SCDNR Draw hunts

**Tugted312** · 10-27-2025, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by pluffmudder

Thats what I did. Took me 5 years. Go big or go home!

Living less then 15min from them makes it a no brainer for us

**Tugted312** · 10-27-2025, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by Highstrung

Same. Murphy ain't for the meek either, hopefully they've upgraded the coffins.

My little bit of advice on those coastal hunts are be a good shot. I'm always aware of where my bird will fall.. Unless it's unbearably slow then I'm not tracking a bird through much grass, I'll shoot tss too. If you don't have a dog find out where there's deep water if any. Also hunt light and take the advice from the guys down there.

I'm in pretty solid shape, but I began glaring at my wife's peloton when I saw the notice.

No doubt. Did the cape for youth hunts & that was brutal. Last time we went to Murphy & that mud is no joke. I thought I was in good shape, but we got done & back to the truck I was whipped

**Duck Demander** · 10-28-2025, 01:22 PM

I also got Murphy 12/30….. pretty excited! ……5 hours every 5 years

**TXFowler** · 11-13-2025, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by cusportsman

Entered my oldest for youth hunt, unsuccessful

I’m curious how many points it’s taking for youth draws. I’ve been stacking points for my boy for the last few years so when he’s ready, he gets drawn. I think he has 3 points now.

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**TXFowler** · 11-21-2025, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by tprice

Thanks , had in my mind it was end of Oct or so

Can not recall if this is year 4 or 5

FYI, you can easily find out how many points by looking on the app or reading the email they send you as confirmation.

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**Big Time** · 11-22-2025, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by TXFowler

I’m curious how many points it’s taking for youth draws. I’ve been stacking points for my boy for the last few years so when he’s ready, he gets drawn. I think he has 3 points now.

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I have two sons that have been drawn and attended the youth hunts since 2018 except two years ago when they were not drawn. The middle two sons were drawn this year with the youngest being his first year.

The sad part of the youth hunts is that they are poorly attended by the youth. At least the update hunts are attended at a 50% rate. They just don’t show up. Bonneau Ferry seems to be well attended. The eagles will 100% take their ducks they shoot.

**willyworm** · 12-18-2025, 08:32 AM

We hunted Best Island yesterday, pretty slow. Good chilly morning but little-to no wind sure didn't help. We didn't shoot for the first 30 minutes of light despite having plenty of birds in the marsh we drew, including a good number of mallards. We could hear em on the water before shooting light along with some woodies.

Fast forward to sunrise, the woodies left and went elsewhere, a few eventually trickled back and as the morning went on we consistently saw groups of those mallards working into a hole about 150yds north of us. So we realized we were fighting a losing battle against live decoys and abandoned the spread altogether to walk to that area. Eventually the groups jumped and we immediately hunkered. A group of bwt came right over us, picked off a couple there. While my partner and I were attempting to locate our respective downed birds the big ducks started trickling back in presenting a few shooting opportunities as well. One bwt gave us the slip which happens quick in that kinda marsh with a winged bird.

We basically spent the rest of the morning standing in that section of the marsh waiting for more opportunities as birds returned, but they were few and far between. Of course, as we started to head back to the spread to pack up ahead of our 11 o'clock pickup time, a random single or pair of BWT buzzed us multiple times but I couldn't get my gun up quick enough before they were out of range.

Ended up with 2 BWT, 1 mallard and a mottled (finally got to scratch that bird off the list.) Still chasing that black duck... Last time we were there it was windy and cold, we shot pintails, gadwall and buncha wigeon. This time fell well short of that expectation, but it was still a fun hunt.

According to the technician, I don't think the other groups shot anything.

On the way out one of those ponds was holding what musta been 50-75 swans. At first I thought they were snows until the size and noises they making proved otherwise. Never seen swans in that large of numbers in SC before. Anyone know of that's a growing trend, or if they typically come here that often, they just congregate in areas I don't frequent, or what?

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**Calibogue** · 12-18-2025, 08:38 AM

Those swans use BI every year and have been for a ling time now.

**PharmHunter** · 12-18-2025, 09:24 AM

Murphy was good last Saturday despite absolutely zero wind. Not sure how many thousand teal were on us, but it was a bunch. Pintail groups we saw seemed to have one drake to every 6-7 hens. Decoyed several groups of all hens which was a little frustrating, but we came out with two limits comprised of Gadwall, pintails, wigeon, a couple teal we shot at the end to finish, and one beautiful Mottled drake sporting some jewelry which made the morning for sure. All in all a good hunt for a really warm, dead calm day. Our area had the best bottom I've ever experienced there, which was nice for a change.

**Carolina Counsel** · 12-18-2025, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by PharmHunter

Murphy was good last Saturday despite absolutely zero wind. Not sure how many thousand teal were on us, but it was a bunch. Pintail groups we saw seemed to have one drake to every 6-7 hens. Decoyed several groups of all hens which was a little frustrating, but we came out with two limits comprised of Gadwall, pintails, wigeon, a couple teal we shot at the end to finish, and one beautiful Mottled drake sporting some jewelry which made the morning for sure. All in all a good hunt for a really warm, dead calm day. Our area had the best bottom I've ever experienced there, which was nice for a change.

That's a helluva hunt anywhere.

**PharmHunter** · 12-18-2025, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Carolina Counsel

That's a helluva hunt anywhere.

No doubt about it. If we'd had just a breath of wind we could've worked some more groups of big ducks for sure though, but I am not complaining.

**CofC Waterfowler** · 12-18-2025, 12:10 PM

I wouldn't get out the electric chair to get in one of the leaking boats, accompanied with a gumbo stirring paddle to
battle the mud bottom at Murphy Island. I'm glad to hear of the recent success there and the better bottom.

**Buckin Bronco** · 12-18-2025, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by CofC Waterfowler

I wouldn't get out the electric chair to get in one of the leaking boats, accompanied with a gumbo stirring paddle to
battle the mud bottom at Murphy Island. I'm glad to hear of the recent success there and the better bottom.

They could make a lot of money doing fitness classes in those impoundments

**swampknob** · 12-18-2025, 01:03 PM

Bottom out there was like concrete for us

IMG_0169.jpg

**2thDoc** · 12-18-2025, 01:22 PM

when do we start the thread on how duck hunting in sc sucks and you should save your time and money and travel once a year to a state that manages its public land better yada yada yada

sorry again, bart. I really must be in a fowl mood.
foul

good killing to those above