#05-266 December 12, 2005

Small Game Hunting Opportunities Are Numerous In S.C. Lowcountry

Numerous opportunities are available for hunters to harvest small game this fall and winter in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.

According to Sam Chappelear, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regional wildlife coordinator based at Fort Johnson on James Island in Charleston, hunters will have ample opportunity to hunt about 277,000 acres that are in the Wildlife Management Area (WMA) program in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.

The 1,375-acre Edisto River WMA in Dorchester County contains upland pines as well as extensive bottomland hardwood habitat along the Edisto River. Small game season begins after deer hunts have concluded in November and continue until March 1, 2006. For more information, contact the Donnelley WMA office near Green Pond at (843) 844-8957.

On Santee Coastal Reserve in Charleston County, quail hunting will be conducted on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Jan. 25-March 1, 2006, according to DNR wildlife biologist Jim Westerhold. Other small game may also be hunted during this time frame on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. Westerhold noted that raccoon season is open on the area from Jan. 24-Feb. 28 on Tuesday and Friday nights. For more information, contact Jim Westerhold at (843) 546-8665.

Individuals who hunt the 250,000-acre Francis Marion National Forest began harvesting certain small game species as early as Sep. 3. Hunters should take note that the small game seasons are closed during scheduled deer and hog hunting periods on the Waterhorn and Hellhole WMA's and when dogs are used for deer hunts on the Wambaw, Northampton and Santee WMA's. No fox hunting is allowed in the Francis Marion National Forest.

The Moultrie Hunt Unit is comprised of four WMA's that are open to small game hunting. Porcher and Greenfield WMA's are open in January after the deer season. North Dike WMA, however, allows small game hunting to occur concurrently with the deer season. North Dike WMA is closed to small game hunting on Wednesdays and Fridays during the months of November and December to allow for youth deer hunts. The Sandy Beach Waterfowl Area, which is located within the North Dike WMA and is closed to all public access from Nov. 1 until March 1, is open for raccoon hunting only Feb. 1 thru March 1. Bluefield WMA is an adult/youth only area in which youth 17 years of age or younger who are accompanied by an adult may small game hunt. Seasons begin after deer season has closed in January and continue until March 1.

The Corps of Engineers-owned Canal WMA is open for quail hunts only on a first-come-first-serve basis on every other Wednesday, a practice which began Nov. 23. Upon entering the area, hunters must pick up and keep in their possession a data card. At the end of the hunt, hunters must accurately fill out and deposit the data card into one of the receptacles located at the various access points.

"The newly acquired 10,697-acre Bonneau Ferry WMA located along the Cooper River in Berkeley County will provide numerous small game opportunities," said DNR wildlife biologist Jeff Baumann. In an effort to provide quality hunting so as to recruit youth hunters, one half of the property is open for adult/youth hunts only, according to Baumann. In order to hunt on the adult/youth side, a youth must be 8-17 years of age and must be accompanied by one adult 21 years of age or older. The youth hunter must carry a firearm and actively participate in the hunt. The adult is also allowed to carry a firearm and hunt. The remaining half of the property is open to small game hunting for everyone. Both sides are open from Jan. 3 through March 1 except for being closed during scheduled quail hunts. Raccoon and opossum season for both sides occurs from Jan. 3 until Feb. 28 on Tuesday and Saturday nights only. No fox hunting is allowed.

Draw quail hunts will be conducted on one portion of the Bonneau Ferry WMA property with adult/youth quail hunts occurring on another portion. Dates for scheduled quail hunts are Feb. 4 and 18 only. Maps of the area indicating closed areas, open roads, and hunt boundaries can be picked up at the kiosk located at the entrance to the property off Highway 402. For more information on applications to hunt on Bonneau Ferry WMA, call Dennis Wildlife Center in Bonneau at (843) 825-3388.

The limit for quail (except for Bonneau Ferry WMA) on all of the above listed areas is eight birds per day where applicable. No fox squirrel hunting is allowed on any of the WMA's in Game Zones 6 and 11, except for the Francis Marion National Forest. Private land seasons and bag limits apply to many of these WMA's with some restrictions; therefore it is important to reference 2005-2006 rules and regulations booklet for specific information and dates.

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