YOUTH DEER HUNTS HELD BY SANTEE COOPER, DNR
A series of 15 youth draw deer hunts conducted jointly in 2004 by Santee Cooper and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources were so successful that plans are already being made to hold the hunts again this year.
The youth deer hunts will again be held during the 2005 deer season. Applications will be available Tuesday, Aug. 9. Deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. Call the Dennis Wildlife Center in Bonneau at (843) 761-8820 or (843) 825-3388 if you would like to receive an application. Each past participant is encouraged to get a friend to apply so those who may not have experienced it can share the event. Other youth-related activities can also be found in the 2005-06 "Rules & Regulations" booklet. Recent budget cuts within the S.C. Department of Natural Resources have resulted in a reduction of staff that may impact the total number of days available for youth hunts this year.
The 15 youth deer hunts were held on the Santee Cooper owned Moultrie Hunt Unit in Berkeley County. This was a cooperative effort between the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Santee Cooper, according to Sam Chappelear, DNR regional wildlife biologist stationed at Fort Johnson on James Island. The project started in 1998 with just three hunts and 23 participants. This past season, 142 youth applied, and 125 of those selected by random drawing participated in the hunts. Of those that applied, 63 participants had never harvested a deer before.
Santee Cooper owns the property, cleared wildlife openings with their equipment and personnel, and provided funds to buy the seed and fertilizer planted by DNR personnel. Santee Cooper also provided personnel and assisted with each of the 15 hunts.
Youth from all over the state participated in the hunts. Chappelear says word of mouth seems to be the best advertisement, "We want young hunters to go back and tell their friends at school about the exciting outdoors experience they encountered." Also, the T-shirt with a nature scene on the back, which was supplied by Santee Cooper, was also good advertisement for the program. Youth hunters reported seeing 175 deer from their stands over the course of the season. Forty-one deer were harvested, including a large 10-point buck. Fourteen percent of the harvest was a first deer for that particular youth.
"The adults' objective in this activity was to enjoy the afternoon with the youth," Chappelear said. "Work, hectic schedules, school and similar stressful topics were not to be discussed during the hunt. The afternoon was to be spent talking one on one and bonding with the youth and enjoying the wildlife, the beauty, and peacefulness of the outdoors. Harvesting a deer was the secondary objective of the day."
The number of female hunters again increased this year to 24 percent of the participants. Mothers continue to accompany their youth on the afternoon hunt along with the usual dad, grandfather and neighbor guardian.
The draw deer hunts were held on the North Dike and Cross Generating Station portions of the Moultrie Hunt Unit. Cross Generating Station is closed to hunting except for these special youth hunts. Hunts were afternoons only, with each youth between the ages of 10 and 17 being accompanied by an adult. Adults were not allowed to hunt. Two-person stands were erected over wildlife openings planted in wheat, oats, soybeans and peas.
Upon arrival, the youth and adults were given a safety and firearm talk. Youth were also encouraged to hunt on the 800-acre Bluefield Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which is also part of the Moultrie Hunt Unit. In order to hunt on the adult/youth Bluefield WMA, youth must be 17 years and younger and must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older. The youth must carry a firearm and hunt. The adult is also allowed to carry a firearm and hunt. Santee Cooper and DNR have also created and planted wildlife openings on this area. See the 2005-06 "Rules & Regulations" booklet for specific season dates and limits.
#
Click Here To Return To The Previous Page
