New SC Season and Bag Limits?

[xarcher]

Last year SC state legislature gave DNR the authority to change seasons and bag limits. Instead of a split season the approved change is the whole state opens on March 20 and closes on May 5. The new bag limits are 3 birds any weapon plus a 4th bird with a bow. DNR has been granted the authority to make the change but I have not seen where they have actually done it. Anybody know any more?

[davisd9]

Nothing has changed. That was shot down as it should have been. All politics and not biology. It is 5 tags for the year, 2 per day, with some counties being two bird limit a year.


Sent from the Strut Zone

[ccleroy]

The Bill has been reintroduced, it will be law before long. I hate it but they will not stop with it until it passes.

[xarcher]

I am confused. The senate and house approved this last year. Why does the bill need reintroduced?

[Vaughnrp2]

It will most likely be law in 2016

[davisd9]

I am confused. The senate and house approved this last year. Why does the bill need reintroduced?

It was not approved last year.  It was shot down.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

What are the arguments for vs arguments against?

Ie why not 3 instead of 5
Ie why not distribute pressure on resource throughout whole state instead of having the mass of out of towners just head to the low country like many do for the march 15- April 1 time frame?

I have no dog in the fight but am curious about the local sentiment.

[ccleroy]

The hardest turkey hunters do not care for it........and for good reason, per DNR's own numbers less than 3-5% of hunters take 5 birds........so by lengthening the season statewide and dropping the bag limit by 1 overall that's supposed to help? It's assanine, plain and simple.........supposedly there are study's to be done while the reduction of limits takes place which will tell if it needs to stay in place, IMO that is a piss poor knee jerk reaction. Funds should be allocated and study's done prior to any season extensions or bag reductions.......common sense, but this is being driven by people who don't tag out.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

Heard ya loud and clear, Ricky.

[davisd9]

SC has a very diverse environment from North to South and East to West.  The low country starts earlier because breeding starts earlier.  In the middles, upstate, and mountains, the middle and end of March is very important breeding times.  This is when birds are usually flocked up pretty good anyway.  Allow this time for birds to breed some before they are hunted and harvested.  If you want to add time to the upstate areas then add at the end of the season.

As Ricky stated, most hunters in SC kill 1-2 birds with few killing 3 and very few killing 4-5.  Also, we are allowed to help others out after we tag out as long at the tagged out hunter does not have a gun.  If the guys tagging out every year can only kill 3 birds, 1 extra with a bow to make 4 total which is dumb, then they will get to the woods quicker to help the other hunters out which means more birds will be killed.

It is completely a political fight where people want it done so they can get to the woods quicker and I guess feel like they have better odds.  My opinion is it needs to be left alone until studies are done and then make the changes with biological evidence.  They say they do not have money for the studies but charge a small fee for the tags rather than them be free and you have money plus less people messing with them since they have to buy them.