For more information about waterfowl hunting at Samworth WMA, contact SCDNR at (843) 546-8119.

SANDY BEACH WMA
Some of the luster that Sandy Beach WMA enjoyed as a premier duck-hunting spot several seasons ago has dulled, but the area should not be ignored.

During the 2001-02 season, Sandy Beach WMA, located in northern Berkeley County off Lake Moultrie, was the top draw hunt area at 4.46 ducks per hunter. It was No. 2 the following season and slipped again the last two seasons. Despite the slide, the average is nearly three ducks per hunter.

The top species harvested, in varying orders, are usually mallards, wood ducks and green-winged teal. During the 2003-04 season, wood ducks were the top duck at 30 percent of the harvest, followed by mallards (24 percent) and green-winged teal (22 percent). Mallards (34 percent), wood ducks (27 percent) and green-winged teal (20 percent) were the top three species last season. A couple of black ducks, gadwalls, widgeon and ring-necked ducks each are killed on the area every season as well.

About 40 acres of Sandy Beach WMA are planted each growing season for waterfowl. Corn, chufas and millets are the main shallowly flooded crops. Growing season conditions were good in 2003, but abundant rains from numerous tropical systems and a crop infestation of armyworms caused problems in 2004. Despite the setbacks, waterfowl still used the area in good numbers.

Because of the area’s limited size, only eight hunters are on the hunts, which are usually held on Wednesdays. Most of the area is very shallow, so hip boots can be adequate, but SCDNR still suggests waders, since there are some fairly deep ditches on the WMA that hunters might accidentally wade into.

Additional information about Sandy Beach WMA can be obtained by calling SCDNR at (843) 825-3387.

SANTEE COASTAL RESERVE WMA
Santee Coastal Reserve WMA, along the Charleston and Georgetown county line, is the largest of the SCDNR WMAs where waterfowl hunting is featured. Hunting takes place on 14,000 acres of managed impoundments spread across three parcels, The Cape and Murphy and Cedar islands.

Because of its large size and the appropriate number of hunters for that acreage, success is consistently good on the area. Hunters averaged 4.75 ducks per gun during the 2003-04 season and 3.87 ducks per hunter last year, both tops in the state. For the last two seasons, hunting has been about equal across all three parcels.

Blue-winged teal reign at Santee Coastal Reserve WMA. This species routinely is the top duck, with gadwalls and green-winged teal slugging it out for the No. 2 spot in recent seasons.

Santee Coastal Reserve WMA also winters a large number of other species. Shovelers are very common in the bag, as are widgeon and ring-necked ducks. Mottled ducks, pintails and lesser scaup appear in less important numbers in hunters’ bags.

Hunters draw for pre-constructed blinds. Paddleboats are provided to reach each blind, and transportation is provided to the islands as well as on the mainland portion. Chest waders are strongly recommended when hunting here, and early-season hunters with dogs should be mindful of the alligator population.

More information can be provided by SCDNR at (843) 546-8665.

SANTEE DELTA WMA
Santee Delta WMA is one of the elder statesman areas in SCDNR’s draw duck hunt program. The site was constructed in the mid-1970s, and it has been hosting waterfowl hunts since 1976. The 1,135-acre WMA is between the North and South Santee rivers, about halfway between McClellanville and Georgetown, and divided into the East and West sides by Hwy. 17.

The entire area is managed for freshwater emergent vegetation, but different waterfowl species use the two sides of the WMA. The West Side is more wooded, and consequently supports more wood ducks and one of the last remaining migratory flocks of mallards along the coast. For example, last season, 65 mallards and 30 wood ducks were killed on the West Side as opposed to only two mallards and wood ducks each on the East Side.