Both teal species can be found on either side, but they tend to be more abundant on the east side, especially blue-winged teal. Shovelers are common on Santee Delta WMA, and they are found predominately on the East Side. Northern pintails routinely use the east side as well, but last season, a fair number were found on the West Side. Green-winged teal are normally the top duck on the entire Santee Delta WMA, and the bird typically accounts for 30 percent of the total harvest.

Even with the differences in waterfowl usage on the two sides, hunters have about the same success rates on each side. Last season, hunters on the East Side averaged 2.20 ducks per person as opposed to 2.35 ducks per hunter on the West Side for a total area average of 2.27 ducks per person. This was down about a duck per person from the 2003-04 season.

You can obtain more information about Santee Delta WMA by calling SCDNR at (843) 546-8119.

BEAR ISLAND WMA
Like Samworth WMA, Bear Island WMA has a long and rich waterfowl hunting tradition. Public waterfowl hunts have been held on the area in Colleton County since the late 1960s.

The WMA is also split into a West and East side and includes another area as well. The unit called Springfield/The Cut was added to Bear Island WMA in 1987. The majority of the Bear Island complex is managed for natural vegetation attractive to waterfowl.

Habitat conditions were severely affected by drought in 2001 and 2002. Success was under three ducks per person in 2001-02 and only 1.65 in 2002-03. Habitat conditions began improving in 2003 and continued to get better in 2004. Harvest across the complex averaged 1.77 ducks per hunter during the 2003-04 season and 2.37 last season.

Success and waterfowl harvest by species varies by area on Bear Island WMA. Springfield/The Cut usually has the highest success, followed by the East Side and then the West Side. Last season, hunters averaged 3.53, 2.10 and 1.24 ducks per gun, respectively, across the three locations.

Blue-winged and green-winged teal account for nearly 50 percent of the harvest total. Hooded mergansers and mottled ducks are also abundant, and hunters can shoot shovelers, pintails, gadwalls and widgeon as well in smaller amounts.

Green-winged teal, blue-winged teal and gadwalls were the top three species on Springfield/The Cut in 2004-05. Blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and hooded mergansers were one, two and three on the East Side last season. Mottled ducks, hooded mergansers and widgeon were tops on the West Side, accounting for almost 80 percent of the total harvest on that side.

Bear Island WMA information can be obtained by calling SCDNR at (843) 844-8957.

Hunters selected for draw hunts will need a state and federal duck stamp, a H.I.P. permit as well as a wildlife management area permit. One-day wildlife management permits are available for those hunters who normally don’t buy one for the entire season, but you need to check that box on the application to receive one. There is a shell limit on all draw hunts; that limit has been 25 shells the last several seasons.

Although it is too late to apply for this season’s draw hunts, it’s not too early to be thinking about next year’s drawing. Applications are available beginning in late September each year. You can download them at www.dnr.state.sc.us, pick one up at a regional office or call the Columbia office at (803) 734-3886. Hunts are $50 per hunter.