October 24, 2005
Youth Coon Hunts Planned Around S.C.
A series of nine youth coon hunts will be held around the state from October to February, sponsored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the South Carolina Coon Hunters Association.
These youth coon hunts will serve as regional qualifying events for the state championship youth hunt. The youth hunts are designed to teach ethics and sportsmanship through low-intensity competition events. The regional qualifying events will be held in Anderson, Barnwell, Colleton, Darlington, Edgefield, Georgetown, Greenville, Orangeburg and Pickens counties.
The top two hunters in each age bracket (Under 13 and 14-17) will qualify for the 11th annual South Carolina Youth Raccoon Hunting Championship at the Webb Wildlife Center in Hampton County, scheduled for Feb. 25, 2006.
For more information on the youth coon hunts, call the Columbia DNR office at (803) 734-3609 or e-mail Patty Castine at CastineP@dnr.sc.gov.
These are non-harvest events, and guns will not be allowed. Modified United Kennel Club (UKC) rules will be used to score hounds and handlers. Each applicant should send an index card to the appropriate contact with the youth applicant's name and the name of their adult guardian on the same card. Applicants should include address, day and night phone numbers. Each applicant is also responsible for bringing a coon dog to the hunt. Each youth should be able to tell when his or her dog strikes and trees with minimal help from the adult. Youth coon hunt locations, dates and contacts are:
 | Oct 22 - Darlington, sponsored by Black Creek Coon Hunters Association. Contact: Harvey Drawdy, PO Box 1957, Darlington, SC 29540, (843) 393-2663. |
| Nov. 12 - Edgefield, sponsored by Redhills Coon Hunters Association. Contact: Wayne Agner, 14 Suits Us Lane, Edgefield, SC 29824, (803) 637-6219. |
| Nov. 12 - Greenville, sponsored by Greenville County Coon Hunters Association. Contact: Mike Mills, 135 JC Stiles Road, Marietta, SC 29661, (864) 836-8462 |
| Nov. 26 - Andrews, sponsored by Hell Hole Coon Hunters Association. Contact: Floyd Lambert, 5681 Walker Road, Georgetown, SC 29440, (843) 264-8093. |
| Nov. 26 - Pickens, sponsored by Upper SC Bearhunters Association. Contact: Ronnie Gravely, Youth Coon Hunt, 153 Hopewell Road, Pendleton, SC 29670, (864) 654-1671, extension 16. |
| Dec. 3 - Union, sponsored by Union Coon Hunters Association. Contact: Junior Wilburn, 125 Pasture Drive, Union, SC 29379, (864) 427-1813. |
| Jan. 14 - Bowman, sponsored by Orangeburg Coon Hunters Association. Contact: Elliot Shuler, 366 Shuler Belt Road, Holly Hill, SC 29059, (843) 825-3387. |
| Jan. 28 - Walterboro, sponsored by Colleton County Coon Hunters Association. Contact: E.J. Murray, 3216 Cypress Pond Road, Walterboro, SC 29488, (843) 538-4199 |
| Feb. 11 - Barnwell, sponsored by Salkehatchie Coon Hunters Association. Contact: Henry Nicholson, 434 Nubbin Ridge Road, Denmark, SC 29042, (803) 793-3571. |
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