Besides the weather, which always seems to play a role in a memorable duck-hunting story, the hunts hosted by SCDNR are unforgettable for several reasons. They are, on average, quality hunts. You might get pitched a shutout on your hunt, but hunters have averaged about three ducks per hunter over the last two seasons for all WMAs hosting draw hunts.

You never know what species of duck you might harvest. Some WMAs are certainly known for being a mallard spot or a place that typically shoots only wood ducks and teal. However, on any given hunt you have a good chance of killing something special. Nineteen different species, including snow geese, canvasbacks, pintails and redheads, have been harvested in recent seasons on the state's WMAs.

If that's not enough, the personnel at these hunts normally provide above-average service. They will go out of their way to help you succeed.

Much of that effort is expended before you even arrive to hunt. Blind sites, where provided, are carefully chosen and well brushed. On the morning of your hunt, rules and regulations are reviewed in an attempt to keep everyone legal; some form of transportation and directions to blinds are provided and advice about what to expect is dispensed. About the only thing SCDNR personnel don't do is shoot, retrieve and pluck your ducks, although the latter two thoughts don't sound like bad suggestions.

By the time you have read this, slots for the 2006-07 season will have already been drawn. However, this overview should help you know what to expect if you were drawn for one of the profiled areas or help you make your selection for next season.

Here is one note about the drawing that many people don't understand. Because of the popularity of these hunts, SCDNR initiated a preference-point system several seasons ago in an attempt to allow everyone who applies a chance to be drawn, provided they apply every season.

You are given one preference point for the following season's drawing if you are not drawn. Therefore, you have one point when the next season's drawing is held, which gives you a better chance of being selected over someone who was drawn the preceding year or who is applying for the first time. Those hunters will have no preference points. If you limit your selections, however, to only certain dates and areas, your chances of being selected are reduced regardless of how many preference points you have accumulated.

Further, if you apply with a group of other hunters (up to four hunters can apply per application), the preference point for that application is based on the hunter with the lowest number of preference points. For example, if you and two of your buddies each have two preference points but the fourth guy has zero, maybe because he's never applied before, then everyone on that entire application is treated as if they had no points. Like the saying goes, pick your friends wisely.

SANTEE COASTAL RESERVE WMA
Santee Coastal Reserve WMA is often viewed by waterfowlers as the premier place to go. It's large (over 14,000 acres of managed impoundments), and it's located in the delta of the Santee River, one of the state's main waterfowl wintering areas. It is still the top place in terms of harvest, but some of its luster has dulled in recent seasons.