Photo by D. Robert Franz.

Deer hunting in South Carolina may be entering a period of change. In some areas of the state, long-time residents say the number of deer they've seen in recent years has dropped a bit. However, most hunters are quick to point out that they are seeing more bucks and bigger bucks.

According to Charles Ruth, Deer Project supervisor for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), the outlook for the 2007 season is good, but perhaps not extraordinary.

"As always, so much in terms of deer harvest is dependent on good weather," Ruth said. "Frankly, I was a little surprised that the data from the 2006 hunting season showed a decrease in the harvest from the 2005 season. For most of October and about half of November, we had cool weather on the weekends. That is usually very good for the deer hunters.

"I'd say with decent weather, we'll see a good harvest of deer in the 2007 season," Ruth said. "The overall herd health is good and conditions for replenishing the herd were good last year."

As Ruth noted, the 2006 harvest survey once again indicated a decline in the harvest in 2006.

"The data from our extensive surveys show that the overall harvest numbers are down for the past few years," Ruth said. "During the 2006 deer hunting season, it is estimated that a total of 115,917 bucks and 105,403 does were harvested. That comes to a statewide total of 221,320 deer harvested."

That's a 9.3 percent decline in harvest from the 2005 total of 244,045 deer. Ruth also said that it is a 30 percent decrease from the record harvest established in 2002 of 319,902 deer.

Ruth said the reduction in harvest since 2002 can likely be attributed to several factors.

"First, timber management activities stimulated much of the growth in South Carolina's deer population in the 1980s," Ruth said. "Considerable acreage is currently in even-aged pine stands that are greater than 10 years old. This is a situation that does not support deer densities at the same level as younger stands in which food and cover are more available.

"Second, although deer hunter numbers in South Carolina have been relatively stable over time, the number of licensees that indicated that they hunted deer in 2006 decreased by 9.5 percent compared with the 2005 hunting season. This may be related to the dramatic increase in fuel costs since the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region during the fall of 2005. Interestingly, the deer harvest in 2006 decreased by virtually the same amount -- 9.3 percent -- as the number of hunters."

Ruth said the late freeze in the spring of 2007 will most likely have a dramatic impact on natural foods for deer this year.

"For most of the state, the hard freeze hit just when the oaks were greening up, and it did take a toll. The white oaks bear fruit the same year they are pollinated, so I think the white oaks will be severely damped in terms of mast production this season. The red oaks are pollinated one year, bear fruit the next. We'll have to wait and see how this freeze will impact them. Other trees that may be severely impacted include crabapples and persimmons. Some parts of the state, particularly along the coast, may have been spared. But based on the data I have, much of the state will see less mast."

Ruth added that from strictly a hunting perspective, the lack of natural foods could make food plots more productive.

"It could create a better hunting situation this season," Ruth said. "The lack of mast will likely mean deer will be moving and more susceptible to hunters. Plus, if you do find an area that has a good mast crop, it may be a mecca for the deer in that area and for the deer hunter."

Ruth added that studies also show that deer harvest is a function of hunter effort. Not surprisingly, if you hunt more, you'll probably be in a position to shoot more deer.

"Those are the factors that seem to be influencing the deer harvest figures," Ruth said. "We've reached a carrying capacity for what we have now at a certain level. Hunter success may be influenced by mast or lack of mast (and by hunter) preparation and skill in 2007."

The data collected by Ruth and his staff also give us the opportunity to put into perspective exactly where the most deer are being harvested in the state.

In this article, we look at the statewide harvest figures broken down into a county ranking. Those numbers will directly help you figure out where to focus your hunting this season for your best opportunity for success.

Ruth said that while the data is certainly useful for many purposes, there are localized hotspots that can be potentially found anywhere in the state.