2017 Outdoor Dream Hunt at White Hall Plantation

Hunt participants and SCDNR's Alvin Taylor, listen to
DNR Board Member Mike Hutchins

Chip Sharp and Chisolm Frampton have BIG hearts

Deer hunting season in the Lowcountry is hitting full stride heading into the October rut, despite a fresh mosquito hatch compliments of Hurricane Irma’s ample rainfall totals. A very special youth-oriented deer hunt came to the White Hall section of Colleton County on September 22 – 23, involving a philanthropic organization from the upstate. The Outdoor Dream Foundation sponsored 8 youth hunters suffering from illness, and they harvested three deer and two hogs, invoking the Outdoor Dream Bill signed by Governor Henry McMaster.

            

Meal time for all provides much fellowship

A youth-oriented deer hunt takes an army of volunteers behind the scenes, and while Colleton County residents and businesses made up the vanguard of this armada of helpers, there was statewide support too. A banner for the 2017 Lowcountry Dreams Youth Hunt listed over 80 sponsors that came together in an effort to provide a quality hunt experience for the 8 youth hunters and their family members in attendance. Did you know that the Outdoor Dream Foundation (ODF) was founded in Anderson, South Carolina back in 2005?

 

Hunt host property in the ACE Basin

This is the second year that White Hall Plantation has hosted this hunt, thanks to the support of owner Richard Chilton. Readers of the Colletonian may recall that longtime manager Ray Jacobs was recognized as 2017 Conservationist of the year by the Colleton Soil and Water District. Tommy Crosby of Little Swamp is the assistant manager at White Hall Plantation, and he and wife Tammy served as hunt organizers. “We can’t put this kind of hunt together without local help and donations, and they help to make this event a great success.”

To view the entire feature article click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about the ACE Basin Wounded Warrior Deer Hunt click on 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Field Notes and Photos - 2017 September

Grasshopper warming on bricks

Large mushshroom on pecan tree

Field Notes is a column I began fourteen years ago in the Charleston Mercury newspaper, but as the amount of newsprint space in the 'salmon sheets' has diminished, so has the space for my nature photography. Now when I have a fresh batch of observations I share them via Lowcountry Outdoors. 

To view past blog Field Notes click January 2017 - December 2016 - June 2016 - February 2016- December 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015 - June 2015 - February 2105 - October 2014 -  September 2014 - August 2014 - June 2014 - March 2012 - February 2012 - October 2011 - September 2011   

Ibis hunting on med flat

Glass Lizard crossing road

Dead bird after Hurricane Irma

2017 S.C. Doe Deer Season Opens and Early Teal Too

A brace of Blue-winged teal offer a passing shot

The weather has begun to cool ever so slightly overnight these days, and even the first flush of fall can be seen on the tree leaves. The tropical rains have left swamps and bottomlands full to the brim with water, so its possible the wet weather of winter is getting an early start as well. The early season hunting opportunities have just increased by two on September 15 with the start of doe deer season and early teal season, so no matter the weather it’s the right time to get into the field.

            

The biggest news by far for the 2017 deer hunting season was the regulations change stipulating that all antlered bucks must now be tagged using Buck Tags, and that a first time ever buck limit is in place in South Carolina. The fact that all doe der must be tagged is not new, since state game managers have been using doe tag fees for years as a source of revenue to study whitetails. Properties enrolled in the Antlerless Deer Quota Program receive their doe tags prior to Sept. 15, but individual hunters can purchase separate tags at any point throughout the season.

Doe deer browsing vegetation

Duck hunters will want to jot down the early teal season dates that run from September 15 – 30. Any teal encountered will almost certainly be the blue-winged variety, but green-winged teal are also legal to shoot now. Remember that the start of legal hunting time for early season teal is delayed until exact sunrise until sunset, and then the daily bag limit is 6 per hunter, with the daily possession limit set at 18. The past few years have been very hit and miss with early season teal, so those who harvest an early season teal should be thankful.

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

To view past blog entries on deer management click on Coyotes - Game Zone Three - Charles Ruth -  Food Plots - Estimating Buck Age - QDMA Founder

To view past blog entries from Gamekeepers Magazine click Summer 2016 - Spring 2016 - Winter 2016 - Fall 2015 - Summer 2015 - Spring 2015 - Winter 2015 - Fall 2014 - Summer 2014 - Spring 2014 - Winter 2013