoot straight.

Foam Skeet disc for archery enthusiasts

Archeryhunting is all about the excitement of the hunt since the wild game has to bemuch closer that when using a firearm. “I can’t tell you how many times mycustomers have told me that they thought the deer was so close that it wouldhear their heart beating out of their chest,” said Aiken. “After some successthese same folks say that they would rather harvest just one deer with a bowthan to harvest ten deer using a gun.”

To view past blog entries about archery click here.

To view past blog entries about His and Hers Archery click here.

2011 Savannah River Site - Buck Report

2011-11-17T07:05:00.001-05:00

Julian Clark and a classic Lowcountry 8-point basket rack buck

Jen H. with SRS displays this 11-point that ran to a lucky dog driver

Scott Greer of Charlotte with a beautiful 10-point buck that weighed 162

Shawnah Banks, 17, of Barnwell with a wide-racked 8-point in rut

Temperatures in the 70's are odd for the week before Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean that the annual deer control activities at the Savannah River Site will skip a beat. The hunt on Nov. 16 went off with out a hitch, and that includes 50 dog packs and nearly 100 standers - all organized by the dedicated SRS hunt staff. COMMUNICATION and SAFETY are the mantras that are practiced and repeated before a single gun is ever loaded at this Dept. of Energy property. Despite really dry conditions that surely hampers the dogs in terms of less scent on the ground (and in their noses), a harvest of 39 deer and four coyotes was accomplished. John Fuss of Holy City Charters had a pack of nine pigs sneak by his position and he offered one barrel at the closest porker, but could not connect - and no hogs were harvested on 11/16. However, the BIG bucks did show up and plenty of hunters made their shots count! Hunting buddy Julian Clark stopped a classic Lowcountry 8-point basket rack buck with a wrap-around main beams. The shot came about 10:45, and well after the dogs were turned loose at 8 a.m. - Clark was not on high alert when the 3.5-year old buck tried to slip by his stand. One barrel from 50-yards away put the 149-pound buck on the ground - GOOD SHOT! This buck possesses tall tines that are the sign of a mature buck, and the main beams stopped short of touching by less than one inch. They are are perfectly symmetrical to boot! His buck was likely about the fifth best buck harvested this day, but it is the buck of a lifetime for its classic antlers!

To view past blog entries from the SRS click here.

11-point buck for bowhunter Gunner Bowen

2011-11-16T19:10:00.001-05:00

Gunner Bowen with a fine Lowcountry 11-pointer

OnFriday October 21 Bowen made his first deer harvested with a bow a memorable one when he took an 11-pointer from Yemassee. Naturally, he carried the buck towork with him after dark at B & B processing.

Bowenbegins skinning and cleaning deer just after dark that come from the WesternColleton County area. Girlfriend KennedyGibson had been hunting with Bowen that night and she also works at B & BProcessing.

“Wehad been watching that buck for a month using a trailcam,” said Bowen. “On thisFriday we checked the trailcam at 4 p.m. and saw that the big 11-point had beenat our corn pile at noon that same day, and I felt like he might be back in theevening.” Kennedy has her own bow and was hunting from a different stand on thesame hunting property.

“Iwent to my tree stand at 5:30 and I sat tight while a doe and a small buck cameout to the corn pile,” said Bowen. “The 11-point came out about 6:45 and I hadgood shooting light until just after 7 p.m.,” said Bowen. “I drew my bow andheld it for what seemed like twenty minutes waiting for the right shot. When hewas broadside to me at 30-yards I went for a double-lung shot, and after impactthe buck ran off.”

Aftergoing to get Gibson out of her deer stand after dark, the two bow hunters foundwhere the arrow passed through the deer. Well most of it anyway! “The broadheadwas in the dirt near where I shot, but the shaft of the arrow and the veinswere still in the deer,” said Bowen. They followed the blood trail in the darkusing Bowen’s flashlight.

“Whenwe caught up to the buck and Gunner shined the light on his rack he began tojump up and down with excitement,” said Gibson. “Gunner has been dedicated tobow hunting this year, and now he says he’ll never shoot one with the rifleagain!” Bowen also likes to hog hunt using horse and catch dogs, so he won’tgive up firearms altogether.

B& B Processing is in its second year and part owner Steve Breland says theyare running at least 100 deer ahead of last year’s workload. “Bowen’s buck wasthe first real big buck we got in this season, but we have seen some biggerones since then,” said Breland. “All the boys here at B & B chip in to dotheir part and we work well as a team.” Family runs strong at B & B withBreland’s brother-in-law a part owner and his son and nephew helping to roundout the staff.
The buck is being mounted at Whitetail Taxidermy in Cottageville.

To view past blog entry about a bowhunting success story click here.

2011 CCA Sea Island Chapter Conservation Banquet

2011-11-15T06:16:00.001-05:00

Saltwater anglers in the Charleston area look forward to this annual gathering at Founder's Hall in West Ashley. Charles Towne Landing has become the favorite location of the Sea Island Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association's annual banquet, and CCA members know to expect great food and auction items - and a really fun night. Tuna, pork, flounder, and more from Charleston Bay Gourmet fed the crowd with a maritime mindset. A silent auction was followed up with a spirited live auction led by an auctioneer in a cowboy hat - and some items of interest were the Red Fish Brand cotton duck jacket and the Dragonfly Boatworks paddleboard. Hunting trips for quail were popular, and a whole skin from a bovine donor was all the rage. "This is item number one of one, since this cow gave his all for CCA," said Scott Whitaker.

Mark Castlow from Dragonfly and Scot Whitaker from CCA

Heather Driggers and Morgan Helms love a good auction

A funny saying and some offshore lures on the silent auction

Red Fish Brand's cotton duck canvas jacket

Jonathan Harpe from The Charleston Angler and Laura Stephens

To view past blog entries from the Sea Island CCA chapter click here.

Wine on the Water at the Aquarium features SSI

2011-11-14T11:25:00.001-05:00

Megan Westmeyer with SSI welcomes Bob and Ann Lewis along with Cindy Roe Ware

Roasted swordfish with speckled butter beans from the Boathouse

Heather Fifer and Chef Sarah O'Kelley from Glass Onion work with Ashley Bradt from the Aquarium

Kelly Sloan, Even Sherer, Lindsey Graham and Keith Hanson enjoy their wine in front of the BIG fish tank

The semi-annual Wine on the Water event at the S.C. Aquarium serves to bring in chefs that partner with the Sustainable Seafood Initiative so that they can visit with the patrons of the Aquarium. The fact that wine goes so well with seafood makes this particular event a double delight, and for a complete report in The Local Palate magazine click here. Fleet Landing restaurant earns special kudos as the 2011 SSI partner for the year, and the fact that they are now a Platinum level SSI partner. The scallops served by Fleet Landing this night were large, but still tender - signaling great care in both the selection and the cooking process had been undertaken. To learn more about the SSI program click here. Thanks go to all the restaurants that participated including The Boathouse at Breach Inlet, Saffire, Pane e Vino and the Glass Onion.

To view a past blog from Wine on the Water at the Aquarium click here.

Middleton Hunt Club - buck report

2011-11-13T08:47:00.001-05:00

A group of standers after the afternoon drive

Will Martin and his 7-point buck

Standers deploy into the woodlands at Middleton

James Driver shot this fine 8-point

The last three years at Middleton Hunt Club, the club members have been witness to a nice run of quality bucks, and the cold weather on Nov. 12 kept the good results coming. Wool clothing and waxed cotton jackets were needed to turn back the cold that came with the first frost of the year, and with leaves dropping from trees at record pace, the arrival of fall could not be denied. The horseman driving the deer hounds brought a hail of Wooop, Heeaw and Holler to the woods and the BIG bucks jumped up and scattered, offering a sporting shot to a lucky few standers that were on alert status. The teamwork on the morning drive yielded three bucks and one doe, but also a big miss was recorded when a huge buck ran by one stander. Both the deer driver and a past huntmaster who witnessed the buck were in awe of its massive rack and offered high praise for the trophy buck that bounded out of the drive and back into the lore of the MHC woods. A Lowcountry lunch was followed by an afternoon drive that brought another doe to the cleaning station and another report of a big miss on a big buck. Another great day in the field came to a close at MHC and the sporting stories will continue for its members into the holiday hunting season.

To view past blog entries from Middleton Hunt Club click here.

2011 Tall Timbers Fall Field Day

2011-11-12T19:37:00.001-05:00

Groton Planation in Allendale County hosted the Tall Timbers event that drew a large crowd of upland hunting enthusiasts. Land owners and habitat managers gathered to hear an update on the ongoing recovery of bobwhite quail, and to take a field trip of Groton's extensive wild bird woods. Fire has played a role in the management of Groton since Herbert Stoddard visited with the Winthrop family and advised them to 'Light it Up,' said family representative Rob Winthrop. Today, manager Wes Smith uses 'thermal pruning' as one method to control hardwood encroachment, which occurs so slowly over time that only constant vigilance can stop it. Practices like flat-mowing and sometimes even herbicide applications must accompany a regular regime of prescribed fire. Field trips stops included a look at the T185 stump grinder used to quickly convert woody areas into ready to plant openings that quail will utilize, and a talk by a Eukanuba nutritionist about what it takes to keep a kennel of bird dogs healthy throughout hunting season. Tall Timbers is based out of Florida but has recently begun its S.C. Quail Project to bring their upland habitat research to the Palmetto state in hopes of restoring the population of bobwhite quail to a sustainable level.

Groton's Wes Smith, Bill Palmer is Director of Tall Timbers and Jerald Sholar

Quite a crowd turned out for the 2011 Filed Day

A pickup truck caravan winds through Groton Land Co.

To view past blog entries about the SCQP Fall field day click here.

VideoByJeffDennis: Wes Smith addresses the field day crowd

Erik Altom with Eukanuba visits with dog owner Andrea Clark

2011 Jasper County dog drive

2011-11-09T16:20:00.001-05:00

Rev. Dave Copeland stopped this nice 8-point buck

Kevin Griffin and Heyward Horton from Colleton County

Mickey sharpens knives for everyone

Grateful for the invitation to join a large-acreage dog hunting club for the second year, hopes were high after seeing plenty of deer just the year before. However, with the drought in effect the property did not seem to be holding as many deer, and despite some great weather to hunt in I did not see any deer during my visit. A grand supper was served up and some custom knives were on display for the hunters to admire. Good Times!

A typical deer dog on the trail

To view past blog entries about deer hunting in Jasper County click here.

2011 Polo for the Point

2011-11-07T08:40:00.001-05:00

Polo action at Limehouse Field

Chip caption chooses a mallet

The Artisan Center proved deft at the art of food display

The Lowcountry Hunt came to give a fox hunting demonstration and I caught these spectators watching the polo match!

The Colleton Center is a non-profitorganization whose mission is to provide for the preservation and renovation ofthe historic Hampton Street Elementary School as a center for the arts for allColletonians to enjoy. Proceeds from the 3rd Polo for the Point will be used torestore and renovate the performing arts auditorium, which continues to bringtouring musicians and actors to Walterboro.

Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Limehouse served asthe honorary co-chairs for the Raise the Point Capital Campaign. “My wifeFrankie and her brother George went to school at Hampton Street and we thinkputting a performance arts center in that building is the right thing for oursmall town,” said Buck Limehouse.
“Colleton County has alwaysbeen associated with horses, and this is a great way to continue thattradition,” said Limehouse. “In the past Colletonians used horses to drivecattle and to pull logs from the woods. The tradition of hunting from horsebackcontinues today for deer hunters, upland quail hunters and foxhunters. We mightneed to see about having some horse races again too.”

To view past blog entries for Polo for the Point click here.

2011 SCOPe conference

2011-11-04T15:57:00.001-04:00

Photo By P.J. Perea

Great turkey mount at Black's Camp

The 2011 fall conference of the S.C. Outdoor Press corps was held at Black's Camp in Cross. The facility has a boat ramp on the lake and a hotel lodging facility on the premises, plus a small restaurant. Hunting is done at the Black Briar property, which is a partner to Black's Camp landing. This is all known as Santee Cooper country, and it is also known as a good place to go gator hunting. Guide Kevin Davis is your contact to enjoy the outdoors out of Black's Camp, and he is both friendly and experienced.

To view past blog entries from the SCOPE conference click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report - 11/3/11

2011-11-03T07:46:00.003-04:00

Here's my latest Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry in the Charleston Mercury.

Mark your calendar for the Nov. 10 banquet of the Sea Island Chapter of CCA!!!
For more information contact John Barham at 843-452-5785.

To view past fishing reports click here.

This sunlit red drum was caught AND released - a popular practice these days

Inaugural Coastal Bear Hunt Season is set to go

2011-11-02T06:58:00.005-04:00

S.C. coastal black bear in a fire break / Trailcam by SCDNR

Deanna Ruth is the SCDNR coastal bear biologist

Come December 1, three coastal counties will be open for hunting of our coastal black bear population. SCDNR's coastal bear biologist Deanna Ruth has worked on the black bear management plan that will allow a limited harvest for those who apply and receive SCDRN tags. For my feature article with ALL of the details in the Charleston Mercury click here.

Birding Journal Observations / Sept. - Oct. 2011

2011-11-01T15:05:00.002-04:00

Immature male rufous hummingbird in first fall flight plumage

Two sightings, one large and one very small, made the latest birding observation period memorable. On September 4 a mature bald eagle flew right across the house on his course to some waypoint in the ACE Basin. Then on October 18 I saw my FIRST EVER Rufous Hummingbird come to a feeder and I was in full panic mode trying to I.D. the hummer using three birding books I keep on hand for such occasions. What made it tough to I.D. was that this was an immature rufous and he was in his first fall flight plumage which is drab. Searching the Internet I was able to find the image by Phil Jeffrey that was an exact match for what I had seen. My ruby-throated hummingbirds had arrived on April 20 and then departed on October 9 - so I knew when I saw the solo hummer on Oct. 18th that it was likely a Rufous. Now I have added the Rufous to my Life List of bird sightings, and can remind birders to remember to leave your hummingbird feeder up a while after the ruby-throated birds leave, because the more cold-hearty rufous hummingbirds may yet migrate through. Other observations include white-breasted nuthatch, dove, tufted titmouse, cardinal, a male Norther parula warbler, female summer tanager, indigo bunting, first-year male summer tanager, red-bellied woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, carolina chickadee, red-headed woodpecker, blue grosbeak, brown thrasher, mockingbird, brown thrasher, bluebird, female American redstart, bluejay, lark sparrow, grey catbird, downy woodpecker, Northern flicker, Canada goose, turkey vulture, yellow-rumped warbler and pileated woodpecker.

To view past birding journal blog entries click here.

2011 Birds of Prey Center 20th celebration

2011-10-31T11:04:00.001-04:00

Roasted butternut squash bisque

Eurasian Screech Owl

Diane Rosin, Jack Hanna and Emily Stewart

Columbus Zoo official with Cloud Leopard

The Center for the Birds of Prey made it a night to remember with its WILD at Wingswood event on October 29 in celebration of their 20th year of existence. Their nature center in Awendaw is at the cutting edge of avian research and rehabilitation, and also provides appropriate housing for the birds that now only assist with educational purposes. Executive director Jim Elliott dialed up the star power with Jack Hanna and his Columbus Zoo animals, The Lee brothers of Charleston, and nine of his favorite downtown restaurants joined in with culinary fare. (to view my notes for The Local Palate magazine click here) Of course, the party has a worthy cause as a fundraiser for the continued work of the Avian Conservation Center and the attendees gave generously at the silent and live auction. Birds of Prey gave flight displays and were available for some photos, while Jungle Jack showed off some big cats, an armadillo and even a penguin. The grounds of the facility are now under a conservation easement, which further demonstrated their commitment to conservation and Lowcountry Outdoors wishes them well as they soar into their third decade of work.

To view past blog entries about the Center for Birds of Prey click here.

2011 Red October Surf Fishing tourney

2011-10-30T15:20:00.001-04:00

Danny Leitner caught a bunch of big redfish in the surf

Johnny Saboe shows determination in the surf zone

Saboe gets some assistance to release the winning fish

High and Dry - and waiting for Sea Tow

On Saturday October 29 a great tradition of the Lowocuntry continued with the annual Red Drum surf fishing tourney. The usual suspects headed up to Bull's Bay and other secret locations to try their luck for big bull reds caught in the surf zone. A cold front combined with a wide-swinging tide made for challenging conditions but the redfish were biting despite the elements! First place went to 9-year old youth angler Johnny Saboe for his 46-inch monster red drum - congrats!! Saboe was a member of Team Durant who along with Danny (big head) Leitner was able to 'colt the game' by taking home all the prizes. Leitner took second place with his 45-inch red drum, and he also scored the aggregate with redifsh measuring 45-inches, 44-inches, 43-inches and 42-inches respectively. A hard luck award went to Soc Durant who had to wait for the tide to come back in when his boat became stranded high and dry that day. Anthony Noury at Sea Tow told me that a record number of boats became stranded this day due to the front and the tides working together!

To view past blog enttries about surf fishing click here.

2011 SCWA Charleston Chapter at Shem Creek

2011-10-29T10:52:00.002-04:00

SCWA is 25 years old!

The celebration of the 25th anniversary of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association continued with the Charleston chapter's dinner and banquet at the Lighthouse on Shem Creek. A dynamite crowd gathered to look over the tidal waters of the creek from the back deck during a social hour, all while keeping conservation of waterfowl in their minds. Life members and new members crossed paths and smiles and stories were shared. A Beaufort stew served for dinner before the silent, live auction and raffles served to generate funds for Camp Woodie and Camp Leopold at the SCWA's Rimini education facilities. In just one month waterfowl season will arrive and the SCWA hub will begin hosting hunters eager to get a look at the Pole Barn impoundment and the ringnecks that like to over-winter there. Auction items included guns from Atlantic Game and fishing trip from Capt. Graham Hegameyer as well as prints, knives and hunting accessories.

Charleston Chapter Committee members stand tall

Christina, Graham, Addie and Rico Suave were at the Lighthouse

This SCWA crew prefers drinks by the creek!

William and Julia Dotterer collect raffle tickets with Charlie Aimar

To view past blog entries about SCWA click here.

2011 SCI Wheelchair Hunt - More Photos

2011-10-28T17:04:00.002-04:00

Lynwood Kearse and TOMO hunter Matthew Breeden

Skinning the cape of a buck for mounting

Oregon Plantation hunt party

A patriotic flair filled the gift bags

The Lowcountry Chapter of Safari Club International also invites youths from the SCDNR Take One Make One program to participate in the hunt as well as disabled hunters from the S.C. Department Of Disabilities and Special Needs.

To view past blog entries for the SCI Hunt click here.

2011 SCI Wounded Warrior Deer Hunt

2011-10-27T20:13:00.000-04:00

Marine Band plays during lunch on Monday

Heath McClung proudly wears blood on his cheek

Daryl Wallace and Ryan Wheeler had some luck!

The hunting party at Oak Lawn Plantation

The 7th annual Lowcountry Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI) Wounded Warrior Hunt took place on October 24 and 25 based out of Nemours Wildlife Foundation. Hunt coordinator Mark Peterson works with Nemours director Ernie Wiggers to line up private landowners each year that allow access to their plantations of the ACE Basin. General Reynolds from Parris Island Marine Base oversees the Marine color guard, Marine band, and cadre of Wounded Warriors that report to hunt on Monday night and Tuesday morning. It can not be over-stated how glad the members of the local SCI chapter are when they can provide hunting opportunities for our brave veterans. Heath McClung from St. Louis, Missouri was injured by an Improvised Explosive Device in Afghanistan and is recovering in Augusta, Georgia at the Active Duty Rehab Unit. McClung scored his first ever deer, a fine 8-point buck while hunting at Buckfield Plantation - and this result was multiplied by all the Wounded Warriors that found hunting success. McClung was also lucky in that Gus Congemi with Dead Down Wind television had made the trip from New York in order to video his hunt - and the hunt is recorded now on HD and will be aired in the future on the Sportsman Channel. "My daughter is in the military and we were gald to be invited to this quality event," said Congemi. Any of the wounded Warriors that requested a mount of their deer had it granted to them at NO Cost, and Pernell's Taxidermy was on hand to supervise the skinning of the capes. Bill Snow of SCI issued venison rations to each Wounded Warrior that came to the hunt, and venison generated during the hunt goes to help feed the hungry. Thirty wounded Warriors attended the hunt and all of them enjoyed the fellowship of being in the Lowcountry Outdoors.

To view my blog entry from the 2010 SCI Wounded Warrior hunt click here.

2011 Williams Wheelin' Whitetail Weekend

2011-10-26T21:35:00.004-04:00

Daryl Gillam With his trophy buck and Raymond Bostic

Robbie Hopkins and his trophy 8 point

Group photo from October 15

Larry Rahn And Raymond Bostic with his trophy 8 point

The 6th annual Wheelin' Whitetail Weekend in Williams was conducted by Disabled Outfitter, Inc. They have a mission of helping to make outdoor recreation accessible to those with disabilities. Founded by Julian Ohmer, who hunts from a wheelchair because of spina bifida, and his father Jeff Ohmer - Disabled Outfitters is hoping to hold three deer hunts and a turkey hunt in 2012. The photos from the October hunt tell a story of great fellowship in western Colleton County.

To view past blog entries about disabled hunters click here.

Lady hunter scores 218-pound buck in ACE Basin

2011-10-25T09:52:00.002-04:00

A large-bodied ten-point buck harvested by Teresa Stringfield of Green Pond, was brought to Breland's Deer processing near Walterboro in early October. Stringfield was hunting in her shorts from the ground (wearing snake boots) when she encountered the buck, which Breland's reports is the heaviest animal that they have processed to date. Pernell's Taxidermy is handling the mount for Stringfield.

Photo by Michael Breland at Breland Deer Processing

To view past blog entries about lady hunters click here.

Wrecking Crew caller tags 8-point buck

2011-10-24T08:12:00.003-04:00

Goose caller tags nice 8-point buck

Rutting bucks visit green patches regularly

Competition calling in North Carolina

The teen-aged lead goose caller for the Wrecking Crew Guide Service in Lancaster had quite a week! Hunting after school on a rainy Tuesday, he endured two hours of rain and saw no deer. Back at it on Wednesday afternoon October 19 he climbed into his stand over a green food plot at 4:57 and just three minutes later at 5 p.m. sharp his Ruger 7mm bellowed and a fine 8-point buck was harvested. Blake Hodge and father Daryl report that goose scouting is going very well and they are taking advantage of deer hunting during the rut while they have some free time before waterfowl season kicks in. Over this past weekend Blake Hodge competed in calling contests in Albemarle, N.C. at God's Country Outfitters and won two trophies and some cash prizes in the Jr. Goose calling competition and the Jr. Meat duck competition. Well Done on both accounts Blake Hodge!

To view past blog entries about the Wrecking Crew click here.

Jeff Rosser arrows 211-pound buck with heavy 6-point rack

2011-10-23T16:09:00.001-04:00

Rosser displays his 10/21 bowkill - Mr. BIG

Rosser shows off the big-bodied heavy-rack buck and a doe

Trailcam from 2009 of Mr. BIG

Rosser and Peter Loy harvest game in the spring too!

Jeff Rosser is a Lowcountry outdoorsman from Mount Pleasant who is an accomplished offshore fisherman, releasing his first sailfish aboard Lil' Bit in 2009. When deer season rolls around Rosser is a dedicated hunter who will stay after his quarry often until there is a tale of success. The 6-point buck with a heavy, almost midwestern-style rack, that Rosser harvested suffered a similar fate as some of the others. Rosser began hunting this buck in 2009 when after showing up in the trail camera picture, he earned the nickname 'Empire' due to his high rack. One October afternoon in 2009 Rosser watched the buck chase does back and forth in heavy cover that offered him no shot with his bow. The buck showed up again on camera that year but never again in person. The entire 2010 season the buck was never seen in person, although a trail camera image verified that he was still in the woods. No sightings during the early 2011 season made Rosser believe that the buck had perhaps moved on, and then three weeks ago he appeared again. On Friday morning October 21, Rosser got into his bow stand on an oak flat and grunted in a small doe about 7:20 a.m. and two young bucks that looked like they were going to spar. Then the mega-six-point that looked huge came close to the stand chasing some does. After almost having a heart attack associated with buck fever, Rosser came to full draw and arrowed the Orangeburg County buck at 15-yards. With the big buck on the ground, and a feeling of a milestone bowhunting accomplishment, the ever-opportunistic Rosser was able to harvest a doe just 20-minutes later with a 35-yard 'William Tell' shot that made the memorable morning hunt feel something akin to fate. "I love this time of year," said Rosser. No wonder!!

To view past blog entries about fishermen tagging nice bucks click here.

2011 Fall SEWE Soiree by Ducks Unlimited

2011-10-22T15:37:00.000-04:00

It's Duck-thirty and time to GET UP

Mark Hartley and Sponsor Doug McElven make time for the silent auction

Blackwell and Alison Johnson at the SEWE / DU Fall Soiree

The fall flight of fun folks was on display at the Bus Shed

Celeste Wall and Chris Greenhill came from Summerville

The annual half-way to SEWE party took place in the Bus Shed in downtown Charleston, with the East Cooper Chapter of Ducks Unlimited hosting the festivities. The Southeastern Wildlife Expo print for 2012 depicting two bison was unveiled and the the new SEWE executive director was on hand to greet friends. The music of Palmetto Soul and the oysters and barbecue from Sticky Fingers added to the silent auction and raffles that DU was providing. The McElveen truck team sponsors the five gun winner take all gun raffle that lots of DU members come to take part in, and the silent auction offered prints galore and unique DU items. The East Cooper Chapter is consistently one of the top chapters in the country and it won't be long until this group of outdoor leaders will be hosting another event to raise money for the ducks.

To view past SEWE / DU Fall soiree blog entries click here.

For past blog entries about Ducks Unlimited in S.C. click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report 10/21/11

2011-10-21T09:49:00.000-04:00

Here's my latest Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina in the Charleston Mercury.

Offshore fishing for sailfish has produced 'hero or zero' mixed results, but bottom bumping remains steady. Bulls reds are still in the nearshore fishery and they don't call this RED october for nothing. The 8th annual red October surf fishing tourney is coming up on Oct. 29!

Check out the new Class V gear bag from Wright and McGill - which kept my gear dry recently on a wet weather trip. The water-tight zippers gave me the confidence to pack my SLR camera inside and the adjustable compartments allows anglers to bring along extra gear likes Costas, a Bogagrip, extra spools and sun protection accessories. Several extra pockets on the outside allowed for my pliers and leaders to be kept within easy reach and the bag and strap each have a handsome fish logo.

Daniel Nussbaum of Z-Man fishing products and a bull drum

Wright&McGill Gear Bag holds up well on a wet day

The Class V is bigger than a standard tackle box

To view past fishing reports click here.

McGladrey PGA Tour wrap up

2011-10-19T20:05:00.002-04:00

The Oak Avenue once belonged to Retreat Plantation

Ben Crane is the 2011 McGladrey winner

Live oak on the chip and putt practice green

McGladrey sign in water alongside 18th green

The 2011 McGladrey Classic was actually only the second year for this PGA tourney set in Georgia's Golden Isle of St. Simon's Island. Played on the Sea Side course at Sea Island resort, which is the home for tourney host David Love III, the 2011 event was won in a playoff when Ben Crane topped Webb Simpson for the title. An ancient avenue of oaks greets patrons who came to enjoy the resort island lifestyle and a top field of PGA players. The golf course has a tidal creek bending gracefully though both the outward nine holes and the inward nine, and a series of sand dunes helped to define the character of Sea Island. The Lowcountry and the Golden Isles have a special kinship, and my hope is that the McGladrey Classic becomes a long-running success that joins The Masters and The Heritage family of tournaments. To view the dates for the 2010 McGladrey Classic click here.

For a past blog entry about the PGA click here.

2011 Colleton Historical Society Plantation Tour

2011-10-18T20:34:00.001-04:00

Sign on White Hall Road

Pond behind the main house at White Hall

On Sunday October 16th the annual Colleton County plantation tour was held during glorious fall weather, and some of the properties date back to when the area was known as St. Bartholomew's Parish. An outdoor worship service was held at the Pon Pon Chapel in Jacksonboro before fellowship and a meal on the grounds of Beech Hill. Still in the hands of the family that has owned Beech Hill since 1825, the hosts were gracious in allowing access inside their home which was decorated with a mixture of sporting images and floral decorum. Next up was Oregon Plantation, a tract that claims nearly identical property boundaries since the late 1770's, and is now utilized as a nature preserve. Thanks to the plantation manager for being on hand to answer questions about the native plants that have been restored on the Oregon tract. Taking a turn south towards the nerve center of the ACE Basin, I arrived at White Hall Plantation - which is simply a sporting property. The heartbeats of sportsmen could be imagined when witnessing the duck impoundments behind the house, the equestrian facility and its associated hunter/jumper activites, and the pristine grounds around the main house dotted with live oaks that belittle the word ancient. The owners of the property are members of the N.Y. Botanical Society and they have constructed a walled two-acre secret garden for the sake of communing with nature, and thanks to their master gardener for being on hand to discuss its plant life. Other properties on the tour included Maybank Plantation, Fishpond Bridge, Col. Isaac Hayne's tomb and the church at Catholic Hill. It is great to visit the living history that is present at the plantations of the Lowcountry.

To view the Colleton County Historical Society website click here.

Avenue of oaks and palmettos at Beech Hill

2011 Red*Trout tournament results

2011-10-17T08:57:00.001-04:00

Capt. John Ward took home the redfish window pane trophy

Fly fish division champions 2010 and 2011

Capt. Mark Nichols collects top celebrity angler awards

Capt. Chris Wilson put Russ Parker on the big redfish

Captain John Ward elected to fish South of the Charleston Harbor Marina and it paid off big time as he easily guided his anglers to victory in the 2011 Red*Trout tourney. Ward set a new tournament record for points by catching and releasing something like 80 redfish over the two-day period that was fished under near ideal weather conditions. True Story: LowcountryOutdoors pre-fished with Ward on Tuesday and we caught ONLY one redfish - but that's fishing!! Other winners at the Sunday afternoon closing ceremony included largest trout award (20-inches) going to Capt. Patrick Crawford, largest redfish award going to Russ Parker, and the fly fish division champs from 2010 defended their title - Capt. Graham Hegamyer and Dr. Macintosh. Capt. Mark Nichols narrowly edged out the mogan man for the top Celebrity angler honors and was guided by DOA-endorsed Capt. Reid Simmons. To view ALL of the tourney results visit CharlestonRedbone.

To view past blog entries for Red*Trout events back to 2008 click through here.

Delta Waterfowl celebrates 100 years of conservation

2011-10-16T11:11:00.002-04:00

On October 15 the ACE Basin chapter of Delta Waterfowl held its fourth annual banquet, while the parent conservation organization is celebrating 100 years of wildlife tradition. The Delta Waterfowl national headquarters islocated in Bismark, North Dakota but they are using research to address theproblems that concern S.C. waterfowlers.

JohnDevney is the senior Vice President of Delta Waterfowl and when I called himrecently his secretary said he was away for the morning. Returning my call bythe end of the day, Devney shared that he had actually been out trying toharvest some blue-winged teal before the September season went out. I thoughtthis sounds a lot like what folks here in the Lowcountry would like to bedoing, and thus a connection was established.

“Wewere founded in 1911 in Canada and we have a two-prong effort that is directedat the Eastern Flyway,” said Devney. “One of the biggest problems that affectS.C. hunters, and particularly those that like to hunt big ducks, is the nearabsence of mallards. Traditionally S.C. over-wintered thousands of mallards inthe plantation districts, and we’re trying to solve this dilemma through astudy using hen nesting boxes.”

Crystal Barr and Liz Smoak volunteer for Delta Waterfowl

Pintails warm the hearts of waterfowlers

Regional Dir. Chris Williams (in red) with ACE Basin chapter members

We dined on steaks from the Angus Barn thanks to these gents

“Quebecand Pennsylvania have been documented as some of the nesting areas that produceducks that migrate down the Eastern flyway,” said Devney. “We partnered withthe Flyway Foundation and deployed hen nest boxes in these two areas and foundthat the mallard hens use them a lot.” These nest boxes look a good bit like awooden mailbox which is open on both ends.

DeltaWaterfowl’s research shows that if mallard populations can increase using thehen nesting boxes, then that is a much more cost-effective method thanpurchasing land outright. With mallards using these hen nest boxes withsuccess, Delta Waterfowl funded these same boxes to be set out in the SanteeDelta of S.C. “Unfortunately, even though mottled ducks and black ducks aredistant cousins of mallards, we found that they did not use the S.C. boxes,”said Devney.

DeltaWaterfowl’s Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program serves to identifyland in the Eastern breeding zone of Canada for more study. “Ducks nesting inthe prairie pothole region gather in dense communities, but in the east thebreeders are much more spread out,” said Devney.

Thename Delta Waterfowl did not exist in 1911, but they are the continuation of aconservation hunting group that formed then. The American Game Protection andPropogation Association began in 1911 when market hunting had taken a huge tollon waterfowl populations. With an endorsement by the shooting sports industryand Theodore Roosevelt this group operated continuously under several differentnames before the final decision to call the group Delta Waterfowl.

Addressingthe local banquet in Walterboro Devney said that 25-percent of the fundsraised stay right here for a mentored duck hunting program called the FirstHunt program. ACE Basin chapter chair Chris McDonald has been the point man onthe past two years during the youth hunts held at Block Island. “The money weraise covers a two-day event complete with meals and hunting gear,” saidMcDonald.
One of the highlights of the banquet was the catered steak dinner that was brought to the Lowcountry from Raleigh, N.C. - the home of the Angus Barn - a stellar restaurant that serves only aged Midwestern beef. Thanks to the guys from Backyard Bistro for the great steaks!
To view a past blog about Delta Waterfowl and the mottled duck program in the ACE Basin click here.

2011 Red*Trout Celebrity Classic Kicks Off

2011-10-15T08:12:00.000-04:00

The 2011 Red*Trout tourney committee

The 10th annual Lowcountry Red*Trout tournament is fishing to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation(CFF). Celebrating a decade of catch and release fishing practices, the Celebrity Classic is anchored this year by two fishing notables. Captain Mark Nichols of DOA Lures has made his annual trip up from Stuart, Florida in order to support the Lowcountry once again, and Blair Wiggins brings his prowess for catching mogan redfish with Wright&McGill rods, and loves to share his fishing tales from the filming of Addictive Fishing television episodes. The 2011 Red*Trout makes a return to the Charleston Harbor Marina this year, and the Captain's meeting kick-off event was held in the new Lookout Pavillion facility. A cocktail hour was filled with plenty of fishing talk as captains and anglers alike try to figure out the redfish and trout that will be sought out during fishing on Saturday and Sunday. A large silent auction and a brisk live auction led by Dave Williams and Tom Crawford helped to raise funds for CFF on a night when the weather was near perfect. Spirits were running high for October fishing success, and the local fishing guides of the Lowcountry are to be recognized and commended for sharing their time and tactics during the Red*Trout. Longtime organizer Capt. Champ Smith has had help this year from Capt. Graham Hegamyer and CFF coordinator Alicia Parsons. Check back soon for results from this weekend's Red*Trout tournament. Click on photo for larger image and click it again for navigation!

Mark Phelps, Mark Nichols and John Irwin at the Captain's Mtg.

Champ Smith welcomes Cari and Blair Wiggins

Charity Gonzales, Alicia Parsons and Rachel MacQueen welcome anglers

Red*Trout Flies from the silent auction

To see past blog entries about the Lowcountry Red*Trout tournament click here.

Field Notes and Photos - October 2011

2011-10-14T09:27:00.003-04:00

Racoon at Sea Island Golf Course

Fox squirrel at Jasper County plantation

Termite hatch at Snipe Hill

Mystery moth

Field Notes is a column I began eight years ago in the Charleston Mercury newspaper, but as the amount of newsprint in the 'salmon sheets' has diminished, so has the space for my Field Notes photos. Now when I have a fresh bath of observations to post I will reformulate my old column on this blog. I hope everyone enjoys the photos, and gets a look into the Lowcountry Outdoors that I see and appreciate. (Remember to click on the photo to view a full-size image)

To view past blog entries for field notes click here.

Last chance dove hunt report

2011-10-13T20:41:00.001-04:00

Scott and his black lab Camo and I after the hunt

VIP hunters visiting from the Holy City

I got the old John Deere sign at an antiques store

Bacon-wrapped doves are delicious

Saturday October 8th was the last day of the first part of the three-section dove season. My dilemma was that despite attending a handful of dive hunts already, I had not been in the presence of enough doves to harvest a full limit of 15. When the phone rang on that Friday to ask if I could get to Canadys in the morning for a 'last chance' dove shoot - I said well sure. We were deployed into the field by legal shooting time and my dove-shoot 'dues' must have been paid in full because I made the most of my shots, including two doubles, and gathered my limit by 8:30 - when I unloaded my gun and exited the field. A big breakfast followed the hunt, and then most of the sportsmen scattered to go watch football games, complete honey-do lists or just enjoy the rest of their day. I cleaned my doves and enjoyed them wrapped in thick-sliced bacon and served them with a beautiful orange sweet potato.

To view past blog entries about dove hunting click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report 10/11/11

2011-10-11T15:27:00.003-04:00

Here's my latest Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina in the Charleston Mercury.

Fortunate to be fishing at Capt. Sam's Inlet for spot-tailed bass with Captain John Ward of Affinity Charters, we found the bait stealers were out this day as we fished heavy structure, and the wear and tear on the terminal tackle required lots of re-rigging. Thankfully we were armed with the new Boomerang tool products which made the task a little easier. The Big Catch pliers has a stainless construction and its tungsten cutters easily handled the Power Pro braided line that Capt. Ward prefers. Also the Boomerang SNIP offers fingertip-control when it comes to rounding off mono knots. Both tools come with a retractable leash that gives them their namesake, greatly reducing the chance of losing the pliers overboard - Great idea!!

A slot-limit redfish comes to the landing net

The new Boomerang BIG Catch pliers cuts braided line just fine

PhotoByAndrewCebulka: Boomerang SNIP at work

To view past fishing reports click here.

Take One Make One youth hunt in Bamberg

2011-10-10T08:52:00.003-04:00

AJ and Al with a fine 9-point buck

The harvest of a doe was big fun for this youth

Skinning shed activities exposes youth to venison

Hunt principles that make things run smoothly

Bruce Compton and his son BJ deserve a lot of credit for helping to host the hunting portion of the 7th Bamberg Take One Make One (TOMO) youth hunt. SCDNR's Lynwood Kearse was on hand as usual for the TOMO hunt that featured youths enrolled in the wilderness program of the John De La Howe school in McCormick. The weather over the weekend was favorable for outdoor adventure and ten youths were able to deer hunt and then overnight in a Bamberg hunt lodge. Saturday night a very nice 9-point buck was brought to the skinning shed by a student name AJ, and it was his first time ever hunting for white-tailed deer. He used a .243-rifle to harvest the buck that was munching on some corn in between two does, and was accompanied in the deer stand by mento Al Gaer. Two other students also had steady aim and were able to harvest one doe apiece. There were nothing but the smiles of success that evening during the barbecue dinner where experience between veteran hunters and new hunters was gladly passed along.

To read my feature story in the Charleston Mercury click here.

To view past blog entries on TOMO click here.

Risher's Deer Processing in Walterboro

2011-10-09T18:17:00.002-04:00

Risher's is located on Green Pond Highway

Gary Malvasio of Risher's Processing

“When I first started thedeer processing business, dog hunting for deer was real popular, and theirmight have been one deer management club in operation,” said Gary Malvasio.“Now I’d say about 75-percent of deer hunting clubs in the county are undersome kind of deer herd management plan. The herd has definitely improved inthat time like the difference between night and day.’

This doe will yield some fine venison

“We do all of our own smoking with hickory chips obtainedfrom the Veneer plant just down the road,” said Malvasio. Three gas-operatedcloset units heat up the deer dogs, snacks sticks, salami chubs, kielbasa andhams while the hickory chips smolder and produce the fine flavor. What are deerdogs? It turns out they are a lot like the Hillshire Farms links that go greatwith a Beaufort Stew.

Orderingdifferent products from Risher’s is just part of the fun, because who else hasonion burger, pickled sausage, bratwurst and Italian meatballs?! Risher’s haseveryone’s favorites too like summer sausage, breakfast links, snack sticks andjerky. Risher’s has one of the largest walk-in coolers around which allows themeat to hang for one week to ten days, giving it time to age a bit.

Jessie Ellis and a wheel of smoked snack sticks

So many deer have comethrough Risher’s that it is hard to remember all of the big rack bucks that Mr.Gary has witnessed. However, the weights of the biggest deer are a differentmatter. The heaviest buck ever was 257-pounds and it came from the Smoaks area.The heaviest doe so far weighed 151-pounds and Mr. Gary reports that the samehunter had a nearly identical doe with him that weighed 150-pounds and that hefigures they were twins.

Spirit Ball hoists sails for education

2011-10-07T09:31:00.001-04:00

The 5th annual Spirit Ball was held outdoors at the new Mount Pleasant pier facility on Oct. 6 under a gorgeous sky. This gala benefits the South Carolina Maritime Foundation and featured a large silent auction complete with emcee Dave Williams, followed by a live band and Lowcountry supper and a call to support education. Board Chair Teddy Turner made a specific plea to support the Shaw Center, which SCMF has agreed to help the City of Charleston operate, and offered a broader perspective on graduation rates across the Palmetto State. "How many people here tonight ever had any doubts that they would graduate from high school," said Turner. The Spirit of South Carolina tall ship and the SCMF staff have the experience needed to make a difference and Turner hopes that somehow a secret for success can be discovered and duplicated through their outreach programs. Funding remains paramount and a live auction followed Turner's remarks for items like jewelry, sailing trips, gourmet dining and a Lowcountry hunting combo. The near-perfect weather made it easy for the gathering of sailors, philanthropists and maritime enthusiasts to enjoy themselves into the night.

The Welcome Committee

Laura Hasemeyer and Kristen Miller at sunset

Teddy Turner and Gordon Geer at the 5th Spirit Ball

For past blog entries about the SCMF click here.

Lowcountry Lady embraces the outdoors lifestyle

2011-10-06T07:24:00.002-04:00

Elizabeth is ready for the deer stand

Fleet, Elizabeth and Louie after the hunt

My most recent column in The Charleston Mercury newspaper is a great story that touches on bringing new faces into the tradition of hunting. Lowcountry Outdoors strives to depict hunting and fishing in a positive light, and when a mother adapts her sense of style to include camouflage clothing in order to hunt with her family - well that's just swell. To read about Elizabeth's Hassell's pursuit of excellence in the outdoors click here.

To view a past blog entry about a lady deer hunter click here.