The total deer harvest has declined on the area since the regulations change. During the 2002 season, the last year before the change, hunters killed 73 deer (33 bucks, 40 does). Earlier seasons saw the total harvest run between 60 and 90 deer.

The 2003 total harvest, the first season with the change, was 52 deer (22 bucks, 30 does) and the harvest last season was 54 deer (19 bucks, 35 does). Harrigal is not concerned about the low harvest the last two seasons.

"We expected the harvest to drop because we were taking pressure off the young, basket-racked 8-point bucks that were being killed," he said. "However, the decline the last two seasons also has coincided with a general decrease in the deer harvest across the entire Southeast. We will continue to monitor the harvest to determine if we need to do something different in the future."

To learn more about the deer hunts at Donnelley WMA, you may contact their office at (843) 844-8957.

WEBB CENTER WMA
"We have 18 gun hunts at Webb Center," said Lisa Walters, a SCDNR wildlife technician at Webb Center and Palachucola WMAs. "Thirty hunters are drawn for each hunt, which either takes place on a Monday evening and Tuesday morning or Friday evening and Saturday morning."

The hunts at Webb Center WMA are unique. Successfully drawn hunters stay in the old house on the property and are fed supper and breakfast. Personnel also take hunters to one of the 100 permanent stands or 10 ground blinds, as well as clean their deer for them. Because of the perks, the application fee is higher, $100.

"Our hunts are held from late September to mid-December," Walters said. "Hunters are allowed to harvest one antlered buck and one doe or two does. Antler restrictions of 4 or more points on one side or a 12-inch spread do apply."

The antler restrictions are new for Webb Center, and were applied during the 2003 season. The results have been noteworthy.

Like Donnelley WMA, the harvest has declined during the last two seasons, down from 175 to 200 deer to around 110. Again, this mirrors what has occurred elsewhere. However, the percentage of bucks in the total harvest has fallen only about 20 percent, while the percentage of 1 1/2-year-old bucks in the harvest has fallen by nearly 50 percent. That's good news for hunters.

What this means is the younger bucks are being allowed to grow older, which translates to larger racks.

"The harvest has been down the last two seasons," said Tom Swayngham, former Webb Center biologist who has relocated to the Upstate for SCDNR, "but hunters have killed more nice bucks than ever before."

During the 2004 season, 1,395 hunters applied for 540 slots.

PALACHUCOLA WMA
Hunts for Palachucola WMA are similar to Donnelley WMA. Thirty-five hunters are drawn for one of six 2 1/2-day hunts held on Thursday afternoons and all day Friday and Saturday.

No stands are provided on the area, and scouting is allowed Thursday morning. Additionally, hunters are allowed to camp in a designated area. Porta-potties are provided and there is a skinning rack and cooler as well.

Palachucola WMA has the same antler restrictions (which were introduced during the same season) as on Webb Center and Donnelley. Harvest characteristics have been the same: The harvest has gone down, but more dramatically the number of young bucks in the harvest has declined. Again, this will pay off in future seasons with larger bucks on the area.

Information for Webb Center and Palachucola WMAs can be obtained by contacting SCDNR's Webb Center office at (803) 625-3569.

Change can be a good thing when it comes to deer hunting. See if you agree with what these WMAs have done. Application deadlines are approaching. Get your application at www.dnr.state.sc.us.