Posted By:
WidgeonMan
WFC Sponsor
Dar Co 01-26-2006 13:37
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
1 gun= 1 Woodie
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
SCWA Events 01-26-2006 10:05
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1/28/06 Clarendon Conservation Dinner
National Guard Armory
2/3/06 Pee Dee/Marlboro Conservation Dinner – Community Center
2/4/06 Francis Marion Conservation Dinner – Fair Grounds
2/18/06 Sportsmans Ball – Duck Shuck –
Outfitter Exhibit – Auctions
3/9/06 CSRA Conservation Dinner –
N. Augusta Community Center
4/29/06 Four Holes – Edisto Conservation
Dinner – Utophia Club
Visit http://www.scwa.org/main_events.html for more info
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Pamletto Sportsmen’s Classic, March 24-26, Columbia 01-23-2006 12:35
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Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic set for March 24-26 in Columbia
The 22nd Annual Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic will be held at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia March 24-26. Doors will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, March 24; from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 25; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 26.
New and returning major attractions for 2006 are “Twiggy-The Water Skiing Squirrel,” “The SwampMaster” Alligator Show, Okefenokee Joe, Roark Ferguson and Joe Kelly’s display of North American Wildlife Collection and Southern Whitetail Collection. Also in 2006, the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic will feature its first archery contest where participants may bring their own bow and arrows and compete in an archery contest sponsored by the Palmetto Archery Federation and the Lake Marion Archery Club.
For more information on the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, call the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Columbia office at (803) 734-4008 or visit the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic Web site at www.psclassic.com.
Admission to the 2006 Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic is $6, and parking is $1. Seniors 60 and over get in for $5 while children 10 and under are admitted free. Visitors bringing five canned-food items for Harvest Hope Food Bank receive $1 off admission. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday, March 24; from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The DNR’s education staff and volunteers will be on hand to help kids catch a catfish at the highly popular SC Reel Kids Fishing Pond. “Kids can fish for free and sign up to join SC Reel Kids, an educational incentive program that teaches angling, ethics and aquatic resources,” said BeBe Harrison, DNR aquatic education coordinator. “Not only will they have fun fishing at the Classic, we’ll give them a photo of their catch and more to take home. If they are already a ‘Reel Kid’ and bring their license by the Reel Kids booth, they will receive a special prize.”
Classic-goers will find more than 300 exhibitors on site with the latest fishing, hunting and outdoor equipment for show and sale. Several free events include special seminars on deer hunting by South Carolina’s own Joe Kelly, snakes by Okefenokee Joe, and a unique reptile exhibit in the Ruff Building; DNR’s Take One Make One trailer-based D.A.R.T. shooting range; Bass Tub fishing technique demonstrations; a national Buckmasters indoor archery competition.
The Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic is sponsored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, South Carolina Wildlife magazine, WIS-TV, WCOS-FM Radio, Professional Printers and Bob Redfern’s Outdoor Magazine. The Hampton Fund uses proceeds to fund natural resources conservation projects in South Carolina. Examples include programs such as Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs; Operation Game Thief; Project WILD and the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. The Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic has raised thousands of dollars over the years to benefit education and outreach programs throughout the state.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Thurmond Lake & local ponds 01-23-2006 10:16
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
Geese and a number of bufflehead were up an flying (geese late–buffs early). My buddies took two geese late morning. I pretty much went birdwatching over the weekend. Warm weather–but at least the rain and bass tournament moved the birds around a little. Local ponds (if you can find one that hasn’t been shot up) saw the usual wood duck action. Some of the dried up holes filled up with the weekend rain and provided some new spots to feed & hunt.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Free Wood Duck Box Plans from SCDNR 01-16-2006 15:03
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Wood duck box plans now on SCDNR website
The wood duck is the most important species to South Carolina waterfowl enthusiasts and is the only duck for which we can effectively manage production habitat throughout all geographic regions of the State. Construction of nest boxes and erection of nest box units can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for anyone interested in a hands-on waterfowl conservation project.
The best time to erect nest boxes is December through February. Find out more information on the construction of wood duck boxes by going to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources website http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/waterfowl/woodduck/index.html. You can also write to Walt Rhodes, project supervisor of the Wood Duck Nest Box Project, Santee Coastal Reserve, P.O. Box 37, McClellanville, S.C. 29458 or call (843) 546-8665.
Start with a few boxes initially and increase as local populations grow remembering not to over-saturate. It may take several years before the first box is used, or it may be used immediately. It is best to erect nest boxes in the shallow, permanent water of a marsh or pond having a good mix of open water and emergent plant cover.
Do not build or erect a wood duck nest box unless it will be protected from predators and placed in or adjacent to a suitable permanent water site. Poorly erected and seldom maintained nest boxes only invite wood ducks away from secretive natural cavities to where predators will destroy eggs, kill the nesting hen or both. The all-important conical guard placed below the nest box will protect it from climbing racoons, rat snakes and other predators.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Youth Waterfowl Hunt 01-16-2006 15:01
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Youth Waterfowl Days are set in state Feb. 4-5
Young waterfowl hunters across the state can enjoy special days in the field Saturday, Feb. 4 and Sunday, Feb. 5 by participating in Youth Waterfowl Days on private lands and on some S.C. Department of Natural Resources Waterfowl Management Areas.
Hunters 15 years of age or younger may hunt ducks and Canada geese Saturday, Feb. 4 and Sunday, Feb. 5 when accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age on private lands or an adult at least 21 years of age on state Wildlife Management Areas. The adult cannot carry a firearm or hunt. For more information on Youth Waterfowl Days, call the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Columbia office at (803) 734-3886.
“Youth waterfowl days provide the opportunity for young people to be introduced to waterfowl hunting in a positive manner.” said Derrell Shipes, chief of special projects, research and survey for DNR. “These dates also provide adults the opportunity to take young people afield to teach them more about the tradition of waterfowling in a setting where youth hunters are the priority of the day.”
The legal waterfowl daily bag limit for each young hunter participating during Youth Waterfowl Days must not include more than six ducks of which the following internal limits also apply: two wood ducks, two redheads, one pintail, one canvasback, one black-bellied whistling duck, two scaup, four mallards (not to include more than one female mallard or one black duck or one mottled duck). Five mergansers (not to include more than one hooded merganser) also may be taken in addition to the regular limit of six ducks. Youth hunters also may take 15 coots daily and 15 blue or snow geese in addition to the duck limit.
A combined total of five Canada and white-fronted geese (no more than two white-fronted geese) may be taken by each young hunter during Youth Waterfowl Days, but the exclusion zone where taking Canada Geese is prohibited includes all of Clarendon County, that portion of Orangeburg County north of SC 6 and that portion of Berkeley County north of SC 45 from the Orangeburg County line to the junction of SC 45 and state road S-8-31, and that portion west of the Santee Dam.
The possession of lead shot while waterfowl hunting is prohibited; nontoxic shot (steel, bismuth-tin or other federally approved shot) is required for all waterfowl hunting including during Youth Waterfowl Days. No shot smaller than No. 2 or larger than F-shot is allowed for goose hunting. Shooting hours during Youth Waterfowl Days will be from 30 minutes before official sunrise until sunset.
“We want to encourage adults who love and enjoy waterfowl hunting to take young people out on the specially scheduled dates,” said Breck Carmichael, DNR deputy director for wildlife and freshwater fisheries. “We hope landowners who own waterfowl habitat will support this initiative and allow youngsters the opportunity to hunt ducks and geese on their properties. Those who embrace the tradition of waterfowl hunting should be willing to pass this legacy on to future generations.”
Many DNR Wildlife Management Areas will be open for public hunting on Saturday, Feb. 4 for Youth Waterfowl Days (DNR Waterfowl Management Areas are not open on Sundays). Waterfowl Management Areas that are open Saturday mornings during the regular waterfowl season will be open for Youth Waterfowl Day on Saturday, Feb. 4. These Waterfowl
Management Areas include:
* Beidler Impoundment WMA in Sumter County
* Dunaway WMA in Union County
* Duncan Creek WMA in Laurens County
* Hatchery WMA in Berkeley County
* Enoree River WMA in Newberry County
* Marsh WMA in Marion County
* Monticello Reservoir WMA in Fairfield County
* Moultrie WMA in Berkeley County
* Parr Reservoir WMA in Fairfield County
* Potato Creek WMA in Clarendon County
* Russell Creek WMA in McCormick County
* Turtle Island WMA in Jasper County
* Tyger River WMA in Union County
* Samson Island Unit of Bear Island WMA in Colleton County
* Wee Tee WMA in Williamsburg County
* Hickory Top WMA in Clarendon County
* Hickory Top Greentree Reservoir in Clarendon County
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Edgefield Co. Ponds 01-16-2006 15:01
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Local hunters punched a few mallards and woodies on private ponds and a few bonus geese. All local birds. Nothing new coming in from up north.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Thurmond Lake 01-16-2006 14:59
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
My buddies braved the wind and waves last Saturday and hunted an island in Thurmond. Shot a couple of buffs and two blackfeet that mad the mistake of trying to land when they were picking up dekes.
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Post & Courier Article on Migrating Ducks 01-12-2006 11:39
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A bird’s-eye view of Bull’s Island
BY CHRIS DIXON
The Post and Courier
Chris Crolley has seen scores of birds in his life, but this season the Bull’s Island ferry operator and Cape Romain naturalist has been impressed by the ducks and other winged creatures wintering on the Charleston County island …
View rest of story at
http://www.charleston.net/stories/default_pf.aspx?newsID=62713
Posted By:
PJ-Perea
Guest
Aiken Co. Ponds 01-12-2006 11:33
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Punched a lone goose at local pond. Friends hunting in Edgefield & McCormick private ponds not seeing anything new. A few woodies here and there. Still too warm for any new birds.
