Keep South Carolina Wild
Thank YOU to the South Carolina Wildlife Partnership (SCWP) for facilitating last weekend’s dove hunt with our Academics Afield students from Clemson University. We truly appreciate SCWP working with the landowner who allowed these students to participate in a dove shoot on their property. This group is made up of student “guides” and student “participants” learning to hunt. It was especially nice for those participants who harvested their first dove.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act! Join us as we highlight species throughout the year that have benefited from this landmark legislation.
Red knots are listed as federally threatened, and have had an 87% decline since the year 2000. These amazing birds fly more than 18,600 miles during their annual migration. SC’s coast plays a significant role as a stopover site for the birds to rest and recharge during their trip. Red knots have a special link to horseshoe crabs because they depend on their eggs for food during migtation stopover. Their journey of 9,300 miles each spring and each fall makes the red knot one of the longest-distance migrants in the animal kingdom.
You can read more about the symbiotic connection between red knots and horseshoe crabs here.
Alex Killman is a guest writer for SCWF sharing his experiences of connecting with nature, enjoying the outdoors, and advocating for conservation – all through hunting.
There are few misconceptions more common in the world of deer hunting than the October Lull. Ask 10 field-edge-hunting, rifle-toting deer hunters about hunting in early- to-mid-October, and you’ll likely hear from several of them to stay home. But within the mobile hunting community, October is seen as one of the absolute best times to tag a buck, or any deer for that matter. But why do so many people feel that there is a lull in deer movement in the month of October? It’s because much of the conventional deer hunting wisdom has been passed down through the generations by rifle hunters overlooking feeders or food plots. And from that perspective, they are right. There is an extremely noticeable lull in activity within open areas. But back in the timber, things really start heating up in October.
Why There Is a Lull in Fields, Food Plots, and Feeders
The lull in activity seen in fields, food plots, and around feeders boils down to one word – acorns. Acorns begin falling around mid-September and extend into October as well. Acorns, particularly white oak acorns, are one of the whitetail’s most preferred foods. It doesn’t matter how green and palatable a food plot is. When acorns start falling, sightings in that plot are going to drastically reduce.
Why Deer Prefer Acorns
It’s easy to see why deer who only have natural browse to munch on would want to switch it up when acorns fall, but why would deer leave easy-to-access corn or planted brassicas? It’s because of the nutrient makeup of acorns. Acorns are extremely nutrient-dense, being full of protein, carbs, fats, and minerals. These nutrients are vital for deer as they begin preparing for breeding and winter.
Science Busted the Myth
One could possibly argue that just because deer are feeding on acorns, it doesn’t mean it makes for good hunting. And that’s true, but there’s also something else at play. Daytime deer movement, as well as the hormonal changes that bring on the breeding season, is controlled primarily by photoperiod. Photoperiod is the amount of daylight present in a 24-hour period. As the breeding season approaches, there is more daylight with each day that passes, and studies have proven that daylight buck movement increases throughout the month of October, hitting its peak during the Rut in November. So, there’s no denying that there is more daylight buck movement in October, and their movement revolves around acorns for the first half of the month.
Not All Acorns Are Created Equal
White oak acorns are by far the most desirable to deer. The reason is in their low level of tannins. Tannins are responsible for the bitter taste in acorns. But different species of oaks have different levels of tannins. As you move from white oaks to red oaks, the tannin levels increase drastically. For that reason, red oak acorns are some of the least desirable to whitetails. So, if you’re planning on hunting an oak flat, make sure it’s not full of red oaks or pin oaks, which are in the red oak family, or you might not get the show you’re looking for. It’s important to study oak tree bark and leaves to be able to determine which varieties you find while afield.
Pre-Rut in October
As said before, October is leading up to the November Rut, but it doesn’t just all of a sudden kick off from 0 to 100. Things begin really ramping up during the last 10 days of October. Bucks begin thinking less about food and more about does, chasing them later and later into the mornings. Some of the best hunting takes place the last 10 days in October when bucks move more in daylight looking for does, but are still traveling within their home range before the Rut has them wandering like nomads.
How To Be Successful in October
o, we’ve covered the fact that October provides some of the best hunting of the year, but what’s the best plan for a successful October? Don’t plan on hunting the same ol’ field edges. Prepare to drop back in the timber, hunting over white oaks near thicker cover. Both does and bucks will be primarily feeding on acorns the first half of October, and as the Pre-Rut comes around, the bucks will be traveling more during daylight hours, smelling does and having little sparring sessions with each other. Locating white oaks on the sides of ridges where deer can easily escape to cover is a great strategy. Just make sure of one thing – those trees are holding acorns. Not all trees produce every year and not every year produces a good crop. But if you can find a tree that holds a lot of acorns, using binoculars to verify, you may just be in the money. You just need to plan a good entry and exit route that will allow you to come and go without bumping deer.
And as the Pre-Rut kicks off and you start to see bucks getting more interested in does, it’s time to sit those funnels and pinch points where you know deer have to travel through to get to their favorite feeding spots or doe bedding areas. October is also the best time to start hunting mornings, as daylight buck movement tends to be a little higher in the mornings with the Rut looming and temps typically being lower.
Don’t Stay Home
I hope I’ve illustrated the importance of getting mobile in October and finding those hidden white oaks that the deer in your area won’t be able to stay away from. My first bow buck came on a brisk October 8th morning. It wasn’t over a feeder or food plot. It came underneath oaks as that buck fed back toward a bedding area. It was an eye-opening experience and one that I’ve heard of many times from other hunters. So, don’t stay home in October. Find the acorns and hunt them smart.
Published in the Chapin Magazine on September 6, 2023 here.
As the sun rises over Lake Thurmond in McCormick County, SC, I hear excited chatter from the 200 women at breakfast. They are exchanging stories about the classes they took yesterday, and what’s on their schedule for today. Debbie mentions how patient her instructor was in helping her step into a kayak for the first time, and how quickly she learned to maneuver the boat. At the next table, Jasmine excitedly tells her friends that she successfully hit a moving balloon with an arrow during archery class! Nearby, Susan and Rebecca fidget with their cameras, and discuss questions they will ask their Nature Photography instructor later that morning. I hear a little nervousness in Emma’s voice as she talks about heading off to her Boating & Trailering class, but also anticipation to learn a new skill and have more confidence next time she’s at the boat ramp.
As the 8am class time approaches, ladies start to head in various directions to their classes, toting binoculars, yoga mats, water bottles, towels…their tools for the day. Even our staff- the South South Carolina Wildlife Federation employees- get to participate; either leading or taking classes. This day has become one of our favorite days of the year.
For more than 20 years, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) event called the “Women’s Outdoor Retreat” has been an extremely popular event to introduce participants to several different outdoor skills in a comfortable setting with like-minded women. While each class at the Retreat focuses on a particular skill or recreational activity, all of the classes together leave the participants with a greater understanding and appreciation of their natural world and a desire to get active outdoors and do their part to conserve natural resources for future generations to enjoy. This message helps to achieve the SCWF mission: to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy.
The Retreat generally has about 200 women in attendance, and about 50 volunteer instructors and event staff. Ages of participants typically range from 16-80, with the average participant aged 55. Approximately half of the women have attended more than 1 event, with many attending 10 or more. The other half are new to our program, and newer to outdoor recreation in general. The SCWF has significant demand for this program, and registration typically fills up in just a matter of hours! In response to this demand, this year’s event is being transformed and expanded into an entire series and re-named as the “Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreats” or “POWR.”
The POWR program series has been designed to introduce women to the outdoors in a relaxed environment with knowledgeable instructors, and then also provide additional learning and fellowship opportunities, in an effort to make the introductory experiences become lifelong activities.
During the main POWR event in the spring, participants are introduced to up to 8 activities, such as archery, kayaking, outdoor photography, birding, shotguns, fishing, paddleboarding, hunting, knot tying, fish cooking and cleaning, habitat enhancement, and more. Participants learn the basics of getting started and actually get to try the experience. In some cases, participants will enjoy it and move on to the next skill, but in some cases, the experience will lead them to want to learn more about that specific topic. For example, one participant took the Introduction to Hunting class and was inspired to then register for a women’s deer hunt hosted by our state Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). This experience along with countless others led us to create additional opportunities for women to explore the topics they want to learn more about in a more intensive and immersive setting.
“POWR Up” is a two-day event in the fall with 3 in-depth class sessions. The fall 2023 event in Santee features classes on: Backpacking, Bass Fishing, Kayaking, Kayak Fishing, Nature Photography, Pine Needle Basketry, and more
“POWR+” classes are day-long intensive events focused on one particular skill, and they are held throughout the year at different locations across the state. Recent POWR+ classes included Inshore Fishing, Boating & Trailering, Sporting Clays, Dove Hunting, and Fly-Fishing. Heather told us that the Fly-Fishing class was one of the best days of her life!
SCWF has also created a Facebook group (Palmetto Outdoor Women) to foster ongoing fellowship and exchange of ideas and experiences. Research has shown that connecting to like-minded people in a social setting, specifically during outdoor activities, ensures ongoing participation. Several scholarships for the spring POWR event will be available for women underrepresented in the outdoors to learn new skills and make connections for future outdoor recreation opportunities.
In years past, at the end of the retreat, many participants come by the registration table to thank the staff, tell how great their classes were, and to ask about dates for future events. It’s a very rewarding time for staff members who have spent so many hours planning and coordinating the event. Participants express the desire to bring friends, daughters, or mothers next time. (Fun is almost always more fun with more people.) We hear of plans to buy kayaks, backpacks, tents, or fishing rods…. These women want to continue practicing their new skills, and that is exactly what the SCWF hopes will happen. Now, with even more opportunities to learn and hone these skills in the future, the learning won’t end.
Whether it is with us at a POWR event, or on your own, we at the SCWF encourage you all to go outside and play. In the words of John Muir, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” Time spent in nature has been shown to decrease stress and anxiety, and South Carolina has a treasure-trove of amazingly beautiful places to visit and extremely diverse wildlife to see. We hope that each of your walks with nature will inspire you to take action to preserve wildlife and their habitat for future generations to also enjoy.
Registration is open now for upcoming POWR events here.
