Hunting – Carolina Fish and Hunt

CWD detected in Edgecombe County deer

A preliminary case of CWD has been detected in Edgecombe County.

Secondary testing being performed

The NCWRC has reported the first presumptive case of Chronic Wasting Disease in Edgecombe County, NC. Secondary testing is being performed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory to verify the results.

The positive result of CWD appeared in a 3.5-year-old male deer that was harvested by a hunter a few miles from the Pitt-Martin County line, in the eastern corner of Edgecombe County.

If confirmed as positive, this would mark the first case in Edgecombe County, and the 35th overall in the state of North Carolina. The first in the state was detected in 2022.

“We’re certainly not happy to learn that we may have a new CWD-infected area in the northeastern part of the state,” said Chris Kreh, the NCWRC’s assistant chief of the Game and Furbearer Program. “However, this is what our surveillance plan is designed to do – find areas where CWD is occurring, as early as possible, so we can minimize its impact.”

Transmissible to other deer through saliva, urine and feces, CWD is a fatal disease, and the movement of deer carcasses and carcass parts can also spread the disease.

There is no cure for CWD, and it’s also impossible to detect the presence of the disease in live deer. Deer usually appear healthy during the early stages of the disease, and hunters who have killed deer that later tested CWD-positive said they noticed nothing out-of-the-ordinary about those deer.

NCWRC urges hunters to have their harvested deer tested. Click here to find out how to have yours tested.

Martin County hunter kills 13-point cactus buck

Jeff Hurst killed a 13-point cactus buck in Martin County, NC.

Jeff Hurst of Robersonville, NC killed a very unique buck on Nov. 3, 2025. The 13-point cactus buck had a 19-inch spread and weighed 183 pounds. The rack is still in velvet and is covered in numerous bumps.

This is one of those deer that is a trophy for many reasons, mainly because it is so unique and so different from what hunters normally see. We’re sure Jeff has a special place picked out on the wall to put a mount of this buck.

Update on SC’s new electronic harvest reporting requirements

Here’s the real deal on SC’s new electronic deer harvest reporting requirements.

As of the 2024 deer hunting season, hunters in South Carolina are now required to electronically report their deer harvests, as well as place a physical tag on them.

This new requirement has caused some controversy throughout the hunting world, but most hunters understand that it’s simply South Carolina catching up with the rest of the United States in how the wild game population is managed. North Carolina hunters, for instance, have reported their harvests electronically for years.

Among the complaints: Electronic reporting will allow SCDNR to track hunters’ locations. There’s no cell service where I hunt. It’s another gun grab. It’s just one step in forcing us to eat fake meat. They will tax us on the meat we report killing ourselves. It’s another way for the government to control every part of our lives. And on and on. It’s all rubbish.

More rubbish

“Well how come they said we gotta tell them what we are planting in our gardens in the same law?” is another one we’ve heard. More rubbish. Nothing in this law mentions gardens at all.

The true reason for the new electronic reporting requirement is simply to help SCDNR get a more accurate measurement of how many deer are harvested in the state each year, which is one step in helping to manage the population of the state’s deer herd.

Years ago, South Carolina had numerous Big Game Check Stations throughout the state. When you killed a deer, you went to one of those check stations. That was done away with years ago, and for a long time, deer hunters in South Carolina had no tagging or reporting requirements at all. Then in recent years, South Carolina came up with the tagging system, whereby hunters place a physical, paper tag on each deer they kill.

At the beginning of each deer season, hunters are issued a set of tags with their name on them. These are the tags they must use to tag their deer. When you run out of tags, you are not legally allowed to kill any more deer, unless you purchased additional tags.

No data from tags

The problem with physically tagging deer, at least from a game management perspective, is that SCDNR never knew how many tags were actually being used. A survey would go out to a percentage of hunters at the end of the season, and some of those hunters would fill them out. But many never received surveys at all, and many that did never returned them. That left SCDNR guessing at how many deer were actually killed that season.

This is solved by electronic reporting. With each kill reported, the SCDNR gets updated numbers every day of the season. This gives them a highly accurate count of how many deer are killed in a season, and that’s what helps them understand trends in the population. If the harvest numbers noticeably decrease one year (or in a string of years), either throughout the state or in certain counties, SCDNR will know it. And this will be the first step in determining why that happened, and what can be done to fix it.

Likewise, if harvest numbers noticeably increase one year, or in a string of years, SCDNR will know it, and can take steps to understand why, and increase seasonal limits, vary hunting dates, issue more tags for hunters, etc.

It’s quick and easy

Aside from giving SCDNR accurate harvest numbers, electronic reporting is easier for hunters. No need to worry about forgetting or losing your tags, or them getting lost in the mail before you hunt. Now for 2024, hunters will still need to phyiscally tag their deer, so that’s not going to help in the first season. But from what we understand, this is simply to ease hunters into the new way of reporting, and beginning in 2025, South Carolina hunters will do electronic reporting only.

The way electronic reporting works is easy, and if you don’t have cell service at your hunting land, it’s not a problem. You can report your harvest four different ways:

Go online to dnr.sc.gov/scgamecheck.

Text the word “harvest” to 1-833-4SC-GAME (1-833-472-4263)

Call it in at 1-833-4SC-GAME (1-833-472-4263)

Use the GoOutdoorsSC app

And you aren’t required to report the kill immediately. You have until midnight of the day of your harvest, or before you leave it with a processor. When you electronically report your harvest, the system will issue you a verification number. The processor will need that verification number in order to accept your deer.

Time for South Carolina to catch up

We’ve also heard complaints that this system isn’t fair to old people, because they aren’t used to having a phone in their hand 24 hours a day. The few hunters out there who don’t own a cell phone have plenty of time to get to a phone, and chances are, anyone at their processing facility will be happy to lend them their phone to make the toll-free call.

Electronic reporting has been the norm in dozens of states for decades, and South Carolina hunters often complain about how much better the hunting is in those states than it is in South Carolina. Plus, it’s much easier than driving to a designated check station, and it is a big step in helping the state have a healthier herd of deer.

North Carolina hunting, fishing license increase

North Carolina hunters and anglers will pay a little more to hunt and fish after July 1, 2024.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has announced an increase for hunting licenses, fishing licenses, trapping licenses, and other fees such as permits and stamps. The increase takes effect on July 1, 2024.

The new increased fees were approved by NCWRC at their April business meeting, then approved by the Rules Review Commission in May.

The public was allowed input beginning in February through virtual public hearing, email, the online portal, and through the mail. The public input was carefully reviewed, according to NCWRC, before they voted on the increased fees.

The increased fees will be based on the total increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers since the last fee increase, which was on Jan. 1, 2020. The increased revenue will help NCWRC with operating costs, which have increased due to inflation and an increased demand for services by outdoorsmen.

NCWRC’s budget is funded by the sale of licenses, vessel titles and registrations, federal grants, general fund appopriations, and other means. License sales make up approximately 25 percent of the Commission’s yearly revenue.

The funds are used to support NCWRC’s programs focused on species management, habitat enhancement, enforcement of regulations, education, and public access.

To buy a North Carolina hunting and/or fishing license, visit gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com or visit a Wildlife Service Agent.

Joolca: shower off in the great outdoors

You know how you feel after a long day in the great outdoors. You’re tired and dirty. And you’re trying to figure out how to get inside your vehicle without creating a filthy mess.

Joolca Hottap to the rescue! Why wait until you get home to shower off? Get clean and revived with a good shower that’s as hot as you want it to be, right there beside your vehicle.

Take a “quick shower” with your clothes on (today’s quick-dry materials make it entirely possible), or strip down inside the company’s Ensuite, a tent-like shower stall that gives you all the privacy you want, with great features like the mesh liner around the floor, ventilation, a toiletry organizer, dry clothes storage, and a frame that’s quick and easy to set up, and just as quick and easy to store away.

So what is the HOTTAP? It’s all you need to get clean, no matter where you are, and you can use water that you bring, or water that’s available from a nearby creek, river, pond, etc. With a 100-foot hose, complete with a powerful pump, you just need a water source that’s nearby. Using a propane bottle, you’ve got instant hot water, thanks to the 37,500 BTU burner.

The pump, which is self-priming, and battery powered, pushes water at 1.6 gallons per minute. It can even pump up an incline. And if it happens to run dry, no problem, that’s not going to damage it.

Worried about pollutants in the nearby stream you want to draw water from? Don’t fret, the HOTTAP features a two-stage water filter. It removes everything but the tiniest of sediments.

The adjustable showerhead has an on/off switch, so you can rinse and soap up with as much (or little) water flowing as you’d like. It’s also easy to mount in the Ensuite, or attached to a number of different surfaces, including the side of your truck/car/camper/trailer, etc, thanks to the magnetic head. Showering by a tree? Just hang the showerhead by a hook. The options are wide open.

The HOTTAP also features a temperature display and diagnostics, so if anything goes wrong, you’ll know it right away.

The Joolca HOTTAP is just as handy for cleaning of your fishing rods, kayaks, paddleboards, surfboards, bicycles, ATVs, or even your dog. Stop putting dirty stuff in your vehicle and get the Joolca HOTTAP for all your outdoor adventures. Check it out at joolca.com.

Poachers busted for killing 15 deer at night

Two North Carolina men have been found guilty of night hunting after killing 15 deer in one night.

Two North Carolina men have been found guilty of illegally killing deer at night. The two were charged back in November, and the case finally went to court in late May.

Dylan Scott of New Hanover County, NC, along with Nicholas Rackley of Duplin County, NC were ordered to pay $9030 in replacement costs for killing 15 deer while spotlighting on the night of Nov. 27, 2023.

NCWRC received a tip about the illegal activity after Rackley reportedly sent texts to multiple people of himself posing with the 15 antlerless deer.

Scott was fined an additional $1500 and had his hunting license revoked for 10 years. Rackley owes an addtional $750. His hunting license has been revoked for 5 years.

When NCWRC officials interviewed Rackley in November, he admitted that he and Scott shot 15 deer on the night of Nov. 27. He told the officials they took the deer to a friend in Pender County, who processed the deer for them. When NCWRC searched that individual’s home, they found four coolers full of deer meat, and the resident admitted to processing the deer for Rackley.

Get A Gobbler Contest

It’s time for Carolina Fish and Hunt’s Get A Gobbler Contest!

It’s turkey hunting season in the Carolinas, and Carolina Fish and Hunt is holding a Get A Gobbler Contest!

Enter a photo of the hunter with a gobbler killed during the 2024 turkey hunting season in the Carolinas using the form below.

The winner of our contest will receive a Yeti Loadout 5-gallon bucket with lid and caddy, a Tactacam Reveal X Pro cellular trail camera with 32GB SD card, and a Spyderco lockblade folding knife. It’s a package worth more than $300!

We want to hear your stories! Feel free to share what made your hunt memorable or interesting.

Show us those gobblers!

Win these prizes in our Get A Gobbler Contest!

Wood duck die-offs linked to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

The SCDNR has announced recent wood duck die-offs are from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

The following is a news release from SCDNR:

Within the last two weeks, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have received numerous calls concerning an apparent die-off of wood ducks in waterfowl impoundments and river swamps in Clarendon, Colleton and Williamsburg counties.

Preliminary testing indicates two of these die-off events can be attributed to highly pathogenic Eurasian H5 avian influenza (HPAI). Results are currently pending from additional die-off locations.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was first detected in the United States in January 2022 in two wild ducks harvested by a hunter in Colleton County, South Carolina, and one wild duck in Hyde County, North Carolina. Prior to these findings, HPAI had not been detected in a wild bird in the United States since 2016. Following the detection of HPAI in early 2022, portions of the United States experienced large die-off events of snow geese and eiders.

“Since 2022, the greatest impact on wild birds in South Carolina has been seen in black vultures and bald eagles,” said Molly Kneece, SCDNR state waterfowl biologist. “Up to this point, we had not experienced any noticeable die-offs of waterfowl species in South Carolina. These recently reported wood duck die-offs seem to be localized but do have potential to spread into other counties and to other waterfowl species given the social and migratory behaviors of wood ducks.”

Hunters should be aware that HPAI is present in the environment, and it is also showing up in an APHIS sampling effort of hunter harvested birds. However, it is still safe to pursue and consume wild fowl this season. This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people but it can be a danger to the poultry industry, which is an important part of South Carolina’s agricultural economy.

USDA Veterinary and Wildlife Services recommends hunters and others to take precautions to protect themselves and the domestic birds they may encounter from the virus:

Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead without latex gloves.
Dress your game birds in the field whenever possible. If you must dress birds at home, clean them in an area in which your poultry and pet birds have no access.
Keep a separate pair of shoes to wear only in your game cleaning area. If this is not possible, wear rubber footwear and clean/disinfect your shoes before entering or leaving the area.
Do not eat, drink or smoke while cleaning game.
Always wear rubber gloves while cleaning game or cleaning bird feeders.
Wash hands with soap and water immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol wipes.
Use dedicated tools for cleaning game, whether in the field or at home. Do not use those tools around your poultry or pet birds.
Wash all tools and work surfaces with soap and water and then disinfect them.
Avoid cross-contamination. Keep uncooked game in a separate container, away from cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
Cook game meat thoroughly; poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill disease organisms and parasites.
Double bag the offal and feathers. Tie the inner bag; be sure to take off your rubber gloves and leave them in the outer bag before tying it closed.
Place the bag in a trash can that poultry and pet birds cannot access. This trash can should also be secure against access by children, pets or other animals.

Julie Helm, a veterinarian and poultry specialist with Clemson Livestock Poultry Health, advises South Carolinians to protect small poultry flocks with two simple statements: “Keep it AWAY and Keep it CLEAN.”

Keep it AWAY: Keep your poultry and pets away from wild ducks and geese and their environment — ponds, lakes and swampy areas. Take care not to track the wild waterfowl virus back to your flock if you are hunting or hiking in the wild waterfowl environment. Buy new birds from a reputable source. Keep new birds or returning show birds separated from your established home flocks for 30 days. Keep pests (rodents, raccoons, opossums, rabbits) out of bird pens. Keep visitors out of your bird areas; what may they be carrying on their feet, clothing or vehicles.

Keep it CLEAN: Clean cages and coops. Clean any equipment first before it comes onto your property. Wear designated farm shoes and clothing to care for your birds. Wash your hands before and after working with your birds. Change birds’ food and water daily. Wash your vehicles and trailers after visiting other poultry facilities and before you come home — go through a car wash.

DHEC strongly urges anyone who handles birds — including hunters and poultry farmers — to follow the recommended precautions for protecting themselves from possible exposure and to talk with a doctor if they have any health concerns regarding a possible exposure.

South Carolina hunters and landowners can help SCNDR and APHIS monitor this potential HPAI event by reporting sightings of dead wood ducks or other waterfowl to SCDNR (800-922-5431 or webmaster@dnr.sc.gov, Subject Line: HPAI). Of notable interest will be the location of the die-off, number of individuals affected, species, and habitat type. HPAI testing will be done on a case-by-case basis, but it will be very helpful to know where any waterfowl die-offs are occurring and to what extent.

After reporting any waterfowl die-off events to SCDNR, landowners and habitat managers can gather any dead waterfowl they find and bury those carcasses on site. This important step can help reduce the spread of HPAI to scavenging mammals and birds of prey. All equipment, tools, clothing, and boots should be disinfected with a solution of 1/3 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water.

For more information on HPAI or to monitor confirmed detections in wild birds and commercial or backyard flocks follow: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai

Contact: SCDNR, Greg Lucas, LucasG@dnr.sc.gov, (864) 380-5201

Reported Tyler Doyle sightings prompt SLED to investigate

Almost a year after duck hunter Tyler Doyle of Loris, SC went missing during a duck hunt, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has joined the investigation.

Doyle went missing on Jan. 26, 2023 in his hunting boat after dropping a friend off for the hunt. His friend reportedly watched Doyle’s boat sinking and called 911 as the boat disappeared around some rocks. Doyle was not seen again.

An extensive investigation involving numerous agencies lasted several days. SCDNR reported that no foul play was suspected, and ruled the incident a hunting accident. But since then, numerous sightings of Doyle have been called in to authorities.

SCDNR spokesperson Stephen Fastenau said DNR remains the lead agency on the case. But he said because of numerous reported possible sightings of Doyle, they have asked SLED to review the file and to assist with missing person inquiries.

Have you or someone you know seen Tyler Doyle? If so, call SLED at 803-896-7133.

Click here to read more information about Tyler Doyle’s case.

24-year-old dies in NC mountains hunting accident

An accidental gunshot lead to the death of Ethan Hahn on Nov. 20, 2023.

Ethan Hahn, a 24-year-old hunter from Hildebran, NC died on Nov. 20, 2023 when he accidentally fired a shot from his own gun into his upper right arm. The incident took place in the mountainous region of Burke County, about 75 miles northwest of Charlotte in the Pisgah National Forest.

NCWRC and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office have ruled the death an accident and said no foul play is suspected.

Hahn was deer hunting with his dad, Mark Hahn, and apparently slipped while walking along a trail that was littered with piles of leaves. The two were walking some distance away from each other when the elder Hahn found his son on a steep hill with leaves on the ground, which seemingly created slick footing and resulted in Hahn falling and accidentally firing his CVA Scout .243.

Mark Hahn performed first aid and CPR on his son and called 911. When officials arrived, the 24-yard-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ethan was the valedictorian of East Burke High School’s class of 2017, and graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone. He was working for a software company, was deeply religious, and had recently written a devotional. He wanted to travel across the country, spreading his faith to others.

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Click here to read about another Carolina hunting accident in November, which led to the death of 6-year-old Avery Davis.