However, there are a number of outstanding public fields that are open for the late-season hunting, too. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has a current list of dove fields and specific regulations for each. Not all of them are open daily; some are only open a couple days a week -- so check the specific regulations. But you can likely find some excellent dove hunting near where you live on public lands. And from the experiences I've had, the hunting can be excellent. Most other early-season dove hunters will be occupied with other hunting endeavors by this time of the year. Waterfowl season, for example, lures many otherwise dedicated dove hunters away.

One of my small-game hunting passions is squirrel hunting. This is the first hunting sport I enjoyed as a youth and it still brings back great memories. If you haven't tried hunting squirrels with a .22 rifle, you might be surprised at the challenge. If you can bag a limit of bushytails with a rifle, you've accomplished something.

Squirrels are generally found just about everywhere in the state. I had been under the impression that perhaps the South Carolina Lowcountry that was hit hard by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 was still suffering in the squirrel department. But after spending a good bit of time deer hunting in that area last season, I stand corrected. Every time I sat in a deer stand, I seemed to be in the midst of a swarm of squirrels.

Not all of these areas have grown back with big stands of hardwoods. But the re-growth and recovery has been such that there are certainly plenty of squirrels to hunt. You can usually find plenty of private lands to hunt by seeking permission, especially after deer season ends on Jan. 1, 2007.

But I'd certainly also recommend the Francis Marion National Forest as a prime place for squirrel hunting on public lands. With a quarter million acres to roam, you can certainly find some out-of-the-way squirrel woods to enjoy.

As a side benefit, anytime I'm hunting squirrels, which I prefer to do by stalking, I'm looking for turkey and deer sign as well.

Another great place to hunt bushytails is in the Manchester State Forest in Sumter County. There are a few local hunters who take advantage of this resource, but you'll find plenty of room and opportunities for yourself here. Some good small game ground can be found in the upland areas on Manchester, but if you take the time to scout out and hunt the areas in the Wateree River bottom, you'll likely encounter many more squirrels.

To be successful at squirrel hunting, you don't have to have a huge tract of land. Many of the small wood lots that are found in conjunction with open pastureland will produce surprisingly good squirrel hunting. I've seen plenty of these in areas like Newberry and Laurens counties, for example, that will harbor many squirrels. I've hunted a number of these places with good success. Instead of stalking, a hunt in a small wood lot requires a bit more of playing the waiting game. Get to your first place before dawn and set up against a big oak. After the squirrels get active and you shoot, often you can simply sit quiet for a while and they begin moving again.