Twenty-first century prescribed fire managers face new and increasingly complex challenges that limit or threaten the use of prescribed fire. These challenges are broad and now greater than any one agency or state can address alone. For this reason, several years ago the Longleaf Alliance board discussed the need to address regionally fire use needs by partnering prescribed fire councils’ efforts. As a result, a group of partners formed a stakeholder group to meet in conjunction with the Longleaf Alliance’s 2006 Biennial Conference in Tifton, Ga.
The recent session of the South Carolina General Assembly made changes to the Saltwater Recreational Fishing License effective July 1, 2009. License fees will not change.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources will conduct a public auction of surplus property and equipment on Wednesday, May 20 in West Columbia.
The first manatees of the season have been spotted along the coast of South Carolina, which means the S.C. Department of Natural Resources is again reminding boaters to be on the lookout to avoid collisions with the endangered animals.
A Georgia angler at Lake Russell recently broke his own South Carolina state record for striped bass by 3 1/2 pounds with a 63-pound “monster.” Terry McConnell, from Eastanolle, GA, was on Lake Russell on April 3 and was freelining blueback herring. McConnell hung on for thirty minutes as the striper nearly un-spooled the 30-pound test line from his 6500 Ambassadeur baitcasting reel on a 7-foot Ugly Stik.
Cobia are powerful saltwater fish popular among sport fishermen and a prized table fare. It’s also the focus of ongoing public outreach and education efforts by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement. Cobia fishing is the focus of a growing number of anglers especially during their peak spawning season of May and June when the mature adults congregate in St Helena and Port Royal Sounds.
The use of prescribed fire as a land management tool by DNR has a long history and the benefits were demonstrated during the recent wildfires at Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve. Prescribed burning and a relatively new machine called Gyro-Trac were directly responsible for saving 83 of 85 trees with active red-cockaded woodpeckers RCW by reducing the understory and mid-story fuels in the preserve.
If a deer fawn is found alone in the woods, leave it there, advises a state wildlife biologist. Its mother has not abandoned it; she is probably nearby. The apparently “helpless” deer fawns born during April, May and June in South Carolina will begin daily movements with their mothers in about three or four weeks. Human handling and disturbance of fawns can cause a doe to shy away or even desert her offspring.
A S.C. female angler established the state’s first Marine Gamefish State Record for her catch of an Atlantic Sharpnose Shark. Lori Murphy, of Myrtle Beach, caught a 13 pound 5 ounces Atlantic Sharpnose Shark on Saturday April 18th, off of Murrells Inlet
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is continuing its efforts to remove feral hogs from Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area (WMA) by conducting another round of hog hunts with dogs. Feral hogs have continued to cause significant damage to roads, wildlife openings, and dikes, as well as compete for the same food sources as many game species including squirrels, deer, and wild turkeys.
Beginning Friday, May 1, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources will start accepting online applications for the 2009 public alligator hunting season. Last year, hunters took 362 alligators during the public alligator hunting season with the average size being 9 feet 2 inches in length.
Youth around South Carolina will have the opportunity to participate in a S.C. Department of Natural Resource’s fishing rodeo beginning in May. Accompanied by an adult, all youth can enjoy a day of fishing on South Carolina’s waters.
If you’ve thought about trading in your powerboat for something more economical like a rowboat, don’t give up yet. Despite recent economic issues around the nation, you can still keep the engines running with fuel-saving tips from boater education officials with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
For soup lovers when chicken noodle soup just isn’t enough!
A great dish to add to your next family dinner!
All you have to do is throw a couple of ingrediants together and let the oven do the work!
A recipe for all of you hot chili lovers!
Aiken County’s Crackerneck Wildlife Management Area and Ecological Reserve will be opened to the general public on Saturdays during the month of May. A number of uses, including fishing and scouting, will be allowed. No weapons will be permitted during May.
Salmonella infections have been killing more wild birds than usual in the Southeast this winter, but the increase does not seem related to the nationwide human disease outbreak tied to tainted peanut products, according to wildlife scientists.
A South Carolina 2009 mid-winter survey of various waterfowl showed increased numbers of dabbling ducks and also diving ducks and geese.
