A 9-year-old angler from Tigerville recently caught a brook trout that tied a 31-year-old South Carolina state record for the species.
Antlers will abound throughout the Palmetto State as the search for new state record deer antlers gets underway during the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ annual series of scoring sessions.
The deadline to turn in trout tags is approaching – so anglers fishing the 15-mile stretch of the Toccoa River (between Blue Ridge Dam and the Tennessee state line) should get busy and make sure all tags removed from tagged trout are sent in by April 9, 2010. Why? Because thanks to the Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, one lucky person will win a lifetime license at the drawing to be held on Sat. April 10!
The Coastal Explorations Series, hosted by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, is once again being offered for the public this spring in the Lowcountry.
Duck hunters finished the season on S.C. Department of Natural Resources public hunting lands, with a total harvest of 3,643 birds, an average of two birds per hunter, identical to the per hunter average reported last year.
Planning a day on the water is now easier than ever with a new search feature at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Web site.
The new 2010 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations are now available. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division recently distributed printed versions of the regulations to all Division offices and facilities, a number of State Parks and fishing license retailers statewide. An online version of the new regulations currently is available at http://www.gofishgeorgia.com.
Angler Earnest Timpson of Edison (Calhoun County) reeled in the new state record blue catfish from Lake Walter F. George on February 2, 2010. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), this 80 lbs., 4 oz., 49-inch catch beats the former state record by more than five pounds. The previous record weighed in at 75 pounds and was caught in 2008 from a private pond near Carrollton by Tyler Dodson.
Weston DeWolff, a high school student from North Charleston’s School of the Arts, won “Best of Show” in South Carolina’s 15th annual (2009-2010) Junior Duck Stamp Contest with his color pencil drawing of a Redhead Duck.
The use of prescribed fire as a land management tool has deep and ancient roots in South Carolina’s heritage, but conducting prescribed burns is becoming increasingly challenging because of a variety of factors, according to Johnny Stowe, S.C. Department of Natural Resources representative to the South Carolina Prescribed Fire Council.
South Carolina Wildlife’s Twenty-Sixth Annual Outdoor Photography Competition and Print Exhibition is open to anyone interested in photography. The magazine’s award-winning photography staff will serve as judges for the contest and winning prints will be displayed at the 2010 Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic to be held March 26-28 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia.
The public is invited to review and provide comments on the Draft 2010 South Carolina Aquatic Plant Management Plan through the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
From Feb. 12-15, the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count will give everyone a chance to discover the birds in their neighborhood.
The National Wild Turkey Federation, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, S.C. Conservation Bank and The Conservation Fund have joined forces to complete the purchase and conserve historic Belfast Plantation.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources will continue efforts to remove and eliminate feral hogs from North Island in Georgetown County by scheduling four hog hunts with dogs.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the South Carolina 4-H program with the support of the Salkehatchie Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association will be conducting an introduction to shooting sports field day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Palachucola Shooting Range adjacent to the Webb Wildlife Center near Garnett in Hampton County.
Young waterfowl hunters across the state will enjoy special days in the field Saturday, Feb. 6 and Sunday Feb. 7 by participating in Youth Waterfowl Days on private lands, public waters normally open to waterfowl hunting, and on some S.C. Department of Natural Resources Waterfowl Management Areas.
Coyotes are found in every county in Georgia and their presence has hunters and wildlife biologists alike wondering how these predators are affecting white-tailed deer populations. “Since the 1960’s, Georgia’s deer population has risen from scarcity to areas of local overabundance through restocking efforts and science-based management,” says Charlie Killmaster, State Deer Project Coordinator. “The population has since declined to a healthy level; however, a better understanding of the role of coyotes in deer management is needed.”
Anticipating more than 10,000 visitors each year, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division opened a new fishing pier below the Hartwell Dam on Jan. 15, giving anglers greater access to fishing areas adjacent to the facility on the Georgia side of the Savannah River. The fishing pier includes a 400-ft boardwalk and 400-ft aluminum fishing pier that will be accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Fisheries Divisions for both Georgia and South Carolina will continue stocking trout in the tailrace in order to make for great fishing at this new facility. Restroom facilities also are under construction and are expected be completed soon.
Tax time is the perfect time to help protect South Carolina’s animal and plant species by giving to the Endangered Wildlife Fund.
