South Carolina Tradgangers

[Chinook]

Hope this is an appropriate topic - well it does relate to my possible traditional bowhunting future !
I just lost my second job since March    
Now I may have an opportunity for a new position in Greenville, S.C.

Wonder if any of you South Carolina Tradgangers could give me some ideas of the hunting opportunities, favorite game, locals, etc.  I'd be located in Greenville.

What is the disposition of most private land owners and farmers, is it normal to gain permission to hunt on private land ?
What is the fishing like on Lakes Jocasse & Keowee ?
I don't mind personal messages if we don't want to cluter up this site.

[WildmanSC]

Chinook,

You will find the fishing is great.  I think I'm right in stating that the upstate land is pretty much all treated as public GMA land.  I will go on the DNR website and see if I can confirm that.  In the upstate you can hunt for deer and black bear.  I don't know about hogs.  You may have to drop down into the midstate or the Lowcountry to find deer.

Go to the following link, scroll down and you will see that the Mountain Hunt Unit offers everything that can be hunted in the state of SC.  I know that in the Lowcountry of SC most private land is leased for hunting purposes and it can cost $800 a year and up to be a member of a club having a lease.

 http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlifewma.html

Bill

[varmint]

Just about the longest deer season in the US(August 15-January 1)

Most liberal limits in the US(Lowcountry,no limit on antlered,5 personal doe tags,and clubs get almost unlimited doe tags,plus if you hunt GMA/WMA you won't be using your personal tags)

Great turkey numbers,with a very liberal 5 bird limit,season runs from March 15-May 1

Some very good trout fishing in the upstate,Chattooga river,Bad Creek Project,Jocassee,ect.

Great Bass fishing,catfishing,crappie fishing elsewhere

I don't saltwater fish,but hear that it is awesome

Getting harder and harder to get permission to hunt private land,majority is leased now or used by owner/family.

I'll gladly answer more questions if you'd like....

[Pat B]

Chinook, I live in Brevard, NC, just up the mountain from Greenville. Bill is correct about the western portion of SC is considered game lands. Lots of good mountain lands to hunt deer and bears.   The fishing in Lakes Jocasse and Keowee is good from what I've heard. I believe the Bass Masters is holding their Classic on one of those lakes next spring. Great trout fishing in the mountain streams also.
   Greenville is a boom town these days. Its growing like a weed. Pat

[varmint]

A little clarification........

I'm in the Lowcountry(coastal)

Deer season Aug 15-Jan 1,but we can't start shooting Does till Sep 15

Turkey season(private land)Mar 15-May 1
             (public land)Apr 1-May 1

Upstate I believe deer season is either 1 Sept,or 15 Sept till 1 Jan

Turkey upstate is Apr 1-May 1

Plus....there is a 5 buck limit I believe in the upstate,for a total of 10 with your 5 personal doe tags.

If you're into flyfishing PM or e-mail me and I can tell you about a few really nice spots upstate that we catch some Brookies in,plus Rainbows and Browns too.

[KodiakBob]

Lookup  www.Keoweebowmen.com  a club in that area.
Of course lookup  WWW.scbowhunters.org  and the palmetto archery federation.

[hit some miss some]

Chinook,
        The upstate has plenty on hunting opportunities on public lands. However, getting permission to hunt on private lands can be difficult. Most land owners either hunt it themselves or have family and friends who hunt it. Some just don't trust strangers.
        Primative weapons season opens in Game Zone 1 October 1 and runs through the 10th. There are 2 big archery only areas near Clemson, SC. Issaqueena and Fant's Grove. The seasons in these areas vary in their starting and ending times. Go to the SCDNR site to get the regulations. There are some good deer on these. Both areas are within an easy one hour drive of Greenville.
         Game Zone 2 has quite a bit of public land and a higher deer population than game zone 1, but it tends to have more hunters. Zone 1 has mountains and can be rugged especially when dragging out a deer, bear, or hog. Well sometimes it's pretty hard just dragging your own behind out    I hunt both units.
          Now it's time to put a plug in for our archery club. The Keowee Bowmen. It's located near Clemson, SC and is pretty easy to get to. You'll have to come out and shoot with us. There is another club called TABs(Traditional American Bowhunters). TABs is about 1/2 hour outside of Greenville. Both clubs are fun to shoot.
          I've got to go back to work. I'll be glad to answer any questions I can for you. just shoot me a PM.
Brian

[Interseptor]

Chinook,
The information that Brian gave was on point.  I live in Greenville County and hunt Fants Grove and Keowee lands which are owned by Clemson University and managed by the state DNR.  Good populations of deer and lots of options as far as hunting goes on both tracks.  I think the key to hunting in the upstate is finding those small tracks to hunt. If you can find someone who has 15 to 50 acres and gain access, then you can coordinate hunting public land with the small private spot.  On the small spot, you could plant a food plot and position handing stands and be selective about when you hunt that spot. That is what I do.  Also, there is great hunting on the public land down highway 26 towards Columbia.  Newberry County has public land that is not hunted much till gun season.  Also, the public land down the street in Greenwood has great hunting.  My best Carolina Buck (Gun hunting) came off of small track of land in Greenwood which was across the street from state game lands.  And the low country is a good option as well.  I some times hunt with some of the gun clubs in that part and have often said that I would love to find a small track to bowhunt on down there.  Also, some of the public lands in that part of the state have just recently established hog seasons which run from January to April.  Last tip, Join both the Traditional Bowhunter of Georgia and the Carolina Traditional Bowhunters Club.  TBG sets up several hunts during the year in Georgia on public land.  And eventhough I have never attended the hunts, they are great opportunities.  The two hunts that have always sparked my interest are the Cuhutta Wildernes hunt in the Georgia mountains and the Blackbeard Island hunt off the coast of Georgia.  Blackbeard hunt will give you a crack at deer and pigs and Cuhutta will give you a shot at deer, pigs , and even blackbear. Also,both clubs sponor 3-D shoots which I have thoroughly enjoyed over the years and will put you in touch with good people.  Shoot me a Email.

[Chinook]

Thanks to you all for the replies and the great info.  All very interesting and informative.  This gives me a great starting point and I will use all your info to begin my search.
Of course, first I've got to land the job, relocate down there, move the wife and kids, and a few other detail items.
Its good to see there are guys like you all in the area, and the couple listed clubs.  I will save all your info and contact info.  I'll be contacting you all once the dust has settled.
Thanks again.

[REM]

Give me a shout once you get to town.  I live in Greer and work in Greenville.

[Jeff Holchin]

I lived in SC twice now, in Charleston from 92-96 and Columbia from 2002 to 2005.  I think there will be some serious shock coming from Wisconsin to SC, as the country and hunting styles are quite different.  I grew up in PA which I'm told is similar to Wisconsin, and it took me several years to adapt.  Hope you like pine trees, especially if you venture into the lowcountry.  I hunted the 3 different area: lowcountry along the coast, midlands or piedmont (around Columbia) and the mountains, killing deer and turkeys in all 3 areas and hogs in the lowcountry.  Even though I love the mountains, I liked hunting the lowcountry best because you could see deer, turkeys, hogs, gators, snakes and varmits - all in the same day!  PM me if you want more info on my favorite area in the Francis Marion NF.  In the mountains, I liked hunting close to the Chatooga river and killed several turkeys there.

I also second the tip of joining the CTA and TBG - the second group is wonderful and I have attended several group hunts plus a banquet.  Great hunting exists just across the state line and the trad bowhunting community in GA is strong.

[Hogtamer]

Chinook:  The first thing you will have to do is change your handle to "Catfish" or "BoHog" or some such.  "HOGTAMER" is already taken, though!  Although I'm in Georgia I've met a few of these SC boys.  Take them up on it when they say to give them a call.   BTW guys, I think the Appling Bowhunters Festival is gonna be the last weekend of May next year, as the concensus seemed to be we needed to do it after school is out.  Hal

[REM]

Hey Hogtamer
If you have the Appling Bowhunters Festival the last weekend of May, you may be competing with the NC Traditional Archery Championship at the Carolina Traditional Archers club.  I know some of the guys like to attend both shoots.

Rick

[DAC7316]

Hello Chinook, I live in the Seneca SC, there is great fishing in Keowee and Jocasse. The deer hunting is good in the upstate and even better in the middle to lower part of the state.  Fant's Grove located near Clemson has a trophy management area and everyone has started to see the results as some big deer are being taken.  If you hunt public land expect it to be a little crowded. The hog and bear hunting is pretty good also,lots of turkeys too. We have the Keowee oowmen archery club located in Six Mile they have lots of 3D shoots and several traditioal shooters, check out  www.keoweebowmen.com   The archery season is very long as mentioned above.

[southernarcher]

Good public hunting in the PeeDee area.Not too crowded and plenty of game,deer,hogs,turkeys,small game and fish.
Give me a pm if you need anymore info.

[allanburden]

Hey Chinook, welcome to SC.  I live in Woodruff, about 20 miles east of Greenville and hunt the Chestnut Creek Heritage Preserve in Northern Greenville county.  I think it's a great piece of property that get's overlooked due to the size of keowee and fant's grove.  It's 1881 acres with a small archery only area tucked deeper into the property that is not accessible directly from the road.  It's a heck of a hike to bring deer out, it took my buddy and me six hours to get two does out last year!  But it is well worth it.  Hope to see ya in the woods some time, if you have any questions about the area PM me I am a life long resident.  Take care.