Post by Steve Sutton on Jul 2, 2010 10:07:23 GMT -5
The most recent round of white-tailed deer antler scoring conducted by
the S.C. Department of Natural Resources revealed 213 new records, including
three Boone and Crockett qualifiers.
Each spring S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife
Section personnel make a concerted effort to score deer racks throughout the
state, with a major scoring session during the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic
in Columbia. Of the 552 sets of antlers scored at the 12 scheduled sessions
this spring, 213 met the minimum score for entry on the state records list
including 201 sets of typical and 12 non-typical racks. According to Charles
Ruth, Deer/Wild Turkey Project supervisor for DNR, the number of successful
entries into the records list this year is the second highest number of
entries in 15 years. Although all of the records were not taken during the
2009 season, 175 were taken during the 2008 or 2009 season. Racks must score
a minimum of 125 points typical or 145 points non-typical to qualify for the
South Carolina state records list. Records are based on the Boone and
Crockett Club scoring system, which measures the mass and symmetry of deer
antlers in two categories-typical and non-typical.
The top typical buck was a 165 7/8 inch buck taken by John Blanton in
Saluda County last November. Blanton's buck qualifies for the Boone and
Crockett Club's Three Year Awards Period List. The second highest scoring
typical was a 162 4/8 inch Calhoun County buck taken by David Wise in
September. Wise's buck will also qualify for the Boone and Crockett Club's
Three Year Awards Period List. Netting 184 2/8 points, the top scoring
non-typical buck was taken by Evin Coombs in Lexington County in November.
Coombs' buck also netted 161 6/8 typical points qualifying it for the Boone
and Crockett Club's Three Year Awards Period List in the typical category.
The second highest scoring non-typical was a 167 1/8 buck taken by Steve
McCoy in Darlington County in October. McCoy's buck is a new Darlington
County non-typical record.
South Carolina's deer herd is in good condition, and it appears that
after many years of rapid population growth the herd stabilized in the
mid-1990s, according to Ruth. Statewide population estimates put the deer
herd at about 750,000 animals with an estimated harvest of about 225,000
each of the last few years. Although the total deer harvest in South
Carolina has been down the last few years, indications from the antler
records program are that deer quality remains good. This would make sense
because fewer deer in the population would benefit from increased nutrition.
Aiken County was this years' top producer of State Record entries with
26. Other top counties included Orangeburg (14), Fairfield (11), and Calhoun
(9). These results come as no surprise as these counties have historically
produced good numbers of record entries.
Although some of the top counties have relatively high deer
populations, some of these counties have more moderate numbers. It is
important that hunters and land managers understand how the density of deer
in an area affects the quality of the animals. Areas with fewer deer
typically have better quality animals because natural food availability and
nutritional quality is higher. Good nutrition is important in producing good
antlers, but deer reproduction, recruitment and survival are also directly
tied to nutrition.
"South Carolina deer hunters deserve a lot of credit for their role in
deer management, particularly as it relates to female deer harvest," Ruth
said. Over the last 10 years, most hunters have realized the importance of
harvesting doe deer and what was once a rapidly increasing deer population
is now stable to decreasing in most areas. All things considered, having
less deer than we did 10 years ago is good and this is supported by the high
number of record entries this year.
As far as all-time leaders at the county level, Orangeburg County
remains at the top with 393 sets of antlers on the list. Rounding out the
top five counties Orangeburg is followed by Aiken 343, Fairfield 245,
Colleton 229, and Anderson with 203 entries.
South Carolina hunters should recognize that harvesting potential
Boone and Crockett bucks is not a common occurrence anywhere in the country.
This is particularly evident if you consider that there are only about 7,000
white-tailed deer records listed by Boone and Crockett, which includes
entries dating to the 1800s. Similarly, the harvest of deer in the United
States in recent years has been about 5 million per year. Essentially, the
average hunter stands a better chance of being struck by lightning than
harvesting one of these record deer. As for the South Carolina Antler
Records List, about one in every 800 bucks harvested makes the State Book.
Currently 5,449 sets of antlers (5,243 typical and 206 non-typical)
are included on the South Carolina antler records list. Results of DNR's
Antler Records Program for 2010 is available on the DNR Web site at
www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/deer/2010DeerAntlerRecords.html.
South Carolina's natural resources are essential for economic
development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the
state's economy overall. Find out more at: www.dnr.sc.gov/green/index.html.
the S.C. Department of Natural Resources revealed 213 new records, including
three Boone and Crockett qualifiers.
Each spring S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife
Section personnel make a concerted effort to score deer racks throughout the
state, with a major scoring session during the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic
in Columbia. Of the 552 sets of antlers scored at the 12 scheduled sessions
this spring, 213 met the minimum score for entry on the state records list
including 201 sets of typical and 12 non-typical racks. According to Charles
Ruth, Deer/Wild Turkey Project supervisor for DNR, the number of successful
entries into the records list this year is the second highest number of
entries in 15 years. Although all of the records were not taken during the
2009 season, 175 were taken during the 2008 or 2009 season. Racks must score
a minimum of 125 points typical or 145 points non-typical to qualify for the
South Carolina state records list. Records are based on the Boone and
Crockett Club scoring system, which measures the mass and symmetry of deer
antlers in two categories-typical and non-typical.
The top typical buck was a 165 7/8 inch buck taken by John Blanton in
Saluda County last November. Blanton's buck qualifies for the Boone and
Crockett Club's Three Year Awards Period List. The second highest scoring
typical was a 162 4/8 inch Calhoun County buck taken by David Wise in
September. Wise's buck will also qualify for the Boone and Crockett Club's
Three Year Awards Period List. Netting 184 2/8 points, the top scoring
non-typical buck was taken by Evin Coombs in Lexington County in November.
Coombs' buck also netted 161 6/8 typical points qualifying it for the Boone
and Crockett Club's Three Year Awards Period List in the typical category.
The second highest scoring non-typical was a 167 1/8 buck taken by Steve
McCoy in Darlington County in October. McCoy's buck is a new Darlington
County non-typical record.
South Carolina's deer herd is in good condition, and it appears that
after many years of rapid population growth the herd stabilized in the
mid-1990s, according to Ruth. Statewide population estimates put the deer
herd at about 750,000 animals with an estimated harvest of about 225,000
each of the last few years. Although the total deer harvest in South
Carolina has been down the last few years, indications from the antler
records program are that deer quality remains good. This would make sense
because fewer deer in the population would benefit from increased nutrition.
Aiken County was this years' top producer of State Record entries with
26. Other top counties included Orangeburg (14), Fairfield (11), and Calhoun
(9). These results come as no surprise as these counties have historically
produced good numbers of record entries.
Although some of the top counties have relatively high deer
populations, some of these counties have more moderate numbers. It is
important that hunters and land managers understand how the density of deer
in an area affects the quality of the animals. Areas with fewer deer
typically have better quality animals because natural food availability and
nutritional quality is higher. Good nutrition is important in producing good
antlers, but deer reproduction, recruitment and survival are also directly
tied to nutrition.
"South Carolina deer hunters deserve a lot of credit for their role in
deer management, particularly as it relates to female deer harvest," Ruth
said. Over the last 10 years, most hunters have realized the importance of
harvesting doe deer and what was once a rapidly increasing deer population
is now stable to decreasing in most areas. All things considered, having
less deer than we did 10 years ago is good and this is supported by the high
number of record entries this year.
As far as all-time leaders at the county level, Orangeburg County
remains at the top with 393 sets of antlers on the list. Rounding out the
top five counties Orangeburg is followed by Aiken 343, Fairfield 245,
Colleton 229, and Anderson with 203 entries.
South Carolina hunters should recognize that harvesting potential
Boone and Crockett bucks is not a common occurrence anywhere in the country.
This is particularly evident if you consider that there are only about 7,000
white-tailed deer records listed by Boone and Crockett, which includes
entries dating to the 1800s. Similarly, the harvest of deer in the United
States in recent years has been about 5 million per year. Essentially, the
average hunter stands a better chance of being struck by lightning than
harvesting one of these record deer. As for the South Carolina Antler
Records List, about one in every 800 bucks harvested makes the State Book.
Currently 5,449 sets of antlers (5,243 typical and 206 non-typical)
are included on the South Carolina antler records list. Results of DNR's
Antler Records Program for 2010 is available on the DNR Web site at
www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/deer/2010DeerAntlerRecords.html.
South Carolina's natural resources are essential for economic
development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the
state's economy overall. Find out more at: www.dnr.sc.gov/green/index.html.