"When considering the estimated deer habitat that is available in South Carolina, the deer harvest rate in 2005 was 11.5 deer per square mile over the entire state," Ruth said. "This harvest rate should be considered extraordinary in comparison with other states. Three counties recorded harvest rates in excess of 20 deer per square mile with the top counties including: Bamberg (26.5 deer/mile), Hampton (21.6 deer/mile) and Allendale (20.8 deer/mile)."

Ruth also said the success of the early-season hunting is defined by pre-season preparation and taking advantage of the first few days of he season.

"Sometimes the hunting can be tough during the early season," Ruth said. "The opening few days are often an exception. But since the harvest opportunity is limited to bucks only, they can become scarce when a lot of pressure is applied. Typically, hunters may see some deer the first few days, and then the hunting success will usually drop. The bucks get much more difficult to see until sometime in September."

Ruth also said there are some limited early-season public-land hunting opportunities in the Lowcountry. This hunting will be confined to the units of the Francis Marion National Forest. He added that public land hunting in August is limited to specific places, so be sure to check the rules and regulations for Game Zone 6 to find exactly when and where hunting is allowed on public lands.

There are many detailed, specific things you can do to help control your hunting destiny in the Lowcountry early season. Having a defined game plan is a key.

As illustrated earlier, Mike Cox is a veteran Lowcountry hunter who is meticulous in his hunting preparation. He has a game plan for almost any of the various hunting scenarios he'll encounter.

"Hunting the August portion of the Lowcountry season can be really productive," Cox said. "However, it can also be very unpredictable unless you do your homework. There's a lot of preparation that goes into successful hunts anytime of the season. But despite what some hunters think, early season does not necessarily mean easy pickings for whitetail deer.

"If you don't know where the deer are bedding, feeding and the basic travel routes, you can be in for some long, hot, unproductive afternoons," Cox said. "But armed with a good game plan, you can also enjoy great hunting and have an early-season opportunity to take a big buck."

Cox said that other than the rut, perhaps the best time to take a big buck in the Lowcountry would be during those first few days of the early season. One reason is simply that deer, particularly the big bucks, have not been pressured much at this time.

"Typically, it doesn't take too long for big bucks to feel the pressure once the season opens," Cox said. "That's why you hear people talking a lot about seeing big bucks before the season as they drive along the road or sometimes while driving a 4-wheeler through their hunting club. But once hunters start sitting in stands, that usually will change.

"Far too often, they'll not consider real important factors, such as the wind," Cox said. "Even in August, we have some wind, although some of those hot and sticky evenings it doesn't feel like it. A hunter needs to understand the prevailing wind direction in their area and hunt accordingly. So a primary initial consideration is to place your stands where you'll have the prevailing wind to your advantage, not to the advantage of the deer."

Cox said that getting your stand up early and in the right place in terms of wind direction is a double plus for your hunt. Even two to four weeks out is not too late to get your stand in. However, as a rule of thumb, he will have his stands in place and left alone in terms of human scent for perhaps two months or more before the season opens.

"Through the years, I've found it crucial to determine my stand sites and get them where I want them long before the season opens," Cox said. "Also, I get them limbed up for shooting and camouflaged as much as possible. I use some of the leafy camouflage at times to help hide the stand, but I try to make maximum use of the existing natural vegetation in the area. This is absolutely critical when setting up bow stands. However, if you're hunting a big buck from a permanent stand, it's also important. Use your natural surroundings to blend into the woods as much as possible. The more successful you are at doing that, the more deer you will see throughout the season. That will be specifically because they don't see you.

"Consider your background cover and incorporate as much concealment into your stand as possible using the vegetation around it," he said. "While I'll cut lanes for open shots, I pick those lanes carefully. Don't over-clear an area where you have too clear of vision. That makes you much more obvious to the deer as well."