Conservation Efforts

[JABIII]

What conservation efforts would you like to see implemented here in South Carolina to promote the killing of waterfowl on public waters of the state?

We are talking killing here and not preservation. We have heard a lot of talk and theories over the years ranging from planting oaks in Sparkleberry to resting days on public waters to creating new WMA's.

Yes, we would all love to have the hydrilla back. That is off the table per the Federal government so let's not waste bandwidth on that one.

We have a new WMA complex going up on Lake Murray. Some say it is the beginning of the end of hunting on the lake, others say it will create a new quality hunting experience if managed correctly.

How successful has the Hickory Top Greentree reservoir been? How about the waterfowl area at Manchester State Park? I hear some decent shooting up there from time to time.

What else is out there that you would like to see worked on to help the hunters of this state kill more migratory ducks?

[DRDUCK]

I may be wrong but the one on Murray is on the back burner due to funding.

[duckman88]

More Refuge land. If the federal government would expand beyond the coast and a tiny parcel on marion and look at lands along the key flyways of the state, it would be beneficial.

I say federal government because they have the money to properly staff/manage land to it's highest potential.

Intensively manage for waterfowl with flooded row crops/MSU's, green timber, roosting areas.

I would also say to try and bring back the rice culture. I know it is extremely complicated...

Make the refuge land a wednesday/saturday show up and draw system, much like Missouri is currently implementing.

But people would have to understand that it would not be an overnight type thing. I would imagine it would take at least 5 years for people to be able to see a real difference and 10 years down the road we would hopefully have a healthy wintering duck population.

[DUCKS136]

Not sure on how successful the murray WMA will be. My opinion is that you could possibly pull a lot of the so called "dock ducks" off the lake into that area. But time will only tell on how well it will produce migrating ducks. I only hunted the lake twice last season. first time we managed to scratch out a merganser and the second produced 2 woodies and a GWT.

[Moatsy]

there is no reason why we cannot set aside more land for managed waterfowling and many other outdoor pursuits in this state... the money that the DNR raises should be used to re-invest, not wasted on paving Earl Morris driveway.

[Redleg Camo]

I think every public hunter should have to take a "hunter edicate" class. 10.00 per person. Use the money to provide resting areas / food for waterfowl.

Limit the number of hunters on WMA's.

[2thDoc]

move SC about 600 miles north and a jog to the left

[quackaddict]

REST DAYS and WMA's/refuges. the state has GOT to limit pressure and somehow put some more food out there for them. they need to move up from the coast too. that's not the only place birds migrate through, ya know

[HuntinCosta]

Outlaw tamies. Create more habitat.

[Turd Ferguson]

let me shoot 5 minutes earlier

[HARV]

Good idea 2th,be a lot quicker to get to the Duck Run for me that way.

[Turk 182]

Just throwing this out there...but we gotta get the GA behind Waterfowl hunting...any kind of hunting, to get things done. Very few House members and/or Senators hunt in this day and age. We gotta get them out there and a have a good experience and show them what its all about to get funding for the Ducks. I'm sure theres a few been on Preserve Hunts or tammies but how many of them grew up hunting and want to see the traditions passed on?? Just thinking out loud.

[2thDoc]

our governor hunts (tamies) and that hasnt seemed to help the DNR or anyone else, for that matter....

[NO FLY ZONE]

How successful has the Hickory Top Greentree reservoir been? How about the waterfowl area at Manchester State Park? I hear some decent shooting up there from time to time.

Greentree is so crowded its dangerous. You Literally can't shoot a cripple for fear of shooting someone else in another group.IMO small wma like greentree are a waste of time and money.

Biedler impoundment is just as crowded and most of the shooting your hearing are people skybusting off the main road into old Sumter Columbia gun club.

[drwilly]

alot congressmen get to hunt private plantations. IMO unfortunately there is public lakes and river hunting and high end plantation impoundments and the disparity between the 2 is huge. if more duck hunting opportunities between these 2 spectrums were available it would help. how? i have no solutions. could we ever get to where there is more wma land hunting without having to be drawn 1 time every 2 years? someone mentioned 1st come 1st serve a couple days a week. but is there too little area for too many hunters?

I know gov Sanford hunted a private plantation a couple years ago w then vp cheney. a friend of mine guided him. he did NOT shoot the guides birds and he winged one down that was unrecoverable and counted it towards his 6 bird limit. he could have easily gotten away w both but chose not too. politics and personal issues aside, I see him as an ethical sportsman.

[MattB]

Rest areas. I hunt in NC and routinely have the opportunity at quality public land duck hunting in the middle of the state. Maybe let people hunt public land ~3 days a week, and for areas close to each other, stagger days on each one so the birds can rest on public land at least somewhere everyday.

[MattB]

I mean rest DAYS, not areas

[NO FLY ZONE]

Afternoon cut off on public land only.

[sprigdog]

could we ever get to where there is more wma land hunting without having to be drawn 1 time every 2 years? someone mentioned 1st come 1st serve a couple days a week. but is there too little area for too many hunters?
.

i've been saying that for a few years...60,000 acres of refuge on the Santee Coastal reserve that gets hunted by 80 people a week. Each hunt is spread out by miles and inside each hunt unit theres a ton of areas that dont get hunted. The santee reserve could easliy double its hunts and it wouldnt hurt one bit. No reason the Cape and Murphy cant hunt the same day, etc etc or hunt the Cape Mon and Thurs...

i think that boils down to the lack of money in this state to hire extra people to ferry hunters. I aint buying the quality hunting for one day a week.

[Swamp Rat]

You can over-pressure an area like Santee Coastal Reserve in a heartbeat.

I would say more areas to manage as Waterfowl Management Areas, with controlled access and pressure.

Would it be easier to manage for what we get more of? Ringers, woodies, teal, etc... Than for mallards and such? Different habitats...

I used to hunt a first-come WMA in this state - it was like a dove shoot. Crowded, dangerous, had to get there at midnight to stand in the water and hold a spot. Lots of ringers were shot back then, but it was such a hassle as to be almost not worth it. It's not as good now, by any stretch. Pressure.... You'd see mallards arrive, work a couple of passes, then split as soon as Jimmy Dean's crowd blasted at a passing ringer....

You have to manage what you have, or you will have nothing.