Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Georgetown County creeks are part of state waterfowl areas 12-12-2006 08:04
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The public is reminded that the portions of Big Carr Creek and Little Carr Creek bordering Samworth Wildlife Management Area in Georgetown County are included as Category II waterfowl areas during the 2006-2007 season, which means these areas can be hunted only during scheduled dates and times.
Public hunting on Big Carr Creek and Little Carr Creek in Georgetown County will take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the waterfowl season, with the second portion of the season beginning Friday, Dec. 15. Shooting times are 30 minutes before sunrise until noon. A Wildlife Management Area Permit, along with a valid state hunting license, state and federal waterfowl stamps and Harvest Information Program (migratory bird) permit will be required to hunt waterfowl within the Category II areas. Each hunter is limited to 25 non-toxic shells per hunt. Signs will be posted marking the boundaries in both creeks where the Category II status begins. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) law enforcement officers will be enforcing the new regulations.
For additional information refer to the 2006-2007 “South Carolina Migratory Bird Regulations,” or contact Jim Westerhold, DNR Waterfowl Project leader in the upper coastal area, at (843) 546-3226.
Including Big Carr Creek and Little Carr Creek in the Category II waterfowl area status and limiting hunting times will improve the quality of waterfowl hunting in these creeks as well as on other private and public properties around the Samworth Wildlife Management Area, since continual disturbance of ducks limits the use of available habitat for waterfowl. Boat navigation and fishing in both creeks are not affected by this change.
Posted By:
Drake26
Guest
Upstate-West 12-09-2006 07:31
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Report for Fri. 12/8
Saw larger numbers of gadwalls & teal on some private areas about the same as Wednesday’s report although there was a new pair of redheads there.
The few mallards from Wednesday turned into 150+ on the public water hole I’ve been watching.
Didn’t see as many woodies as Wed.
Total numbers aren’t huge yet, but they are growing.
6 more days!
Posted By:
Drake26
Guest
Upstate-West 12-07-2006 06:43
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Report for Wed. 12/6
Saw larger numbers of gadwalls & teal on some private areas.
A few mallards and mergs have showed up on a public water hole I’ve been watching.
Also saw an enormous amount of wood duck action.
Total numbers aren’t huge just yet.
Glad we are almost done with the split only 8 more days!
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Low Country Public Hunting Opp’s 11-28-2006 08:52
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Coastal waterfowl hunting opportunities are numerous
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources reminds the public that several Wildlife Management Areas are open to waterfowl hunting along the coast this season.
Statewide waterfowl seasons are Nov. 22-26 and Dec. 15–Jan. 28. In order to hunt on any of the coastal Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), hunters must have in their possession a current hunting license, WMA permit, migratory bird (HIP) permit, along with state and federal duck stamps. For more information on waterfowl hunting, consult the “2006-2007 South Carolina Migratory Bird Regulations”
Waterfowl hunting on the Little Pee Dee River WMA Complex in Marion and Horry counties is open on Wednesdays only. The various tracts offer good opportunities for wood ducks on several oxbow lakes and flooded bottomlands. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Wildlife Biologist Deanna Ruth reminds everyone that hunting ends at noon each Wednesday.
A new addition to the Category II waterfowl areas is the inclusion of Carr Creek and Little Carr Creek. Only those portions of both creeks that are bordered by Samworth WMA on both sides will be classified as a Category II waterfowl area. Waterfowl hunting will be allowed in these areas on Wednesdays and Saturdays only, and hunting must cease at noon. Signs will be posted alerting hunters as to where the boundaries of this new area are located. According to DNR Waterfowl
Biologist Jim Westerhold, “Including Big and Little Carr Creeks in the Category II status will foster a decrease in disturbance and improve the quality of waterfowl hunting for the public hunter as well as those drawn for the waterfowl hunts on Samworth.” For more information on these waterfowl areas, contact Westerhold at (843) 546-3226.
The 2,424-acre Hatchery WMA in Berkeley County on Lake Moultrie will be open on Saturdays only throughout the 2006-2007 waterfowl season, according to DNR Wildlife Biologist Will Carlisle. Hunters may not enter the area prior to 3 a.m. with hunting beginning 30 minutes before legal sunrise and ending at noon. Everyone must be out of the area by 1 p.m. except for Jan. 27, 2007, when hunting is allowed until legal sunset. Hunters must enter and leave through the Hatchery Landing. No fishing is allowed during the scheduled waterfowl hunts. No airboats are allowed from Nov. 15 through Jan. 31.
Each hunter is limited to 25 non-toxic shot shells. Carlisle emphasizes that after the hunt, each participant must accurately complete a data card and deposit it in the receptacle before leaving the landing. Only ducks, coots, geese and mergansers may be harvested.
The Moultrie Hunt Unit consists of the borrow pits surrounding Lake Moultrie. Hunting in this area is allowed Monday thru Saturday.
Dungannon WMA located in Charleston County will open on Wednesday mornings only throughout the waterfowl season. All hunters must enter and leave through the public parking lot located on SC Highway 162.
The Francis Marion National Forest is open for waterfowl hunting during the small game seasons within the regular waterfowl season except for the Tibwin Special Use Area, which is not open to waterfowl hunting.
Public hunting in the ACE (Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto) Basin can be found in the waters of the Samson Island Unit of Bear Island WMA in Colleton County. DNR’s ACE Basin Project Supervisor Dean Harrigal reminds hunters that the area includes the tidal waters of Samson Island Creek and is accessible only by boat from nearby Willtown or Dawhoo landings. The area is open until noon on Thursdays and Saturdays only.
Hunters may visit the Turtle Island WMA in Jasper County. DNR Wildlife Biologist Jay Cantrell said that the area is open until noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays only.
Youth waterfowl days are scheduled for Feb. 3-4, 2007. Only hunters 15 years of age or younger may hunt waterfowl on these days. They must be accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age. The adult is not allowed to carry a weapon or hunt.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
DU Events December 11-28-2006 08:48
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Event Details: Clemson University Ducks Unlimited Banquet
When: Thursday, November 30, 2006 6:00 p.m.
Event Type: Banquet
Location: Tiger Park
Contact Name: Bill Middleton
Phone: (864) 650-8027
Event Details: Dillon County Chapter Banquet
When: Monday, December 04, 2006 7:00 p.m.
Event Type: Banquet
Location: Pee Dee Shrine Club, Dillon, SC
Contact Name: Patrick Stewart
Event Details: York Ducks Unlimited Sponsor Event
When: Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Event Type: Other
Contact Name: Joe Johnson
Phone: (704)718-0622
Event Details: Ducks Unlimited Wild Game Dinner
When: Thursday, December 07, 2006
Event Type: Dinner
Location: Lexington
Contact Name: Jay Phillips
Phone: (803)518-1616
Posted By:
Drake26
Guest
Upstate 11-27-2006 08:40
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Wed. 11/22 3 of us killed 6 woodies and 3 mallards, coulda piled the back of the truck up with the woodies.
Thursday 11/23 killed a limit of green 3 drakes 1 hen
Sat. 11/25 2 of us killed 4 woodies had to leave early to go see the suck fest at Clemson.
Sun. 11/26 took 2 kids 16 & 13 we killed 3 limits of green 9 drakes and 3 hens.
Pretty good opener!!!
Posted By:
Paul – Kiker
Guest
Pee Dee 11-24-2006 17:14
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Went back to my farm on the river this morning with a friend, but this time took my 12′ jon boat. The river had dropped about 2 feet in elevation, but still had 90% of the lowgrounds flooded.Paddled the boat down the farm road to the first lowground field and then paddled to the south end of the field and put out 10 decoys. The fog moved in and the woodies beginning showing up at 6:35 am. It took us about 15 min. to kill our 4 woodies and then we sat waiting to see if any mallards dropped in. Flock after flock of woodies from 3 to 12 birds landed in the decoys. It was fun to watch them as they tried to determine if they should befriend our decoy spread. At 8 am, 6 mallards came in but landed in the lowground field north of us, stayed about 15min. then flew back to the river and downstream. We pulled the decoys at 8:30 and paddled out. The water depth in the field was 7′ so don’t think the river will be back inside the banks until sometime Sunday. Plan to go back in the morning, maybe hunt, but mostly to start cleaning debris out of the farm road.
Posted By:
Paul – Kiker
Guest
Pee Dee 11-23-2006 18:57
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Left our home at 5:30am this morning for our traditional Thanksgiving morning family duck hunt and when we dropped off the hill on our farm road and at the beginning of the low grounds along the river, the road and entire 1/2 mile wide low ground was flooded. Yep, the river was out of its banks big time, which meant our pond was inundated also. So we walked about 600 feet south of the farm road, put out 4 decoys, and sat down along the edge of the flooded timber. At 6:30 the woodies began to show up squealling and landing in the flooded timber as well as the flooded low ground fields towards the river. At about 6:45, 12-15 woodies fell in on top of us and we bagged 4 and, of course, Maple had fun retrieving.Then we had 14 mallards to circle and talk to us for about 30 seconds, but they also landed in the flooded low ground fields. No more woodies came to us and the water was too deep to wade, so at 8:30 we hung it up and went home to help with turkey day lunch. Sure wished we had taken our small jon boat, but that will be tomorrow mornings hunt. The river had not crested when we left at 8:30. Instead, it had risen a foot in elevation while we were hunting.Heard a fair amount of shooting across the river from legal shooting time until about 8 am.
Posted By:
Paul – Kiker
Guest
Pee Dee 11-22-2006 19:27
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 35-40 Degrees
Checked my pond midday, full of water from the rains, 15-20 mallards and 50-75 woodies. Plan to do the traditional Thanksgiving morning hunt with my 3 sons. Good luck on turkey day and be sure to spend time with family.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Finally some ducky weather! 11-21-2006 14:15
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
Good luck on the opener. Still lots of ramp closures on Thurmond lake. I’d double check the ramp before heading out. Buffleheads are starting to show up on local ponds, so a few migrants are finally filtering into the Midlands.
