Many species and ecosystems require fire periodically to ensure their survival, and that’s why prescribed burns are scheduled for many of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ heritage preserves in 2010.
Georgia is fortunate to have a healthy white-tailed deer population that provides diverse recreational opportunities and generates significant economic vitality. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division recognizes that properly managing this resource, and keeping the public informed about such actions, is critical.
Due the recent storm event, Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve located in Horry County, will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning Dec. 3. Foot travel is welcome during this time. Scheduled hunts will continue as planned except that vehicle access will be limited.
Hunters wishing to access Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area, located in Screven County, are urged to do some pre-hunt scouting before their hunting trip due to recent heavy flooding in the area. Approximately 4,000-5,000 upland acres of the 15,000+ acre area are available for hunting, but the flooding has caused limited accessibility from the slough east to the river.
Conservation partners gathered Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, to celebrate the completion of one of the largest habitat conservation purchases in the state’s history with the acquisition of 25,668-acres of working forestland, recreational lands and wildlife habitat in Marion County by the State of South Carolina.
Hunters are generous people. This fact is best showcased in the continued support of the Georgia Hunters for the Hungry program, through which sportsmen and women can donate deer at specific drop-off locations and the meat is processed and donated to Food Banks in the state. Since 1993, hunters in Georgia have donated more than 1.25 million meals of venison. In addition to the 15 participating processor collection locations available now through Jan. 15, three weekend collection sites will be available on the weekend of Nov. 7-8, 2009 making sharing the harvest with those in need even easier.
Please take a few moments to complete an online survey. After we compile survey results to determine what license changes are the most popular for hunters and anglers, we will take the recommendations to SCDNR Board for approval and if approved the recommendations will be sent to the General Assembly to try and encourage them to pass legislation to enact the suggested changes to the South Carolina hunting and fishing license structure.
Toxoplasmosis, a one-celled parasite found in many meats, can occur in South Carolina deer, but venison is not the only source of the disease, says a state Department of Natural Resources deer biologist.
The National Rifle Association recently presented a $75,000 check to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources for the construction of three shooting ranges in the state.
Prohibiting chronic wasting disease from entering Georgia is an ongoing effort. Anyone interested in wildlife – hunters, wildlife watchers and processors, among others – are encouraged to help keep Georgia’s quality deer herd CWD-free. CWD, a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose, belongs to a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, the same group of diseases affecting some domestic animals, including bovine spongiform encephalopathy or “mad cow disease.”
