Buck Quota Program

**buckpro** · 03-16-2017, 01:06 PM

I hadn't seen this posted so figured i'd put it up.

Setting Buck Quotas Under the Deer Quota Program (DQP)

You can request the number of antlered buck tags you would like to be considered for on your quota application next year. You can determine the approximate number of antlered buck tags you can expect to be issued for your quota property in the information below. These figures are based upon buck harvest data that program participants reported for the 2014 and 2015 deer seasons. The figures represent the average buck harvest in terms of acres per buck harvested for program participants in a given county. Different buck harvest rates at the county level are partly based on local hunter philosophy related to buck harvest. More importantly however, is habitat productivity and the fact that some counties naturally produce more deer than other counties simply because the habitat is better. In 2014 and 2015 there were approximately 1,600 properties enrolled each year. The property acreage averaged 2,100 acres with 3.3 million acres, total, enrolled each year.

Category 1 counties - approximately 1 antlered buck tag per 200 acres: Abbeville, Anderson, Beaufort, Berkeley, Cherokee, Chester, Clarendon, Darlington, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, McCormick, Marlboro, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, and York. Example – A 2,100 acre property could expect to receive about: 2,100 ac. ÷ 200 ac. per buck = 10 antlered buck tags.

Category 2 counties - approximately 1 antlered buck tag per 175 acres: Charleston, Chesterfield, Colleton, Dillon, Lee, and Marion. Example – A 2,100 acre property could expect to receive about: 2,100 ac. ÷ 175 ac. per buck = 12 antlered buck tags.

Category 3 counties - approximately 1 antlered buck tag per 150 acres: Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Dorchester, Hampton, Horry, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg. Example – A 2,100 acre property could expect to receive about: 2,100 ac. ÷ 150 ac. per buck = 14 antlered buck tags.

Remember, antlered buck quotas are an optional part of the DQP. If you choose not to receive a buck quota then hunters on the property must use their personal license based antlered buck tags. Each resident hunter can receive up to 5 buck tags and each non-resident hunter up to 4 tags. Please see the reverse side of this document for details on the general tagging system that will be in place beginning next season.

Overview S. 454 – Deer Management Bill, Effective Date July 1, 2017

• Establishes a statewide limit on antlered deer and that all harvested deer be tagged
• Residents: with purchase of a License/Big Game Permit will receive base set of tags at no charge
o 3 antlered deer tags
o 8 date specific antlerless deer tags to be used on the customary “doe days”
o Youth, Lifetime and Gratis licensees receive tags for free by request
• Residents may also purchase 2 antler restriction tags for $5 each
o Deer must have 4 points on one antler or a minimum 12-inch inside spread
o There is no particular order in which any of the antlered deer tags must be used
o Revenue from antler restriction tags is dedicated to Coyote Management Program which is undefined by law but will involve research, management, and technical assistance
• Residents may purchase up to 4 Individual Antlerless Tags for $5 each just as they do now
• As is the case now, DNR can file regulations in Game Zones 1 and 2 to limit the total number of antlerless deer harvested in spite of resident hunters having the ability to get 12 antlerless tags.
• Requires the Department to establish a minimum of
o 3 antlerless days in Game Zone 1
o 8 antlerless days in Game Zones 2, 3 and 4
o This is the same “doe day” format that has been in place the last few of years
 Only difference is antlerless deer harvested by residents on these “doe days” must be tagged with the free date specific tags issued with the Big Game Permit
• Resident archers may use any of the date specific tags to take antlerless deer during archery only or primitive weapons seasons beginning September 15. However, once used these tags would no longer be available for use on the designated “doe days” scheduled during firearms season.

• Nonresidents: adults receive no free tags with purchase of License/Big Game Permit
o May purchase up to 4 antlered deer tags
 2 unrestricted
 2 antler restriction: 4 points on one antler or a minimum 12-inch inside spread
 Cost: $50 for first antlered tag and $20 for each additional ($110 for all 4)
 No particular order in which the antlered deer tags can be purchased or used
o May purchase up to 4 Individual Antlerless Tags just as they do now
 Only change from current system is that cost will increase to $10 per tag
• Nonresidents: youth receive base set of tags for free by request like resident youth

• Antlerless Deer Quota Program (ADQP) becomes “Deer Quota Program” (DQP)
o This property based program has been in place for over 50 years
o Landowners/Clubs request a quota of tags to be used on their property
o DNR determines the quota and issues tags based on the size and location of the property and the goals of the participant just as the case is now. Harvest report is required
o The only change is applicants can choose between receiving a quota for antlered and antlerless deer or select only one. If they choose only one then hunters on the property must use their personal tags for the one not chosen. Otherwise, personal tags cannot be used on quota properties.
o Just like now, the “limit” is on the property not the persons hunting the property
o Fee remains at $50 per application and applies equally to residents and nonresidents
o These changes were requested by current participants