Applications for Bonneau Ferry WMA are included with four other WMAs, so it is hard to determine exactly how many people applied just for Bonneau Ferry. The harvest last season was 39 deer (26 bucks, 13 does). The bucks included four 8-pointers, two 9-pointers and two 10-pointers.

Drawn hunters are permitted to scout between 7 a.m. and noon on the first day of the hunt period that they’re drawn. Scouting is also permitted between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the remaining hunt days.

No permanent stands are provided. Only one portable stand is permitted per hunter, and no stalking or man drives are permitted.

Information about Bonneau Ferry WMA can be obtained by calling SCDNR’s Dennis Wildlife Center at (843) 825-3387.

CROFT STATE NATURAL AREA
Encompassing 7,000 acres just south of Spartanburg, Croft State Natural Area is owned by State Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Unlike the other areas, the Croft hunt is archery only.

During the 2006 season, 657 hunters applied for 626 slots. There are four two-day hunt periods held on the area. The dates for the 2007 hunts are Sept. 19-20, Oct. 3-4, Oct. 17-18 and Nov. 7-8.

“The most deer seem to be taken during the late October hunt,” said Gerald Moore, a SCDNR wildlife biologist. “Last season, hunters took 74 deer, with 27 of those coming during the late October hunt. Twenty-two deer were taken during the other October hunt.” Hunters reported seeing 1,588 deer, taking shots at 206 and hitting 110 deer over the four hunts.

The bag limit is three deer, including no more than one antlered buck. There are no antler restrictions. Moore said there were no impressive bucks harvested last season in terms of antlers or spread, but one buck did weigh 170 pounds.

“Since one of the objectives of the hunts is to reduce the size of the deer herd and prevent overbrowsing of native vegetation,” Moore said, “we encourage hunters to take antlerless deer. If you shoot a doe, you are automatically pre-selected for a hunt next season.”

Camping is permitted at Croft. Reservations (two-night minimum) can be made in advance by calling toll-free (800) 385-7275 or go online at www.southcarolinaparks.com.

FANTS GROVE WMA
Tucked away in the upper Piedmont of South Carolina, the 7,000-acre Fant’s Grove WMA is a dandy piece of property with a great reputation for large bucks.

Traditionally, Fant’s Grove was an archery-only area, but that was changed several seasons ago in an attempt to improve the deer herd by harvesting more antlerless deer.

Richard Morton, a SCDNR wildlife biologist in Clemson, said the property has a good potential for producing quality bucks.

“By changing the hunting strategy, we felt we could improve the deer-herd dynamics and produce even nicer deer, including bigger bucks,” he said.

SCDNR began offering rifle-only draw hunts on the WMA in December 2000. Originally, there were four two-day hunts accommodating 70 hunters per hunt. Morton tinkered with the process, and for several seasons, 75 hunters were selected for three 1 1/2-day hunts. All hunts take place in December.

Successfully drawn hunters must check in and obtain a daily permit at the Clemson SCDNR checkpoint by 11 a.m. on the first day and 6 a.m. on the second, which is the full day. Anyone not checked in by 6 a.m. cannot hunt that morning. All hunters must check out by 7:30 p.m. each evening. If you need to track a deer later than that, you must notify SCDNR personnel.

Scouting is open to hunters before each hunt period. During the hunt period, midday scouting is permitted only between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. by hunters drawn for that hunt period.

Morton said that portable stands can be placed before each hunt period, but hunters doing so leave their stands at their own risk. All portable stands must be removed no later than one day following each hunt period.