2022 Donnelly WMA - Deer Draw Hunt Report

Brad Frazier with his nice 10-point buck

The Donnelly Wildlife Management Area (WMA) opens for public deer hunting in September for Archery hunting only, and then in October for Lottery Draw Hunts for rifle hunting. The very first deer draw hunt dates on October 3 - 5 were simultaneous with the oddly cooler weather that was ushered in by Hurricane Ian. The popular thinking was that the storm winds would have caused a lot of acorns to fall to the ground, and that hunting under or near to oak trees might be productive. Most of the 30 draw hunters saw deer movement, and the unofficial total of 12 harvested deer included several large bucks.

A Safety Meeting precedes Draw Hunts

Hunters on field edges seemed to have success by catching the deer moving in typical patterns associated with low hunting pressure. Other hunters on bushhog trails in the woods seemed to capitalize on the older bucks starting to rut, and breaking cover just before darkness. Brad Frazier from West Ashley scored a big 10-point buck on Tuesday afternoon deep on the woods, and he had to take a tough shooting stance while leaning out from his tree stand, whicb always makes for a good hunting story! Frazier was hunting with a group of friends including Adam Miller and they were using the primitive campsite at Bear Island WMA during the Donnelly draw hun. 

To view past blog entries from SCDNR draw hunts click on 2013 Donnelly WMA -  2012 Bear Island Droptine Buck - 2012 Palachucola WMA 

To view past blog entries about big bucks click on 2012 Halloween Buck - Hurricane Matthew Buck - 2011 Late Eight-Point - 2011 Youth Hunter - 2013 Cooper Buck -  2012 Cedar Knoll Ten-Point - 2012 Twelve-Point Buck - 2014 Gnarly Buck - 2009 Dog Pen Buck - 2011 Rosser Buck - 2012 Crandall Buck - 2011 Man Drive Buck - 2011 Birthday Buck - 2010 Bricketto Buck - 2010 McCarty Buck - 2009 Blogger Buck - 2011 Bowen Buck - 2011 Thanksgiving Buck - 2011 Savannah River Site Bucks - 2011 Santee Delta Man Drive - 2009 ACE Basin Driven Hunt - 2009 Thanksgiving Buck-