It is now 15 days and counting until the deer season opener here on private land in the bottom half of the state. I don't own any land and can not invite you to hunt with me for the opener. However, I would like to invite all of you Leatherwallers to come down here to the SC lowcountry for a public land deer/hog hunting weekend sometime this season.

I know where a public campground is located that I think would be great for a group of us to meet-up for a weekend of camping and hunting. The campground is a primitive campground (no water, electricity, or facilities) in the Francis Marion National Forest. It is free, doesn't see much use, and is in a beautiful location on an oxbow lake.

I titled this thread "Calling all Carolina Hunters", but NORTH Carolinians are welcome aw well - lol. Seriously, though, I'm inviting ALL Leatherwallers, but most of you guys in the SE could probably make the drive to Charleston in half a day or less.

If anybody is interested, let me know and we can start working on dates, plans, etc. I think we could have a great time.

Thanks,

Richard

I'm interested but probably more so for pig hunting after deer season. But I might could make it for a day of deer hunting during the week. I work shift work so I have a lot of week days of which suits me fine since the woods are less crowded then.

Oh btw are you sure you can hunt that land? I was thinking that was a national park like the congaree monument which couldn't be hunted?

Well I live up here in the upstate so we don't get to hunt for a while yet. When does public land hunting open down there? I haven't seen the new regs for this year yet.

you would probably have it to yourself before the Sept1 gun opener if you can stand the heat.I got that SC bowhunt merit badge its HOT!

Yeah I think I could find the time to come down there from up here in Greer. I lost my private land privileges 3 years ago when the landowner died. His nephew bought the land and stopped allowing hunting. It's in Laurens county with 994 acres and most times I had it to myself (he let me bring my kids) with one other fellow having permission.

Bob, since you are in Greer do you ever hunt anywhere up in the Mountain Hunt Unit in Zone 1? I am new to the upstate and looking to try my luck up there this year. I know it isn't the easiest hunting in the state but I am not particularly worried about that. I am retired and can spend a lot of time in the woods during the week.

Lowcountry, correct me if I am wrong but that would require a Game Management Permit and it ain't cheap. I did get one this year because I plan to hunt at Leeds some in the Sumter National Forest and possibly or Webb Center hunt will come through this year. We have 2 Ps and I heard it is possible.

Hot weather camping and hunting sucks but wise men say,"if you don't hunt when it's hot in SC, you won't hunt a lot."

Bill. Archery only season in Game Zone 2 is the best thing going in the state for the bowhunter. Lots of uncrowded public land hunting. Check it out. There is also some duck hunting areas that allow archery only the whole month of Oct.

Bobby I now what you mean last 2 years I had a nice track to hunt and the owners son saw me up there and told his dad not to let me hunt anymore.

Dana, I will take another good look at Zone 2 but the drive is a bit longer for me. I can get to most of the mountain hunt unit in about 30-35 minutes. And there are a couple of decent areas even closer than that. Thanks for the info.

I would be interested later in the season, used to hunt down there years ago, Hell Hole or Wambaw units would work. GMA permit is around $22 for the year.

Am with David - would be interested later part of season...

Yeah I do hunt quite a bit in GMZ1. Not too strenuous but you do need mountain legs. There are some deer and a lot of hogs. Plus some really big rattlers. My son and I were going up there to do some scouting some years back and as we were almost at the turn - in point to park a rattlesnake around six feet long was crawling across the road right in front of my truck. Kinda scared my son as he's never seen a rattler that big. So you do need to be careful up here.

The GMA permit is $20 bucks or so (in state) as Queit Man stated. I just bought my complete Hunting/Fishing/Big Game Permit/Saltwater License for $60.00.

There are lots of variables and options. The hunt unit I am proposing is North Hampton, but Wambaw, and Waterhorn are not far from the camp site.

Bow only season is September 15th - Oct 10th (either sex, but we are able to bow hunt once the gun season starts on Oct. 11th. I know a lot of people worry about hunting during the gun season on public land, but I honestly have never had a problem of any kind. I rarely see trucks in the areas where I hunt, and I have never even got to my parking spot to find a hunter already there.

The first of Oct would be during the Rut.

Acorns (white oak and overcup) start dropping in November.

As stated - September will still be pretty warm.

They have occasional dog drive hunts during the year. Those hunts are scheduled on Sept 27th, Oct 8 & 9th, Nov 21, Dec 13, and Dec 29, so we cant hunt then in the North Hampton hunt unit.

Keep us posted I'm definantly intrested

Well I am fortunate in having reached the age where I got my senior lifetime license for $9 and it includes everything I need.

Yea, I buy the 3-year licence, and if the wife watches the kids, I may show up.

Sounds good guys. Good to hear from you R-Man. Lets plan on it. I am leaving for a vacation tomorrow morning for a week, but I'll try to check in. Once I get back, we can start trying to work out a good week-end. I was thinking we could maybe do a Thursday thru Sunday weekend. Set-up on Thursday, hunt, and leave Sunday morning.

Hopefully we can work something out.

Lots of good land to hunt in Francis Marion (Hell Hole especially).... I might be interested...I live here in Charleston myself.

keep em sharp,

ron herman

It would seem the dnr has shortend are wma seasons back to 9/15 for most areas.

Yeah, I noticed that. Been Sept 1st for the last couple of years - don't know why they backed it up to the 15th.

They are getting upstate and low state together on seasons

OK guys, lets see if we can come up with a good week end to get together for a long week-end of hunting, camping, and/or BS-ing. Looking at the calendar, some possible dates are:

OCT. 2,3,4 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)

OCT. 16, 17, 18

NOV. 6,7,8

NOV. 13, 14, 15

So let me know whose interested, and let's see what we can plan. Let me know if you have any questions about the area, or whatever.

Um, the first monday and tuesday in october is in hollywood sc, Ace basin national forest hunt, plenty of dumb stupid deer, also at the lakeMarion forest near us 95. I may be able to pick one of those days, I have to find time around wifes work schedule, so dont wait for me, I try to find atleast on of the days you pic.

I am planning on hunting the Northampton unit of the Francis Marion National Forest. The campground is near Jamestown, SC (20 miles from Monck Corner) off of Highway 45 at Guillard Lake.

draw me a map, unable to locate, hows the hunting there?

From Moncks Corner take U.S. 17 ALT out of town to Jamestown (away from Summerville). In Jamestown, cross through the intersection and you will be on Hwy 45 (also called French Santee Rd. Go approximately 3.5 miles, and turn left on Guilliard Lake Rd. It is the first left after passing the Martin Maretta rock quarry. This is a gravel forest service road. Once on the forest service road (Guilliard Lake Road) go a little over a 1.5 miles and turn left on Francis Marion Circle. That's what Google Earth calls it, but I'm pretty sure there isn't a street sign, just a wooden post with a number on it, but it should be the only left. Once you turn left, the road wanders around for a mile and a half. Stay on that road and it ends at the campground. Google Earth coordinates are 33^17'09.11"N by 79^37'07.67"W. PM your email to me and I can probably send you an actual map.

As far as the deer hunting goes - it depends. Lots of deer, but lots of land too. There is a lot of swamp, lots of hardwood ridges next to the swamps, and lots of food plots. With the constant lack of funds, the DNR usually doesn't actually plant food plots, but they do usually till them up occasionally. Most are actually more like wildlife openings.

My hunt in Virginia (Rough Mountain) and in Georgia (Blackbeard Island) pretty much are not going to happen...so I have nothing solid planned until another hog hunt in February...so I might be good to go for a weekend hunt together in November.

I might be able to get down there for one of those weekends. I am retired so all I need to do is get SWMBO's approval. As of right now I don't think there is anything planned for any of those dates.

Some info we need to be aware of for that area;EVERYBODY PLEASE SHARE! From a buddy on the wma board- Francis Marion Forest to be rezoned for bikers, hikers , loop trails and more to be put in as different units will now be geared and managed towards everything other than hunting. !!!!READ!!!! Page 2 of Post and Courier. There are all ready plenty of trails and other facilities nearby that provide these amenities for the public !! We don't need more trails or open access in the Francis Marion this is a direct attack on hunting !!!!. .. Be at the meeting to show your support of hunters and the Francis Marion !! HUNTERS stick together ! We pay the bills in license fees, hikers, bikers and bird watchers pay nothing. Meeting 9 am , September 23, Hilton Garden Inn, International Blvd, North Charleston. Be there please!!

unreal, I thought it was for that already, open to the public

I had a dentist appointment this morning at 9:00 and could not make the meeting. Did anybody make it? If so, what did you hear?

The article I read didn't appear to be a direct attack on Hunting. The article even said that an area managed for one activity would not prohibit that activity in other areas. I will definitely keep my eye on it though.

I was unable to attend.

any idea on a date for the hunt yet? I had some fun to day at Hall wma, a buck got to sniff my arrow stuck in the ground between his front legs.

Most everybody that expressed an interest, said November would be best for them. Nov, 6,7, and 8 works for best for me, so that is what I'm going to plan on. I hope some of you guys can join me.

Sorry to hear you missed one Randy. Sounds like you have them figured out though.

its always fun

oh, the 'other' Carolina; happy trails.....

What do you mean "other" Carolina. Where I came from there was Carolina, and then there was North Carolina. LOL.

You are welcome to come also Woodduck. Where in NC are you from?

Any luck to speak of yet?, where seeing some nice bucks at Hall, but still trying get in the right spot, they have regular roughts but vary day to day, lots of rubs and scrapes. possible ten pointer, and for sure two 8's, one 7 pointer eat a car. killed a few copperheads driveing and seen 15+ on the roads lately. becarefull walking around. Randy

I hunted Dungannon this morning. Had one deer come in down wind of me as I was climbing my tree. Saw a small buck on the trek in. I think I have a good spot, but it is hard to get in there. Going to be damn hard to get a deer out too, but I'm looking forward to it. lol

In the morning I'm going in to the area where we are going to hunt/camp this November to do a little scouting and hunting. I'll report on the acorn outlook.

Well I scouted a little this morning. Good news and bad news.

The good news - The White Oaks have acorns.

The bad news - ALL of the White Oaks have acorns! Along with the Overcup, Red, and Water Oaks. I was paying so much attention to the stupid Oak trees, that I walked right up on a doe and two yearlings. I was within bow range when I saw them - and they saw me.

Here are a few pics I took.

Chufa plot.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0729_zps17e15962.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0730_zpsc947a4c6.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0731_zps35274f64.jpg

Fresh hog rooting http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0736_zpsd35a2d21.jpg

This guy was in the road when I was coming out. http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0740_zpsb03157d6.jpg http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0741_zps228ee176.jpg

The campground.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0751_zpsbd310626.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0742_zpsca34291e.jpg

The Lake http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0743_zps99bd224f.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0744_zps548ca109.jpg

I'll be bringing a 16 foot canoe. Anybody that comes and wants to use it, you will be more than welcome.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0729_zps17e15962.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Lowcounrty/Guilliard%20Lake/IMG_0730_zpsc947a4c6.jpg

Not sure why it only showed the first picture.

Found this guy in the road

This is the campground

Another one

The Lake

Last one. I will be bringing a canoe. Anybody that comes and wants to use it will be more than welcome to.

bet theres some fair deer in that area, is it open to gun hunters yet?

The gun season doesn't start until Oct. 11th.

Oh no! guns in the woods now. How many guys going to the camp ground? I can only get one morning most likely. I have to many kids, and cant leave them alone. headed back to Hall wma on wed or fri, hope temps drop soon.

I got permission from the BOSS (and the company I work for), so I will be there Thursday (Nov 6) morning until Sunday (Nov 9)morning.

Word of advice for anyone coming. Obey all traffic laws in the town of Jamestown. They have a reputation of vigorously enforcing their traffic laws.

yea I found that out 5yrs ago.

Four years ago I had a $400 ticket given to me. He graciously knocked it down to $175 if I called in and talked to the office the following week and agreed to mail my check in prior to the court date.

We're two weeks away. So who is coming? I'm looking forward to meeting some fellow Leatherwallers.

I will try, more than likely only for a day. Friday or saturday

Not thinking there will be many, might be better to stay closer to home, ?

I think 3 or 4 guys may come - plus me.

Tomorrow's the day. I hope to leave the house by 10:00 am and should get to the campground by 11 or so. I was telling someone today that this was going to be my "NO" weekend. No Computers, no phones, no TV, no "to do" list, no schedule. Looking forward to seeing those who make it. PM me if you have any questions.

I am going to have to back out....I have to work 4 hours Saturday and have some personal family business my wife and her brother wants us to attend. Weather should cool down a little again this weekend... Wish you all the luck...this is third get together hunting I have had to cancel this year...not any easier third time from first time.

keep em sharp,

ron herman

Thanks Ron. You had mentioned you might have some family obligations. I hope all goes well, and I know it sucks to work on a Saturday. Good luck on the rest of the season.

Been following along with this thread since it started. Wish I could make it but just aint in the plans for this year. Maybe next season, if you guys plan this again, maybe set a date a little earlier, I'll sure try to make it!

Oh...and good luck to you guys this weekend! Post up some photos when you get back!

what a downer man, wifes working, and I will only get saturday morning, to far for 4hrs of free time. we can hook up at hall or porcher another day for a hunt, sence i seldom get much more than 4hrs a week to hunt now. sorry man. Randy

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