They are arguably the best of all destinations, although you will want to make sure they are really navigable. The wife of a good friend, who attempted a trip down one such creek a year or two after Hurricane Hugo blew through the part of the state where I live, still likes to remind him of what she calls "the idiot roundup." What had been planned as a four- or five-hour trip lasted more than twice that long, the last three hours of it in darkness blacker than midnight down in a cypress swamp.

The way to avoid such a problem is through a bit of walking, perhaps in conjunction with some scouting for whitetails prior to the opening of deer season in the early fall.

One other type of location that merits close attention is wetlands -anything from a pothole of a few acres to a large swamp - that can't really be waded and certainly can't be navigated with a boat and outboard motor. These are fairly commonplace in the Lowcountry (just be sure the area is open for hunting and you aren't trespassing) and surprisingly plentiful even above the fall line. Topo maps (see "Logistics" below) can be a real help in locating these.

Let's close with a few specific examples of the kind of paddling trips I'm talking about. Here in the upstate area where I live, two major rivers, the Catawba and the Broad, pretty much embrace the region. Both are wide, shallow, and in some places, fairly swift, rivers. Ducks use them like highways, and basically the only way to move on extensive portions of these rivers is by paddling.

In sharp contrast are little feeders like Fishing Creek and Turkey Creek, but in their lower reaches you can ease along in a canoe (though there will be places where you have to drag through shallows or push the craft over logs).

Speaking of Turkey Creek, on the other side of the state from my York County home there's another stream with that name, and along with Stevens Creek, it is a favorite warm-weather destination for paddlers. Or look at the upper Congaree and Enoree rivers, along with the Tyger River. Or elsewhere, study a map of the Sumter and Francis Marion national forests. You'll find interesting options in them.

The heart of the matter, for once, isn't finding a place to hunt. Rather, it's choosing a destination, studying where you plan to paddle, maybe floating it before the season on a sort of scouting mission, and checking to be sure it is an area open to duck hunting. With that information in hand and a sense of adventure in mind, you can paddle your way to a tiny piece of waterfowling paradise.

Several sensible precautions need to be kept in mind. If using a canoe, opt for one with a keel for added stability. Always carry an extra paddle. Keep a change of warm clothing in a waterproof bag should you need it. Wear tight-fitting waders (chances are you will be getting out at some point along the way anyhow) to keep the amount of water "taken on" at a minimum should you end up in the water.

Carry material that makes it possible to start a fire in a hurry. A cigarette lighter and some fat pine or some type of commercial fire starter can be stowed where they will be handy. If the stream is one where water releases from an upstream dam can change water levels to an appreciable degree, be ready for that. Finally, whether hunting alone or with a buddy, leave detailed information on where you will be should you run into trouble.

In the latter case, two hunters have an advantage in that they can each drive, leaving one vehicle at the finishing point.

Maps come into play in a big way, and the serious duck hunter who plans paddling trips needs to make such resources a part of his bag of hunting tricks. For starters, nothing beats having USGS topo maps covering the section of river you plan to float. Even if you know the area well, such maps may reveal some hidden sloughs or backwaters worth examining.

Beyond that, there's a book available that can be invaluable, even though it was in no way written with the duck hunter in mind. This is Gene Able and Jack Horan, Paddling South Carolina: A Guide to Palmetto State River Trails. It covers virtually all of the state's rivers (16 in the Lowcountry, 11 in the Piedmont and two in the mountains) that are navigable and that have the potential to provide duck hunting. Coverage even includes the Four Holes Swamp and the Congaree Swamp. While not all the areas of coverage may be of interest (or even open to hunting - be sure to check the regulations digest), for those that are, you will find detailed information on where to put in and take out, distances between such points, detailed maps, and other useful information.

Editor's Note: Jim Casada and his wife, Ann, devote an entire section of their cookbook, Wild Bounty, to recipes on waterfowl. Signed, inscribed copies of the award-winning book can be obtained from them for $24 postpaid (c/o 1250 Yorkdale Drive, Rock Hill, SC 29730).