Posted By:
jwhite6
WFC Sponsor
01-05-2007 18:45
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things really stink down here on the coast hunted today at the ocean seen 15 ducks got 2 of them we need some weather
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Local Ponds Aiken Count 01-02-2007 13:55
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 50-60 Degrees
Weeknd storm finally pushed a few new birds into Aiken. Mostly Buffleheads, a few ringnecks and even a few wood ducks showed up. Didn’t hunt, just watching for new birds.
My friends said skies were pretty empty on Savannah River over weekend. Not much shooting except a few ringnecks and the odd wood duck. Very few geese on river. anybody hunting the big water on Thurmond?
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Youth waterfowl hunt applications due Jan. 5 01-02-2007 13:52
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Applications are now available for public drawing youth waterfowl hunts at Wildlife Management Areas across the state, sponsored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. The deadline for returning completed applications is Friday, Jan. 5, 2007.
Completed applications for the youth waterfowl hunts must be received by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Columbia office by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, 2007. For more information call your local DNR office or the Columbia office at (803) 734-3886, or write DNR Youth Duck Hunts, Attn: Patty Castine, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202-0167. Download a pdf file of the application>>>.
Adobe® Reader® is required to open the files and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.
The Wildlife Management Area (WMA) youth waterfowl hunts will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007. Hunts will be conducted at the following Wildlife Management Areas: Bear Island, Beaverdam Creek, Bonneau Ferry, Donnelley, Sandy Beach, Samworth, Santee Delta-East, Santee Delta-West, and Santee Coastal–The Cape.
Applications for Beaverdam may include only one adult and one youth.
Each hunt party must consist of either one or two hunters age 10-15 and a non-hunting adult 18 years or older. A hunt fee of $10 per youth hunter is required. In order to hunt on any of the coastal 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”
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Try Christmas bird counts to get in the holiday spirit 12-27-2006 09:25
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Tired of fighting crowds at the mall? Want to see a real partridge in a pear tree? Join thousands of other volunteers in the National Audubon Society’s longest-running wintertime tradition, the 107th annual Christmas Bird Count.
“Christmas Bird Counts are a good way for beginners to learn birdwatching from experienced birders,” said Laurel Barnhill, wildlife biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Section. “Anyone interested in birds can participate. The most important thing is having eyes out in the field. Even people who are feeder watchers within the count area can participate.”
South Carolina’s Christmas bird counters are among the more than 50,000 volunteers participating in the National Audubon Society’s 107th Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14–Jan. 5, the world’s largest volunteer survey of its type. This marks the 107th anniversary since 27 conservationists decided to protest the traditional bird shoot, and instead of killing birds with guns, they counted them on Christmas Day 1900. The event originated as a protest to the traditional holiday “side hunt” in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most birds and animals in one day.
For information on bird counts in your area, visit the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count; check the Carolina Bird Club; or call the DNR at (803) 734-3886 in Columbia.
This year, nearly 2,000 individual counts are scheduled to take place throughout the Americas. The data, 100 percent volunteer generated, have become a crucial part of the federal government’s natural history monitoring database. During Christmas Bird Counts, all birds within a 7.5-mile radius are identified by species and counted during a 24-hour period. Most counts begin at 7 or 8 a.m. and last the entire day, but participants can leave at their convenience if they make prior arrangements with the trip leader. Barnhill advises bringing a lunch and drink since many bird counts are conducted in rural areas. Dress for the weather.
Count participants are asked to pay a $5 fee to defray costs of the program; observers 18 years of age and under count for free. Count results and participants’ names will be published by the National Audubon Society. A list of the counts, and contacts for more information, includes:
2006-2007 South Carolina Christmas Bird Counts
Saturday, Dec. 23 – YORK/ROCK HILL, Bill Hilton Jr., (803) 684-5852, Hilton@hiltonpond.org
Saturday, Dec. 23 – AIKEN, Calvin Zippler, zipplerc@bellsouth.net
Friday, Dec. 29 – SPARTANBURG, Lyle Campbell, lcampbell@uscupstate.edu
Saturday, Dec. 30 – SANTEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, Robin Carter, rcarter@sc.rr.com
Saturday, Dec. 30 – NORTH GREENVILLE, J.B. Hines, (864) 579-5854, jbhines3@chesnet.net
Sunday, Dec. 31 – ACE BASIN, Pete Laurie, (843) 559-2046, farmall41@aol.com
Sunday, Dec. 31 – CHARLESTON, Burton Moore, (843) 853-1100, BEMIII@yahoo.com
Wednesday, Jan. 3 – LAKE WATEREE, Donna Slyce, pine.siskin@hotmail.com
Friday, Jan. 5 – COLUMBIA, Robin Carter, rcarter@sc.rr.com
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Acclaimed wildlife artist to produce SC Duck Stamps 12-27-2006 09:21
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The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources unveiled the 2007 South Carolina Duck Stamp print in a ceremony Tuesday at the Statehouse. The print, “Redheads at Winyah Bay,” is the first of four in a series from nationally acclaimed wildlife artist Jim Killen, a three-time winner of the S.C. Migratory Waterfowl Duck Stamp and Print Program competition. The S.C. Migratory Waterfowl Committee recently chose Killen to commission prints for the program for the next four years, 2007 to 2010.
Killen, who has reaped national and international awards, was also honored three times as the “International Artist of the Year” for Ducks Unlimited. The quality and distinctive style of his art has generated millions of dollars for numerous conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited International, Pheasants Forever, Quail Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation. He was also named Southeastern Wildlife Expo “Artist of the Year” in 1987. Born and raised in Minnesota, the pheasant fields and prairie potholes inspired him to strive to preserve these gifts of nature for future generations. Jim’s third story studio overlooks the 160 acres he has developed into a wildlife management area…focusing on waterfowl, pheasant, wild turkey and deer. A favorite project for Jim is perpetuating the forest. Over the years, he has planted more than 30,000 trees on his property.
The new 2007 state migratory waterfowl stamps, often called duck stamps, go on sale each July 1 for the upcoming season and cost $5.50 each. Stamps are available from most retail businesses that sell hunting and fishing licenses or directly from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. Also check Arcadia Publications. Collectors should purchase stamps from the DNR. South Carolina duck hunters age 16 and older are required to have the state waterfowl stamp in their possession while hunting. Duck hunters purchase about 24,000 stamps each year, and collectors buy another 5,000 stamps. For more information on the Duck Stamp Program contact Antonio Bates in DNR licensing at (803) 734-4269 in Columbia.
Funds from stamp sales are by law used strictly within South Carolina, which includes the cost of stamp production, and migratory waterfowl projects specified by the S.C. Natural Resources Board for the development, protection and propagation of waterfowl in the state.
Funds derived from the sale of art prints and related artwork is used as specified in state law. The committee administers and promotes the sale of prints, stamps and related articles. The amount needed to make up 50 percent of the total from stamp and print sales is transferred to the DNR for use in its specified projects. The remainder of funds derived by the sale of prints and related articles is disbursed to a nonprofit organization for the development of waterfowl propagation projects within Canada. The projects must specifically provide waterfowl for the Atlantic Flyway and must be able to demonstrate evidence that the projects are acceptable to the appropriate governmental agencies having jurisdiction over the project areas.
Since 1962 a portion of the revenues from nonresident hunting licenses has helped to fund waterfowl conservation projects within South Carolina and in Canada. One dollar from each annual nonresident hunting license and 50 cents from each temporary nonresident hunting license is used by DNR for propagation, management and control of ducks and geese in the state. A like portion of such license fees is contributed by DNR to proper agencies in Canada for propagation and management of ducks and geese.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Savannah River 12-27-2006 09:17
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Not much flying except a few ringnecks and the odd goose. My friend dropped a few wood ducks at local pond. Watched a lot of skyblasting and pass shooting. Not much willing to work as they are the same ducks that we’ve hunted since the opener.
Slow overall—not much moved down with X-mas storm except a few buffleheads.
Posted By:
Drake26
Guest
Upstate-West 12-18-2006 13:57
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Sat. 12/16
3 guns, 4 woodies, 1 mallard drake
Saw 200+ mallards, they were in the ozone due to the heat and blue skies, wouldn’t work. Shoulda limited on woodies, but we all shot awful.
Sun. 12/17
By myself, 3 mallards (2 drakes, 1 hen). had to cut my hunt short had to take the wife to the airport. ARG!
Bring back the cold!!!!!!!!
Posted By:
Paul – Kiker
Guest
Pee Dee River 12-16-2006 02:40
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
I went to my pond yesterday morning for the opener and saw about 75 woodies and a dozen mallards. I imagine all are the same ducks I saw during Thanksgiving. The mallards came from the river, circled 3 times as I was calling and settled right in on top of me. I got 3, let Maple retrieve, and walked out. The impoundments about 2 miles south of me had some pretty good hunting, judging from the number of shots I heard.
Posted By:
Drake26
Guest
Upstate-West 12-13-2006 07:17
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Report for Tuesday 12/12
Well they are here. At least a big variety. Saw 200+ mallards, 36+ gadwall, 6-8 blacks, & 25 widgeons in pretty good abundance. Saw a pair of pintails also. All on private land.
[Edited By Drake26 on 2006-12-14 07:17]
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Youth waterfowl hunt applications due Jan. 5 12-12-2006 08:06
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Applications are now available for public drawing youth waterfowl hunts at Wildlife Management Areas across the state, sponsored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. The deadline for returning completed applications is Friday, Jan. 5, 2007.
Completed applications for the youth waterfowl hunts must be received by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Columbia office by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, 2007. For more information or to request an application, call your local DNR office or the Columbia office at (803) 734-3886, or write DNR Youth Duck Hunts, Attn: Patty Castine, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202-0167.
The Wildlife Management Area (WMA) youth waterfowl hunts will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007. Hunts will be conducted at the following Wildlife Management Areas: Bear Island, Beaverdam Creek, Bonneau Ferry, Donnelley, Sandy Beach, Samworth, Santee Delta-East, Santee Delta-West, and Santee Coastal–The Cape.
Applications for Beaverdam may include only one adult and one youth.
Each hunt party must consist of either one or two hunters age 10-15 and a non-hunting adult 18 years or older. A hunt fee of $10 per youth hunter is required. In order to hunt on any of the coastal 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”
