Public input sought for deer-management practices
SCDNR News Release
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input to help direct future deer-harvest management. The short online survey will be active through Sept. 21.
Massive Buck falls in Bowman
By Jeff Dennis
When high school senior William Kirkland of St. Matthews kicked off the school year with a hectic football practice schedule that left only a small amount of time for the start of deer season, he made the most of his opportunity by taking down a 224-pound Bowman buck.
Deer Dynamics: Velvet Shed
By Tommy Kirkland
A low ceiling of clouds blankets the field and woodlands, and although the autumn season is near, the humidity indicates otherwise.
Francis Marion deer opener delayed, increased archery opportunities on tap
By Jeff Dennis
The 2010 deer season will wipe away the traditional August 15 start date for hunting in the Francis Marion National Forest just north of Charleston. Due to hunter concern and biological data that reveals decreasing deer numbers, the hunting season will not open until Sept 1 in the Francis Marion.
Kill the bachelors
By Dan Kibler
The late-August/early-September period provides hunters not only with the opportunity to take a buck in velvet, but it gives them the opportunity to find and hunt bucks in their “summer” patterns — often ganged up with other bucks.
Deer Dynamics: Hard Mast
By Tommy Kirkland
A white-tailed buck leaves his bedding site in a stand of small pines. Instead of heading to the clover plot, he scales up a small ridge to seek out what is beneath the trees.
No. 3 all-time SC buck is discovered
By Scott Keepfer
A few years ago, Easley’s Danny Dillard shot a big 12-point buck on a private parcel of land in Anderson County, then watched in disbelief as the buck ran headlong into a pine tree, snapping off one of its brow tines at the base.
Dillard never had the antlers scored, opting instead to have the broken tine repaired and adding it to his collection of trophy racks. But his payback came in a big way last Oct. 23, while hunting on the same 1,200-acre property.
Deer Dynamics: Antler Growth
By Tommy Kirkland
As the days become longer, the process of “photoperiod” takes hold — stimulating more hormonal growth for bucks. More available sunlight allows changes to unfold with a buck’s pituitary gland, producing hormones that significantly contribute to bone and tissue growth. Other natural works play into antler development as well.
Deer Dynamics: Early Summer Foliage
By Tommy Kirkland
Tend the food plots, manage the timber, check the pH and get rid of the weeds. We’ve all heard and know it.
Deer harvest falls again in 2009
From News Reports
South Carolina’s deer harvest continued to slide in 2009, according to a report released in early May by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
The Life of a Fawn
By Tommy Kirkland
Spring gives way to warm days as the summer season nears. Pesky insects start to dominate the woodlots and open fields. For the young whitetails that survived the pursuit of predators, now their lives of growing into mature deer begin to unfold.
Wise wins Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic Users Choice Award
By Andy Crawford
A surge during the last few days of voting earned David Wise the SouthCarolinaSportsman.com Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic Users Choice Award for his 162 4/8-inch buck.
