Category: Hunting

NC hunter’s first buck is a Nash County doozy

Youth hunter Eli Tucker killed his first ever buck on Nov. 2, 2023 in Nash County, NC, and it was a doozy. The buck had a wide rack, with thick antlers.

The young hunter’s dad summed up the feeling of seeing his son harvest such a fine animal.

“Words can’t explain how proud I am. Eli has hunted hard since the beginning of the season. This buck finally daylighted on Halloween, so we knew we had to get on him quick. Eli made a great shot, and he expired at 60 yards. Congrats son! That’s a great first buck!” said Travis Tucker.

6-year-old kills giant cull buck

The giant buck was 5 1/2-years old

CT Hallman, 6-years-old, killed a giant 6-point buck that weighed 195 pounds at The Territories in Newberry County, SC on Oct. 18, 2023.

The deer has been aged at 5 1/2-years-old, and he was quite the roamer according to Hallman’s dad, Thomas Hallman.

“The deer was a roamer. Of the 2500 acres we manage here at The Territories, this buck used most of it. My son CT put an end to a 6-week cat-and-mouse game that had no rhyme or reason,” said Hallman.

After seeing the buck show up at a small food plot that was set up in hopes of attracting a doe for the young hunter to shoot, Hallman picked up his son from school and went directly to the stand overlooking that very food plot.

The buck showed up again, and CT shot it with a .243

SC landowner kills hunting dog, threatens to kill more

On Sept. 23, 2023, William Gray of Sumter, SC said he was hunting on his property when he shot and killed a neighbor’s hunting dog that was wearing a tracking color and tags. Then he posted the following on his Facebook page:

So, whose dog was it? It was Garrett Williamson’s dog AnaBelle. Williamson said when the SCDNR Game Warden showed up, he seemed sympathetic to Gray. Williamson also seems to have some history with this particular Game Warden.

“He (the Game Warden) has voiced his distaste about dog hunting and houndsmen for years now,” said Williamson.

Here is the Williamson’s side of the story, just as he posted it on Facebook:

Hunting with dogs is somewhat controversial, with landowners calling for their property to be respected, and dog hunters often stating that they can’t control where their dogs run. Either way you look at it, in the state of South Carolina, killing a hunting dog, even when it’s on your property, is illegal. And removing the collar of a hunting dog is illegal as well.

Let’s take a look at exactly what South Carolina law says concerning hunting dogs:

We’re not lawyers, but from what we see reading these laws, Gray should have been charged more than $125, and should spend a minimum of 30 days in jail as well.

What do you think should happen in this case?

Tyler Harkey’s Union County (NC) trophy buck

Tracking dog Stella found Harkey’s deer 800 yards away

Tyler Harkey killed a trophy buck while bowhunting on opening day, Sept. 9, 2023, of North Carolina’s archery season. But he lost track of the buck after finding only a little blood, along with his arrow, which was still intact.

Not long after giving up the search, rain pounded the area, dumping 4 inches onto the ground. About 18 hours later, Harkey went to look again, but this time he called Craig Beachum, who brought his tracking dog Stella along.

Despite all the rain and the time that had passed, Stella led the men about 800 yards to the deer’s body. Unfortunately, the buck had been ravaged by coyotes. But the head and antlers were still in fine form and will make a great trophy to help Harkey remember the hunt, and the recovery of the deer.

“I’m at a loss for words, as there is no way I would have found the deer with them,” said Harkey.

Grilled dove with rosemary lemon marinade

Here’s a great dove recipe!

It’s tough to beat a good dove shoot, but if one thing can do it, it’s eating the fruits of the day’s bounty. Dove aren’t just fun to shoot, they’re also great to eat.

Dove hunting season is a time-honored tradition for many, and preparing these game birds can be a delicious experience. This recipe for grilled dove with a rosemary lemon marinade is a perfect way to showcase the delicate flavors of these birds and create a memorable meal for your family and friends.

Ingredients:

  • 12 fresh dove breasts
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes

Instructions:

1. Clean and Prepare the Dove Breasts:

Start by plucking any remaining feathers from the dove breasts. Rinse them thoroughly under cold running water and pat them dry with paper towels. Make sure to remove any shot pellets if present.

2. Create the Marinade:

In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, chopped rosemary, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. This marinade will infuse the dove breasts with a delightful blend of flavors.

3. Marinate the Dove Breasts:

Place the cleaned dove breasts in a shallow dish or a large resealable plastic bag. Pour the marinade over them, making sure each breast is well-coated. Seal the bag (or cover the dish) and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results. This will allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.

4. Preheat the Grill:

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, around 350-400°F (175-200°C). Make sure the grill grates are clean and lightly oiled to prevent sticking.

5. Skewer the Dove Breasts:

Thread the marinated dove breasts onto the soaked wooden skewers. This not only makes them easier to handle on the grill but also imparts a rustic presentation.

6. Grill the Dove Breasts:

Place the skewers of dove breasts on the preheated grill. Grill for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until the meat is cooked to medium-rare, which should be about 135°F (57°C) internally. Be careful not to overcook, as dove meat can quickly become dry.

7. Rest and Serve:

Remove the skewers from the grill and let the dove breasts rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and keeps the meat tender.

8. Garnish and Enjoy:

Serve the grilled dove breasts hot, garnished with additional fresh rosemary and lemon wedges for squeezing. Pair them with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, a crisp salad, or garlic mashed potatoes.

This grilled dove recipe offers a delectable combination of flavors, with the earthy richness of rosemary and the bright zing of lemon complementing the tender dove meat. It’s a perfect dish for a memorable outdoor feast, celebrating the joys of hunting and cooking together.

Some SC WMAs will open for Sunday hunting

Some WMAs in SC will be open for Sunday hunting beginning Oct. 15, 2023.

South Carolina deer hunters, as well as small game hunters, will be happy to see that several of the Palmetto State’s WMAs and two National Forests will begin opening for Sunday hunting as of Oct. 15, 2023.

According to SCDNR, hunting will be allowed on Sundays between Oct. 15 and Jan. 31 for those species in season on the following WMAs:

Edisto River WMA

Webb WMA

Palachucola WMA

Hamilton Ridge WMA

Liberty Hill WMA

Belfast WMA

Woodbury WMA

Sumter National Forest

Francis Marion National Forest

Each WMA has its own set of rules, and some are open to deer hunting only through the Public Lottery Hunts Program. Be sure to get the specifics at dnr.sc.gov

Another alleged poacher busted by SCDNR

The SCDNR busted another suspected turkey poacher this week. The case happened in Union County, SC.

According to the South Carolina Game Wardens, Region 1 CO Horlacher and PFC Gardner found some turkey bait, along with two dead turkeys. The birds, which were not tagged, had been discarded.

LCPL Burnett joined the two other wardens and they contacted the owner of the property in question. As they proceeded to investigate, they found more violations had occurred during the 2023 turkey hunting season. They charged the alleged poacher with numerous violations, including harvesting more than the wild turkey daily bag limit, hunting turkeys in a baited area, failure to tag turkey at point of kill, and failure to report turkey harvest. 

The suspect will have his day in court soon, but for now, he’s an “alleged poacher.”

Alleged SC turkey poacher busted

SCDNR officials busted a turkey hunter in Saluda County for numerous violations.

After receiving a tip of a possible trespassing to hunt violation in Saluda County, SCDNR Region 3 Officer Alveshire and PFC Miller located and checked the hunter in question.

They learned that the land the hunter had permission to hunt the land he was on when they located him. But after calling in PFC Moon and K-9 Blade, they were able to determine the path the hunter had walked, which showed he had been trespassing previously.

The game wardens continued their investigation, finding numerous other violations.

They found the remains of two turkeys the poacher had killed in recent days. Neither turkey was tagged, and he failed to report either turkey. They also found a substance which appeared to be fentanyl.

SCDNR confiscated the poacher’s firearm and hunting gear, and booked him into the Saluda County Detention Center.