South Carolina Deer News
 SCDNR reports a decline of deer population, rise in coyotes May 14, 2013 South Carolina, WMBF .... Wildlife experts contribute this decline to the influx of coyote and changes in vegetation ... Wildlife experts said coyotes are not indigenous to South Carolina... Statewide deer harvest down slightly in 2012 May 11, 2013 South Carolina, The Times and Democrat ... the statewide harvest of deer last season totaled 217,854, a decrease of 4 percent from last year... Since 1997, DNR’s Wildlife Section has employed an annual random mail survey to estimate the harvest of deer at the state and county level. This year’s survey was sent to 25,000 hunters. Prior to 1997, deer harvest figures were dependent on Deer Check Station reports ... it appears that the old system was documenting only about half of the deer being harvested [Charles Ruth, Deer and Wild Turkey Program coordinator] Deer harvest off 3.8 percent in 2012, SCDNR reports April 25, 2013 South Caroline, South Carolina Sportsman ... “During the 2012 deer season, based on responses from our annual survey of deer hunters, we estimate that a total of 116,673 bucks and 101,181 does were harvested for a statewide total of 217,854 deer,” said biologist Charles Ruth of SCDNR. “This figure represents a 3.8-percent decrease in harvest from 2011 … and is 31.9-percent below the record harvest established in 2002. Dept. of Natural Resources Reminds SC Not to Adopt 'Lost' Fawn April 20, 2013 South Carolina, WTMA ... The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wants to remind residents not to adopt “lost” fawns as the practice is illegal, and the fawns are likely not actually abandoned. ... the fawn at this age is better protected away from the doe. The presence of the doe nearby would attract predators because the doe lacks the protective coloration of the fawn, and the older and larger doe has a much stronger odor." Upstate deer-baiting even closer to being legalized March 5, 2013 South Carolina, South Carolina Sportsman A bill that allows baiting for deer in the Upstate has passed both houses of the South Carolina legislature ... While wildlife biologists, conservationists and many hunters decried the legislation, it did serve to clarify the law. Opponents of baiting do not foresee any legislation passing this session that would return the ban on baiting, unless, according to Benton Wislinski, lobbyist for the S.C. Wildlife Federation and the S.C. Camo Coalition, “There is a greater movement to inform the general public of the negative impacts of baiting.”.. Deer Baiting Bill Heads to Governor's Desk for Signing February 23, 2013 South Carolina, Edgefieldadvertiser A bill to clarify the South Carolina deer baiting law passed its second reading before the SC House of Representatives, Wednesday, Feb. 20, in a 97-8 vote ... SCDNR remains opposed to deer baiting. However, the agency supported the bill in an effort to bring clarification to the current law which contains a loophole that has left DNR law enforcement at a disadvantage when it comes to enforcing the law.... QDMA Will Sponsor & Participate in 36th Annual Southeast Deer Study Group February 21, 2013 South Carolina, AmmoLand.com The 2013 meeting of the SEDSG will be hosted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and this year's theme is “Challenges in Deer Research and Management in 2013 ... in Greenville, S.C., Feb. 24-26 ... Deer Baiting Bill Passes Full House Committee February 11, 2013 South Carolina, Edgefieldadvertiser ... the Department of Natural Resources, which supports this bill, has not changed its stance on deer baiting. DNR is still adamantly opposed to deer baiting. However, DNR supports this bill to clarify the grey area in the current law that leaves its law enforcement officers at a disadvantage when it comes to enforcing the law... Debate Over Deer Baiting in South Carolina February 8, 2013 South Carolina, WJBF-TV ... A bill in the house that's already passed in the senate would legalize deer baiting across the state... "It's not teaching kids how to hunt properly and look for signs, it's teaching them to throw a bag of corn on the ground," says Charles Kemp, a South Carolina hunter... "[Baiting] just provides the opportunity to open a bag of corn and shoot something," ... SC deer industry still making bucks in the off season February 6, 2013 South Carolina, WACH ... South Carolina has the longest rifle season in the nation, raking in nearly $300 million dollars in hunting revenue per year, according to the most recent U.S. government study... Roger Smoak who works with clients to help them attract deer and grow big bucks... contributes to the deer industry by making sure herds are well fed year-round... Deer baiting bill moves forward January 11, 2013 South Carolina, The State An inadvertent change in wording that allowed the hunting of deer lured in by bait in the Upstate would become law under a bill that cleared its first hurdle Thursday ... “We would prefer (a bill) we can get passed,” said Emily Cope, deputy director of the agency, ... Greenville hunter J.B. Squires, who prefers to hunt without bait. [said] “The idea of changing a law because it is politically easier makes me cringe,” Preliminary Deer Harvest Outlook Season Declared “Solid” January 1, 2013 South Carolina, Edgefieldadvertiser ... according to Charles Ruth, Wildlife Biologist and Deer and Wild Turkey Coordinator... the deer population across South Carolina is not what it was 10-12 years ago... the population has seen a slight increase in the past few years and stated that there are estimated to be 10 deer for every square mile in the state. Deer season not extended due to free hunting days Jan. 4-5, 2013 December 31, 2012 South Carolina, SCNow The Jan. 4-5, 2013 free hunt days do not extend deer or any other season. Deer season in South Carolina ends on Jan. 1.... Free hunting days are available only to SC residents and apply to all lands in which hunting is allowed ... South Charleston explores urban deer hunting option December 20, 2012 West Virginia, Charleston Daily Mail Deer roaming areas of South Charleston are pushing city officials to consider urban hunting - but they emphasize the only thing that is beginning right now is a general conversation about the issue... urban hunting would only involve bowhunting - no firearms - and in certain size plots ... In August, the city will likely submit something to the DNR ... Marksmanship and respect for the whitetail deer December 16, 2012 South Carolina, The Tand D.com I see children on TV killing deer at over a half a mile. I wonder for every successful shot we see on TV how many animals crawl off to die from poor hits ... Some assume that because they killed the last deer they shot at a year or so ago at 30 yards that they should be fine wailing away at an animal 200 yards away in the twilight ... I found a downed deer at night by blind luck and noticed the deer was hit back and high (in other words the silhouette of the deer had been centered). The body cavity had to completely fill up with blood before there was any sign of a hit. Dog takes deer under her paw November 5, 2012 South Carolina, Lake Wylie Pilot ... The 3-year-old boxer-pit-mastiff mix adopted the weeks-old spotted fawn her owner Bill Davis brought home. “I'd been wanting one for years and years and years,” Davis, 58, of Lake Wylie said of having pet deer... Whitetail deer are treasure, but road danger high in fall November 1, 2012 South Carolina, The Times and Democrat ... Deer season runs from August through December and there’s a dramatic increase in the movement of the deer population during this time of year, when the animals are mating and migrating. As a result, your chances of being in a deer-vehicle collision become greater.. “As ... more people move to the country, which increases commuting traffic, increases in deer-human encounters should be expected,” said Charles Ruth, supervisor of the Deer/Turkey Project for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Spike expected in deer vs. car collisions in October and November October 19, 2012 South Carolina, WCBD The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources warns drivers to be aware of roaming deer and the potential for wrecks. According to DNR, 45% of deer-vehicle collisions occur in roughly a 60-day period that corresponds with the deer-breeding season... generally during the months of October and November... The number of collisions has declined since the 1980s ... Deer hunters better off thanks to outreach of Bogart non-profit October 17, 2012 South Carolina, Oconee Enterprise South Carolina had a 4 1/2 month season with no limit. Bucks were overhunted, and does were treated like sacred cows. The annual harvest was dominated by bucks no more than a year and a half old. “They thought that it was because of inbreeding that bucks were getting smaller,” said Joe Hamilton [of Quality Deer Management] ... Hamilton, a graduate of the UGA School of Forestry, was familiar with a book, “Producing Quality Whitetails,” written by Al Brothers in Texas. For some reason, his methods had not made it beyond the vast state borders of Texas... Managing South Carolina wildlife left to legislators, not science October 14, 2012 The Post and Courier How wrong has it gone in South Carolina? In just one example, a two-deer-per- day bag limit — with no seasonal limit — is in effect virtually across the state... Regulations like bag limits or season restrictions are enacted by the General Assembly based on recommendations, rather than by a wildlife board acting on best management practices... Hunters baiting deer sometimes draw bears October 14, 2012 South Carolina, The Augusta Chronicle “The last few years, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources has noted an increase in the number of calls it receives from deer hunters complaining of bears eating their deer bait,” said Deanna Ruth, the state's coastal bear biologist ... A recent study concluded there are as many as 800 black bears in the coastal plain of South Carolina ... Unintended Upstate deer hunting loophole confusing for hunters, law officers September 28, 2012 South Carolina, The State ... The problem has its roots in 2008, when the legislature took over regulatory authority from the DNR for hunting on private property. (On public property and state-coordinated Wildlife Management Areas, the pre-2008 regulations are still in effect.) Legislators intended to copy the existing deer hunting regulations, but the wording of the new law dropped a phrase regarding special rules for Game Zones 1 and 2.... while it remains illegal to put out bait for deer in the Upstate, it is legal to hunt deer attracted to an area by corn bait. | Search for news and information by keyword above or find links to state news stories organized by topic. South Carolina Data: The deer population is estimated at 750,000. The herd population peaked in the 1990s at about 1 million. South Carolina has the longest deer season in the country and has the most liberal limits of any state. Other useful links: |
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