However until I can finish these changes over the next few days, I wanted to let everyone know about another way that you can stay up with me – follow me on Twitter at “LowcountryHunt”! I will be tweeting in real time about what is going on here in the lowcountry as well as exactly what I am seeing in the woods. And I just got one of those fancy new phones with a full keypad to make my tweets quick and easy right from the stand, so I will be updating frequently now that the rut is about to crank up. So either sign up at Twitter.com to follow me at LowcountryHunt, or just go to www.twitter.com/lowcountryhunt to read my tweets just like you read this blog.

Also, if you are tweeting about some good hunting, let me know so that I can see what you are up to as well… got to have something to do in the stand while waiting for a monster to come out! And like I said, stay tuned for more big changes.

PS: Remember you can always find me over at the Cypress Creek Skinning Shed too!

Thanks,

Jeff

There is power in numbers.  Show your support for South Carolina’s outdoors tomorrow when “Underappreciated Assets: The Economic Impact of South Carolina’s Natural Resources” 2009 study is released.  Researched by University of South Carolina, Moore School of Business professor Dr. Doug Woodward, this comprehensive report documents the economic impact of activities associated with South Carolina’s natural resources, such as wildlife related outdoor recreation (i.e. hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife watching), resource based tourism, forestry, mining, boat manufacturing and commercial fishing.

DNR’s economic impact of natural resources news conference is TOMORROW (Wednesday, May 27th).
Please attend the news conference in your area.

Green Means Green
30 Billion Reasons Why Life’s Better Outdoors

GREENVILLE
9:30 a.m.
Reedy River Park
601 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 29612

COLUMBIA
12:00 noon
Riverfront Park
The Corner of Alexander Road & Meeting Street on the West Columbia Side of the Gervais Street Bridge, Columbia, SC 29201

CHARLESTON
3:30 p.m.
Charleston City Marina
17 Lockwood Drive, Charleston , SC 29401

For more information please visit SCDNR’s website.

Remember, there is power in numbers.  This is a news conference.  Media from across the state will be in attendance.  It is important that we support the South Carolina Natural Resources Society and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Well, that is all about to change! A wireless company has finally introduced a high-speed modem that will work out here in our internet dead zone, and I now have it. Then, due to my computer crashing last week, I have finally had to go and buy a new computer. So between the two of them, my computing/internet surfing ability has gone from the equivalent of a Yugo to a Ferrari.

I have already been able to view hunting videos that before always clogged my computer up, such as some of Tom’s great work at Base Camp Legends, Arthur and Jeff’s turkey hunts at SimplyOutdoors and Phillip’s hog hunts over at the HogBlog. I have also been able quickly run around many of my other favorite blogs to see what everyone is up to lately, which before was becoming more and more impossible due to my time/schedule constraints.

And now with the new computer to do the processing and the high-speed internet connection to upload them, I am working on getting some of the great hunting footage that we shoot at Cypress Creek Hunting Lodge up on the internet. I am very excited about this since we have so many hunts on film, and until now, it has been trapped on our many tapes. But that is all about to change too!

And to start things off, I have gone and pulled the great intro to the original Cypress Creek Hunting Video made about 5 years ago and posted it to YouTube and linked it to the Cypress Creek Skinning Shed, specifically at Cypress Creek Hunting Video Intro. Please note that it has a watermark on it for the first few seconds, but that is because I was using a program that we are thinking of purchasing. If it works well, I will buy it and remove the watermark, then re-upload it. I am also still trying to get it to play directly on the Skinning Shed, but for right now, I can only get it to work from YouTube. So check it out and let me know what you think of the footage. And then prepare for much more, because once I get the these bugs worked out, I will transfer the rest of the hour-long video and get it uploaded; then I will move on to some of our most recent hunts.

And of course, I am grateful for any advice anyone can give me about working with the videos on the internet as well as on the computer. I am new to this, so I will be glad for any help. Now if I could just get all of my old emails and programs off of my old, dead computer, I would be in good shape. However I am working now on getting that done right now, and as soon as I do, I should be all caught up on my biggest projects. Then throw in the fact that the summer is our slowest hunting time as well as our slowest wedding time, and you can see that I will have more time and ability to blog. So forgive me for the lack of writing this Spring and prepare for some big changes over the next few weeks. I truly look forward to sharing much more with you.

Jeff

I love seeing what others are up to, especially my hunting friends out there since it is always neat to see what they are hunting or what they just harvested. And since you can create folders of pictures as well as even put a trophy gallery up on your profile, it makes for a great way to show off your success and see other’s – especially if they don’t have a blog for me to check.

I also love the fact that I have heard from so many people that I have lost contact with over the years, and can now see what they and their families are up to whenever I have a spare minute without always having to send them an email or call them. Not that I mind doing either of those things, since I do those too, but it just helps keep you a little more connected with those people even when you don’t talk everyday.

I am already friends with several fellow bloggers including Phillip over at the HogBlog, Jody over at The Hunters Wife, Tom over at Base Camp Legends and Marian at Marian’s Hunting Stories. I am also friends with quite a few of my readers and fellow QDMA members including Ann, Beth and Robin from the Lightsey Hunting Club for Ladies. However I would love to invite all of my readers and other fellow bloggers to add me to their friend’s list if you are on FB. And if you are not, I encourage you to go and sign up… you will wonder how you lived without it You will also be amazed at the great hunting community already on there!

I just enjoy the fact that so many people stay up with what our family is up to through this blog, so I would really enjoy seeing what others are up to as well. It will also make it easier to let everyone know what is going on here in the lowcounty when we have events or important issues that hunters need to be aware of.

So please consider adding me to your friend’s list. Just search for “Jeff Hunt” in Garnett, SC and/or in the Savannah, GA network and send me a request… I hope to hear from you.

Jeff

At just a $1000, it is a great deal since it is for the entire year on 3000 acres with just 16 members. The land is split in to 2 tracks – One side has a lot of bottom land and backs up to the Salkehatchie River, while the other piece is just across the paved road and is mostly pines. The club still hunts Sunday through Friday, and dog hunts on Saturdays and holidays. And please note that the club has dogs, so you don’t have to bring your own. The club also has stands set up around the property as well as puts out corn once a week and plants the food plots.

I tell you, with the price of leasing land these days, this is a good deal. And when you consider that much of the land around here goes for $20 an acre, your $1000 would only get you 50 acres to enjoy by yourself.

Call Tommy Crapse at 803-943-2817 if you are interested.

The SC Camo Coalition will monitor important natural resource and fish and wildlife legislation and will “weigh-in” when warranted to protect resources and our outdoor heritage. We also will advocate for an increased appreciation for the vital role farming, forestry, tourism and outdoor pursuits play in the economy of the Palmetto State.

The SC Camo Coalition has also partnered with many important organizations (you can find a full list on their website) such as The Quality Deer Management Association and Quail Unlimited to:

• Build unity among partner organizations and increase collective effectiveness;
• Develop a vision for conservation of fish and wildlife resources and habitats
• Develop, implement, and maintain a set of recommendations for state and federal governmental agencies, and state and federal government.
• Advocate and promote youth education related to wildlife and habitat conservation  and hunting, fishing and trapping, and;
• Collectively address key issues of common concern including:

1. • Terrestrial, aquatic and riparian habitat expansion, protection and enhancement,
   • Fish and wildlife communities and populations,
   • Hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities and access
   • Scientific management of wildlife, fish and habitat,
   • Adequate funding of natural resource-related agencies
   • North American wildlife conservation model.
   • Youth education in wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, fishing and trapping.
   • Work together for the betterment of fish and wildlife populations and sportsmen’s interests according to the following guidelines.

I also had a chance to check out their booth at the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic a couple of weeks ago where they were promoting their agenda as well as signing up concerned hunters to help in their fight to protect our outdoor rights. I am happy to report that while there, they were able to sign up an additional 110o members to bring their total to 4000.

That is good, and it is a start, however that is only a drop in the bucket when compared with how many hunters, fishermen and nature lovers we have in our great state. So I thought that I would help publicize their organization and their mission as well as showcase the important information that the group will be sending in their newsletters. Membership is free, so there is really no reason not to join this important group. Please read their newsletter below, then visit their website at www.sccamo.org to sign up.

Thanks, Jeff

Conservation Lobby Day Approaches

Date: April 28, 2009
Time: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
On the Annual Conservation Lobby Day each year, conservationists from around the state travel to the State House to meet, greet and encourage elected leaders to support the Common Agenda priorities.

The day begins with a morning briefing, after which the group walks to the State House to speak to legislators about support for conservation bills. During the afternoon, participants attend committee meetings and enjoy free time to tour Columbia and the State House grounds. In the evening participants attend an informal oyster roast under the stars at the historic Seibels House. Participants share live music and local food with legislative guests.

If you only go to the State House once a year to speak to your legislator, Annual Conservation Day is the day to visit. For more information, visit the South Carolina Wildlife Federation website.

Current State Legislation Affecting the Out-of-Doors

S. 452 – Senator Paul Campbell, Oppose, but would support if amended to protect fish and sportsmens interests

A Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee chaired by Senator Paul Campbell debated S.452 last week, but due to time constraints the bill was carried over until the subcommittee’s next meeting on April 14th at 9:00AM. If a water withdrawal bill is not reported out of the full committee on April 15th, a bill will not make it to the Senate floor this year in time to be sent to the House for consideration.

We are working to build support for amendments that will improve S.452 and make it more friendly to wildlife and boater interests. Provisions that allocate the 80% of water in the state’s rivers, lakes and streams to existing and future industries and allow them to be drawn down to near drought-level conditions must be changed. Sportsmen, conservation interests and DNR support a seasonal flow, that is variable and mimics the natural flow.

S.452 is bad for sportsmen, bad for the environment, and is bad for negotiations with neighboring states. We urge committee members to oppose S.452 as written and support amendments that will protect our rivers and streams and foster responsible economic development.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee ( Considering the Water Bill)

This bill, which has several prominent co-sponsors, proposes to move the DNR Wildlife Officers and the entire Law Enforcement budget to the SC Department of Public Safety (Highway Patrol). This move would separate this excellent group of dedicated conservation law enforcement officers from our traditional sportsmen’s agency and our DNR Board and place it in an agency that is run by a secretary appointed by the Governor. The DNR Board, Director and the Leadership of the Wildlife Law Enforcement Division at DNR are dedicated to the conservation of wildlife in our state and have long history of competence and fairness. Furthermore, hunters and fisherman pay for the services provided by DNR law enforcement through licenses and fines. We fear that the wildlife conservation mission will be eroded and funding will be diverted to the Highway Patrol which is also constantly in need of resources. Overall, we along with other sportsmen’s organization view this potentially devastating action.

Protect SC Conservation Bank Funding – Strongly Support
The SC Conservation Bank provides grants to protect forests, farms, natural, historic and hunting lands. Since its inception, the Bank has spent $80 million to protect over 152,720 acres of land at an average cost of $534 per acre. Since funding for the Conservation Bank comes from a percentage of deed recording fees, funding levels fluctuate with the real estate economy. The Conservation Bank has partnered in funding the purchase of 58,332 acres of land that is permanently dedicated to Wildlife Management Area (WMA) program for the benefit of sportsmen and wildlife. In the current bill the Conservation Bank is funded at only $237,000 which will cover administrative costs of the Bank for the coming year. We are working hard in the Senate to maintain this minimal level of funding.

H.3121 Turtle Export Bill Rep. James Smith Passed both House and Senate,  Support

The harvest of freshwater turtles in South Carolina is currently unregulated. H.3121 limits the export of freshwater turtles to ten per day, and halts the harvest of tens of thousands of our turtles and their shipment as food products to Asia. The bill does not affect the right to possess turtles for pets or food. It also provides an opportunity for aquaculture permits to be issued by DNR.

H.3271 Bill to allow deer baiting in the Piedmont Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-Laurens (Assigned to the Wildlife Subcommittee of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee) This bill proposes to allow baiting of deer in the Piedmont.

H.3483 Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish (Support as amended)  By Representative White, Mike Pitts, Toole and Willis
A Joint Resolution to propose an amendment to the state constitution to protect citizen rights to hunt and fish. The SC Camo Coalition supports this resolution as amended to allow the state the authority to manage its wildlife by amending its laws on methods of take and allowable species. These amendments are necessary to allow the state to adjust its management based on future needs and conditions.

H.3541 Bear Hunting Amendments Referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. This bill by Representative David Hiott of Pickens amends bear hunting laws statewide and allows DNR to establish a bear hunting season outside of Game Zone 1.

H.3881 Rep Tom Young and others – Sets a statewide Turkey Season to run from March 15 – May 1.

H. 3723 By Representative Jeff Duncan – Provides for an additional permit for “hunting deer with a dog”, provides for additional requirements and fines for violations.

This legislation, committee members and much more can be found at the state legislative website: http://www.scstatehouse.gov

We are heading out this morning for an airboat ride with the boys and then on for some hiking on the beach. We will also be hitting Sebastian Inlet and several other parks for some picture taking, hiking and hopefully some fishing while we are here.

I have high-speed internet access while I am here (whoo-hoo!), and I plan on putting up some posts on how to bag a big bird opening week as well as what all we are up to down here. So just because we are out of town, don’t think that we have forgotten about our readers or that there isn’t any reason to stop by this week!

Jeff

Turkey season is right around the corner, and the birds are getting ready for hunters to hit the woods. The big flocks of hens have broken up in to smaller groups, and the big gobblers are now joining them in the fields. The recent warm weather has also finally got them gobbling good too, so now is a great time to get out and roost some birds in preparation for opening day.

As for the hogs, they are definitely still moving although the weather lately has not been cooperating too well. It has gone from extremely warm to pouring down rain, then back to freezing again. But since there is so little food in the woods, they have no choice but to keep hitting the corn until things start to green up in a few weeks, so keep at them.

I am also still seeing some bucks roaming around with one antler on their heads, so don’t stop looking for sheds yet. Just keep keying in on any food plots, and you should still keep finding new ones even in the areas that you have already checked. And don’t forget about the bedding areas. That is always a great place to look for them, and unfortunately, once things green up again, it will be very hard to locate them in the thick brush. So keep looking while the getting is good.

As for me, I haven’t been doing too much on the actual hunting end of things, and this week I am redoing my mom’s kitchen so my posting has been off. I have also fortunately been busy with both photography work and at the lodge, but that has kept us from any great hiking adventures to report back on. However in our current economy, I will not complain at all and will just happily keep working. But don’t write me off, I promise to break out some great turkey hunting articles before the season starts  next Sunday.

Thanks for reading.

Jeff

I really just wanted to have some fun with this one, as I imagine that all of us would sometimes enjoy responding a little more harshly to those whose outdated attitudes are detrimental to preserving our great hunting traditions. And I must say that it was kind of fun! However I have said it before in a 2007 post about how I will deal with any conflict on this site or in our hunting community:

I understand that everyone is looking to take different things away from their time outdoors – and that is what makes this such a great sport. My personal feeling is that if you obey all laws and hunt ethically, you are a true hunter. And that is what I want to focus on in this blog – true hunters hunting.

And I will repeat and restate it here: I love hunting, and I am here to only promote and preserve the sport. I will also never knowingly do or say anything that will detract from that mission.

Now to the question posed by The Outdoor Bloggers Summit in their latest challenge called “Non-Traditional Faces of the Outdoors“ of who really belongs in the outdoors… We all do! And I guess that is why the “locals only” or “stay out of my woods” attitudes really upset me. We live in the greatest country on the planet, full of unbelievably beautiful natural resources along with an incredibly diverse animal population which are both painstakingly preserved for our enjoyment and use. And when our species has spent eons relying on this habitat and its animal inhabitants for our very survival, we would be very misguided to ignore that connection or abandon its continued contributions to our lives as well as our mental stability. We would also be very short sighted to allow anyone or any group to intimidate or block us from this connection or its contributions.

And while I would love for everyone to hunt, I understand that is not a reasonable expectation. However having everyone enjoy experiencing the great outdoors is not. It is open 24 hours a day no matter where one lives. It can be as easy to access as a hike in a local park or as difficult as an extended camping trip deep in the wilds of Alaska. But either way, it is there for all of us – young or old, black, white or brown, christian, muslim or agnostic, etc.

It is there for us to rekindle the connection with our primitive past, to refresh our soul with its amazing beauty and stir our exploring spirit. It is not just for any one person, one organization or one activity. It truly doesn’t matter if you ever pick up a weapon and attempt to harvest an animal. What is important is that everyone finds a way to get out in it, be that by hiking, riding a bike, bird watching, canoeing or simply taking a drive. And anyone or any organization that attempts to limit this ability to enjoy our great outdoors should be dealt with in a reasonable but respectful manner. The preservation of our natural resources as well as our great hunting tradition depends on it.

I look forward to keeping up the fight! Thanks for reading.

Jeff Hunt

After many studies on captive deer, one has finally been done on wild, free-range deer. And it shows conclusively that shooting “inferior” deer will NOT improve your herd. As a matter of fact, it will hurt it since you will be removing bucks that would have grown older and increased the percentage of mature bucks on your property.

You can read all about the results of the recently published study by Dr. James Kroll and Ben Koerth on Deer and Deer Hunting’s website. It is called The Culling Myth Exposed, and it is a fascinating read.

Some of the highlights include the discovery of 3 different growth patterns for antlers in deer, by 4½ years of age there were no differences in any antler measurements regardless of what a buck wore on his head as a yearling and that a yearling buck with small antlers is just as likely to attain trophy status as one with larger antlers at yearling age.

As a matter of fact, if a trophy buck is defined as a deer that scores above 150 inches B&C, about 17 percent of the yearlings in the small antler category and 13 percent of the yearlings in the large antler category will reach that benchmark when mature. This proves two things… one that it completely doesn’t matter what size of a rack a young buck wears in his first couple of years, and two, that NO MATTER WHAT bucks you pass up, only so many are going to become Monsters.

I just love that we can finally put this argument to rest. I can’t think of another subject that is so debated around any deer camp, so please take a minute to educate yourself so that you you can educate others.

Jeff

PS: Everyone had a great time Saturday at the Youth Range Day, and I will have a full write up of it along with lots of pictures tomorrow. See you then.