New WMA opportunities

[Duck Tape]

Below is a summary of the proposed changes:

Bobwhite Hills WMA – Add archery deer hunts, quail hunts, small game hunts, and still hunts for deer;

Coosawhatchie WMA – Add archery deer hunts, dove hunts, quail hunts, small game hunts, and still hunts for deer;

Ramsey Grove WMA – Add still hunts for deer; Category I Designated Waterfowl Area ; Grove WMA waterfowl hunts are designated as youth or mobility impaired only.

Santee Island WMA – Add still hunts for hogs;

Category II Designated Waterfowl Area – Add Coosawhatchie WMA, Francis Marion National Forest, and Santee Island WMA;
Waterfowl hunting will be permitted Monday – Saturday on Francis Marion National Forest, Wednesday – Saturday mornings on Coosawhatchie WMA, and Monday – Saturday on Santee Island WMA

[bitesize]

We need less places to hunt ducks not more/ cannot wrap my head around the amount of people duck hunting these days. Guns were blaring on the river this morning. Guess some folks didn’t realize the season is out.

[TXFowler]

According to the statistics there’s a lot less. There is a lot less land to hunt so the hunters are being condensed.

[Duck Tape]

Ramsey Grove has been a well managed source of habitat in the region for years. The state ended up with the property when SCANA was sold.

PRT became the custodian and had no interest in the impoundments. They were going to make the whole place a campground. Several of us fought hard to continue the management of the impoundments. We forged out a memorandum of understanding allowing DNR to manage the hunting and PRT to create a campground..

The previous waterfowl manager was made a consultant to DNR. He gave a written plan and advice to DNR who did a great job with the first year of management. I secured $500k recurring funds to help. I visited the site and saw the success of their hard work.

The same hunting methods will be followed as they were in previous years. Ramsey is primarily a roost. For years it has been hunted from the dikes. By quietly slipping into specific locations on the intricate dike system, hunters have taken advantage of shooting the flush. People with disabilities will have a unique opportunity. Youth can be introduced to duck hunting.

The site will continue to provide a roost with excellent food while the occasional hunting will disperse birds to benefit the region.

Bitesize, we all share your frustration. I will continue to work for conservation, preservation, and management for the benefit of waterfowl and the sportsman the only way I know how.

[bitesize]

Bitesize, we all share your frustration. I will continue to work for conservation, preservation, and management for the benefit of waterfowl and the sportsman the only way I know how.

And your efforts are appreciated- I have no problem with more/new hunters. I just get tired of the lack of respect for others, traditions, etc.

Seeing dipshits shooting at mergansers and shorebirds in a $40k mud boat just rubs me wrong I guess.

[Duck Tape]

Ramsey Grove has been a well managed source of habitat in the region for years. The state ended up with the property when SCANA was sold.

PRT became the custodian and had no interest in the impoundments. They were going to make the whole place a campground. Several of us fought hard to continue the management of the impoundments. We forged out a memorandum of understanding allowing DNR to manage the hunting and PRT to create a campground..

The previous waterfowl manager was made a consultant to DNR. He gave a written plan and advice to DNR who did a great job with the first year of management. I secured $500k recurring funds to help. I visited the site and saw the success of their hard work.

The same hunting methods will be followed as they were in previous years. Ramsey is primarily a roost. For years it has been hunted from the dikes. By quietly slipping into specific locations on the intricate dike system, hunters have taken advantage of shooting the flush. People with disabilities will have a unique opportunity. Youth can be introduced to duck hunting.

The site will continue to provide a roost with excellent food while the occasional hunting will disperse birds to benefit the region.

Bitesize, we all share your frustration. I will continue to work for conservation, preservation, and management for the benefit of waterfowl and the sportsman the only way I know how.

I need to make a retraction. While I saw plants growing early summer, from my recent inspection I was wrong. The army worms ate the millet. Corn is almost non-existent. Rice is fair at best. Birds will show up and likely still roost because it is flooded but there is less that 1/3 of the usual food.

[flopduster]

I need to make a retraction. While I saw plants growing early summer, from my recent inspection I was wrong. The army worms ate the millet. Corn is almost non-existent. Rice is fair at best. Birds will show up and likely still roost because it is flooded but there is less that 1/3 of the usual food.

DNR failed as usual.
The birds will be across the river


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[ceddy]

Don’t mind it but what would it take for states to start pushing feds for a 3 bird, 30 day season? If we don’t slow things down, my kids won’t get to hunt ducks. The pimping of the resource is unreal. Good job working on Ramsey, the area needs it.

[tman]

.... what would it take for states to start pushing feds for a 3 bird, 30 day season?

https://www.federalregister.gov/docu...ng-regulations

They roll out a new framework every year. The above link is last years. The agency accepts writtent comment during the open comment period. Please carefully consider what you say in - lest you have to live with it.

[willyworm]

Don’t mind it but what would it take for states to start pushing feds for a 3 bird, 30 day season? If we don’t slow things down, my kids won’t get to hunt ducks. The pimping of the resource is unreal. Good job working on Ramsey, the area needs it.

Do you have any data that backs up your opinion? Far as the experts can tell the dates and limits are adequate to sustain each species. Individual species may ebb and flow, but all in all that ship usually rights itself.

Make no mistake, duck numbers on the continent of North America are just fine, they just don't migrate to SC like they once did. There's gonna be plenty left for your kids.

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[ceddy]

Do you have any data that backs up your opinion? Far as the experts can tell the dates and limits are adequate to sustain each species. Individual species may ebb and flow, but all in all that ship usually rights itself.

Make no mistake, duck numbers on the continent of North America are just fine, they just don't migrate to SC like they once did. There's gonna be plenty left for your kids.

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I don’t live in SC anymore. I see firsthand the pimping of the resource. Fields and woods getting hunted or rode every single day. No rest. Holding a bunch of birds weeks before the season and gone by the opener. I also do see the data. Data not published because the organizations and people that lobby for duck hunting don’t want to lose money. It’s all about money nothing more, nothing less. Just like the bs that flooding the woods in November kills trees so WMAs don’t flood early but neighboring private floods the same. November water doesn’t kill trees. March, April, and May water does. Duck numbers are declining. Migrations are short stopping but numbers are dropping. Duck hunting is too big of a business that won’t slow until there are no birds left to hunt.

[tman]

Holding a bunch of birds weeks before the season and gone by the opener.

So where are all the bunches of birds going before opening day? Are they pimped out before season starts?

I also do not live in SC anymore - Just genuinely curious as to what's being pimped? Seems like nobody really loves their states DNR but the DNR (especially on the east half of the country) manages such limited lands/water that I can't really see how public land is a cornerstone to waterfowl management. Especially in SC. Sure public waterbodies are packed with hunters - but in SC they're also packed with bass boats and wakebording boats.

Side note: please hurry up and ban tamie ponds in SC. They're breeding out the east coasts black ducks and wild mallards.... that's what I see is being pimped.

[Quackhead22]

Below is a summary of the proposed changes:

Bobwhite Hills WMA – Add archery deer hunts, quail hunts, small game hunts, and still hunts for deer;

Coosawhatchie WMA – Add archery deer hunts, dove hunts, quail hunts, small game hunts, and still hunts for deer;

Ramsey Grove WMA – Add still hunts for deer; Category I Designated Waterfowl Area ; Grove WMA waterfowl hunts are designated as youth or mobility impaired only.

Santee Island WMA – Add still hunts for hogs;

Category II Designated Waterfowl Area – Add Coosawhatchie WMA, Francis Marion National Forest, and Santee Island WMA;
Waterfowl hunting will be permitted Monday – Saturday on Francis Marion National Forest, Wednesday – Saturday mornings on Coosawhatchie WMA, and Monday – Saturday on Santee Island WMA

Where will the management responsibility fall for Bobwhite Hills?


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[scquackaddict]

What’s the word on the deer hunts at Ramsey grove? Draw hunt or just a set season? Bow or rifle?

[scquackaddict]

Also will the santee island hog hunts be archery only or will rifles be allowed during the hog only hunts?

[Duck Tape]

Sorry I don 't have the specifics at each location. Was told Deer hunting at Ramsey is lottery.

Management of all WMAs is DNR.

[cajunwannabe]

More places for youth waterfowl hunts is a great thing!

[JABIII]

Further shame on those greedy godless scumbags that ran SCANA into the the ground, leaving South Carolinians at the mercy of what is coming...

[DRDUCK]

Further shame on those greedy godless scumbags that ran SCANA into the the ground, leaving South Carolinians at the mercy of what is coming...

X100000 Them fukers were worse than the left dems. They still among us also as you well know!!

[Smilee]

SC along with a lot of other states in the south had better figure out how to manage development and conserve the natural resources. Population boom over the next 10-20 years will drastically affect everyone of us. No way to stop it completely because you can literally incorporate a new town and never look back. Look at Nexten.

The local gov’ts and councils are seeing tax revenue dollars and how to funnel those to their pet pockets. Sorry projects.

I pray it never happens but I could see SC residents having to apply for tags in the near future.