Bird Hunting Seasons Set for 2018 – 2019

Labor Day Doves from 2017
with Drake Waterfowl Field Expert

Wingshooters know the time to oil the moving parts of their shotgun is just prior to the Labor Day weekend. A double dip of bird hunting season begin on September 1 for both doves and Canada geese. Dove hunts consist of a large group of hunters honoring one of the most social activities conducted in the field, while goose hunting often favors an opportunistic few. A current hunting license is required, and regulations define everything from shotgun shells to shooting times, in order to reach a legal bag limit.

            

Dove decoy and sunflowers 

Dove season begins on Saturday, September 1 and the first three days of the season only allows for afternoon shooting times. Between the season opener and the Labor Day holiday hunt on Monday, wingshooters will have ample opportunity to get the proverbial rust off of their aim. For those hosting a dove hunt, these hunts provide a time to provide food and refreshment for friends gathering for this time-honored bird hunting ritual.

            

Dove shooting hours from Sept. 1 – 3 are from noon until sunset, and from Sept. 4 – October 13 dove shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. The cost of a resident hunting license for doves is just $12 but remember you must also request a free HIP permit regarding migratory birds in order to be legal. Using lead shotgun shells for doves is legal and the daily bag limit is set at 15 doves per hunter. Your hunting license must be in your possession in the field during the hunt.

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

To view past blog entries about dove season opening click 2016 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009  

Colleton Civic Center Facilities Upgrade Now Complete

View from Center Stage of renovated Auditorium

The Colleton Civic Center is all set for to extend the timeline of pride associated with the largest brick building located downtown. Only the Colleton County courthouse can upstage the Civic Center when it comes to landmark status on Hampton Street. The calendar of events at the Civic Center is set to blossom this fall during a grand opening celebration concert on October 5 by The Spinners, followed up by a concert from Ricky Skaggs on October 26. The tenth annual Polo For The Point fundraiser is set for November 10, giving the local community another way to join the chorus supporting the Civic Center.

            

The fresh foyer hallway welcomes visitors

“When people come up to me and say, I’m so glad yall are preserving this school building, it really is very gratifying,” said Jean Harrigal, executive director at the Civic Center. “Colleton County owns the Civic Center building, and they purchased it from the Colleton County school district. The county’s half-cent sales tax helped several entities and we were both fortunate and grateful to be on that list. That 1.7-million dollars began a renovation project on June 1, 2017 that addresses every need for the facility to move forward as a modern civic center.”

There is a new climate control HVAC system in place that ensures comfortable temperatures inside the main auditorium as well as in every hallway. The new heating and air plan allowed for the removal of the old radiator units against the walls in this main foyer, which creates lots more usable space. The only noticeable fixture left in the foyer is the porcelain water fountain that was featured in the movie Forrest Gump, and also in the movie Radio. The way the Civic Center looks right now, it might not be long until Hollywood visits Walterboro again bringing their lights, camera and action.

Funding for Colleton Civic Center Renovations

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

To view past events at the Civic Center click on 2015 Buck Limits Meeting - American Surrealist Art

To view past blog entries from Colleton Library Friends click on Edisto River Book

To view past blog entries for Polo for the Point click 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 or 2009.

To view past blog entries about Smoke In The 'Boro click 2016 - 2015

To view past blog entries about barbecue click on Beasley's or Polk's

Brooks Koepka Wins 100th PGA Championship

The PGA Championship is no longer the Final Major

The PGA Championship celebrates 100 years of history in 2018, and fittingly a scoring duel materialized pitting the past versus the present. Brooks Koepka wins the 2018 tournament by two strokes over Tiger Woods, but the scoring does not fully relate the bigger picture. The professional golf season and its four major golf tournaments were set up so that the PGA Championship was always the last best chance for a golfer to win a major. Starting in 2019 the PGA Championship will be moving to a new date in Spring, forever retiring their slogan of being Glory’s Last Shot.

            

The PGA Championship was also here in 1992 

Part of the reason the PGA Championship is moving underscores how the PGA Tour has morphed over time. The PGA Championship was built to comprise one of the best fields in golf each year, with hungry golfers looking to scratch out golfing glory. While the PGA Tour season officially ends after the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina this week, the Fed Ex Cup competition for 2018 will begin right after with a series of playoff tournaments. Literally only the highest ranking players are able to play the first event, which is a better formula for creating a field with the best players annually.

            

Brooks Koepka is 28-years old and played collegiate golf at Florida State. His first win on the PGA Tour came in 2015, then no other wins until the summer of 2017. If you were not paying attention to the game of golf over the last 14 months you likely missed Koepka’s major tournament uprising. He wins the U.S. Open in 2017, and then backs that up by defending his title and winning the 2018 U.S. Open. Two majors and one regular tournament win for Koepka at this point. Now at the Bellerive Club in St. Louis, Koepka out-duels fan favorite Tiger Woods to win the 2018 PGA Championship, and the exposure from battling Tiger is likely to make Koepka the next household name in golf.

The PGA Championship returns to Kiawah in 2012

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

To view past blog entries from the PGA Championship click on Quail Hollow at Charlotte 2017 - Ocean Course at Kiawah 2012 

 To view past blog entries about the RBC Heritage click 2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013

To view past blog entries from the BMW Charity Web.com click on 2018 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014

Tiger finished 2nd to Brooks Koepka at 2018 PGA Championship

August 11 is New Early Season Youth Deer Hunt Date

Photo By Drake Non-Typical Hunting Gear

The South Carolina General Assembly passed legislation in 2018 establishing a brand new deer hunting opportunity for youth. The drumbeat of hunter recruitment strategies from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources is loud and clear, and this pre-season deer hunt is their latest innovation. Other important dates regarding deer season include lottery hunt application deadlines and procurement of personal deer tags. The youth hunt on Saturday August 11 is only allowed on private lands, with one antlered deer per allowed per hunter.

            

The new law specifies that this youth deer hunting date will be held on the Saturday before deer season begins. In the past several years, a youth deer hunting date following the close of deer season has been very popular. The new hunt date might serve to get youths involved during the regular deer season, and the after season hunt is still on the calendar too. To make things easier for these special youth deer hunts, the requirements for hunting licenses and deer tags are waived. There are no weapons restrictions so the youth can hunt with centerfire rifles, shotguns or primitive weapons like archery equipment.

            

This hunt is for youth 17 years old and younger, who have completed the SCDNR hunter education program. Any youth that have not completed the program can hunt, but an adult must accompany them who is at least 21 years old. While adults may serve as guide on these hunts, only the youth may take or attempt to take a deer. Early season hunts in the Lowcountry almost always include hot weather, so plan to bring water for the youths during these hunts. Special arrangements with your local deer processor will be prudent, since they may not be open until August 15, but are likely willing to accept any early season customers.

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

For past blog entries about Opening Days Deer Success Stories click on 2014 Lady Hunter - 2014- 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009