The only drawback that Morton has witnessed is that the no-show rate still runs about 25 percent. He has not determined how to overcome this problem yet. While it limits meeting the harvest objectives, Morton is more concerned because it takes away opportunity from other hunters who might have come had they been drawn.

For additional information about Fant's Grove WMA, contact SCDNR's Region 1 office at (864) 654-1671.

DONNELLEY WMA
Changes to the draw deer hunts have also taken place at Donnelley WMA, an 8,048-acre WMA located in Colleton County outside of Green Pond.

Thirty hunters used to be drawn for one of the 12 1 1/2-day gun hunts held from early October to early December. Hunters would then draw for a stand for each morning and evening hunt period, and be driven to that permanent stand. However, budget cuts and personnel reductions necessitated that hunts be conducted differently.

"When we had five people working on the area, we could cater more to hunters and drive them to pre-selected stands," said Dean Harrigal, a SCDNR wildlife biologist at Donnelley WMA. "However, when we got down to only two people, we had to do something different."

What they did was follow the model in place at another WMA.

"We now conduct our hunts like the ones at Palachucola WMA," Harrigal explained. "We still draw 30 hunters per hunt, but now they are drawn for a 2 1/2-day hunt. The total number of hunter days on the area is still the same so that we can meet our harvest objectives.

"We still plant wildlife openings and the permanent stands are still available for hunters who want to use them, but we don't drive people to each stand anymore. They are on their own, unless someone requests assistance and has an obvious need," Harrigal said.

Harrigal related the new hunting procedure as hunting on your own 8,000-acre hunt club with 30 members.

"Hunters can scout where they want to put their stand," he said. "It gives them more freedom to find good places."

Harrigal suggested that hunters scout for two or three places just in case another hunter is in the same area.

"We have hunters place a pin in a map at the check station to indicate where they're hunting," Harrigal said. "The spot they decide to hunt is on a first-come, first-served basis. That's why we suggest looking for more than one spot. So far, we've had no conflicts. If someone can't find a place to hunt by themselves on 8,000 acres, then they aren't trying too hard."

Harrigal recommended that hunters not scout themselves out of an area. If you find a good spot, he said set up on it rather than wander all over the area spreading scent while trying to find the perfect location. In his experience at the WMA, it is a handful of people who kill the most deer.

He also suggested hunters find out-of-the-way places to hunt.

"The green patches aren't where the majority of deer are going to be in October and November," Harrigal said. "They look nice and the permanent stands are conveniently located over them from when we used to put people out, but they are not necessarily the best places on the entire area."

There has been another change at Donnelley WMA as well. Quality deer management practices have been in place for hunts since their inception. It used to be that hunters could only kill bucks with at least 4 points on one side. Now, a buck must have 4 or more points on a side and a 12-inch spread.

"We instituted the change for the same reasons they did at Webb Center WMA," Harrigal said. "The idea was to reduce the buck harvest, especially 1 1/2-year-old bucks, and to increase the doe harvest."