DNR News
** Archived Article - please check for current information. **
December 5, 2014Upstate mobility impaired deer hunts a success again in 2014
A unique partnership among private landowners, hunt clubs and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources provided individuals who are severely mobility impaired an opportunity to go deer hunting again this year at some of the most well-managed and exclusive private tracts of land in the Upstate.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) handles the publicity, application and notification processes, but the private landowners who host mobility impaired hunters on their property are providing this unique opportunity. There is no application fee or other costs to participate in these hunts.
Hunt participants at these events must meet one of three, very specific criteria: Applicants must be (1) permanently confined to a wheelchair, or (2) permanently require some type of mechanical aid (walker, braces, canes, etc.) to assist them in walking or (3) have had a single or double leg amputation. Each participant can bring someone to assist them in a non-hunting capacity and all hunting is conducted from ground blinds. During 2014, two special two-day hunts were held at 46 host sites in Cherokee, Laurens, Newberry, Spartanburg and Union counties. Participating in the hunts were 147 hunters, and they harvested 35 deer (13 bucks and 22 does).
The first hunt this year was conducted on Oct. 24-25 at sites in Cherokee, Spartanburg and Union counties. All hunt participants, their assistants and hosts met at Tyger Ranch in Union County on Friday for bluegrass music and an outstanding barbecue lunch. After lunch and prior to everyone dispersing to go hunting, a number of hunt participants won some very nice door prizes that included gift certificates, shotguns, rifles and various other items.
The list of hosts accommodating hunters during the 2014 Upstate hunts included the following individuals and organizations:
* Cherokee County
Arcon Land & Timber, LLC – Wayne & Judy Cooper
* Spartanburg County
Booger Den Hunt Club – Larry Cook
Campbell Property – Harold Campbell
Cross Anchor Hunt Club – Darrell Merchant
Four T’s Hunt Club – Steve Pettit
Gordon Farms – John W. Floyd
Jimmie’s Creek Farm – Wayne Barnes (Stewart Johnson)
Little Tyger Hunt Club – Wayne High
Magnolia – Wayne High (George D. Johnson Jr.)
Police Hunt Club – Curtis Stacy
Riverside Hunt Club - Sam Shackelford, III
Tri G Gun Club – Dr. George Graham
Weir Property – Dr. David Weir
* Union County
Arrowhead Farm – Tad Cannon
Beulah Creek Hunt Club – Ron Roberts
Chufa Ridge Farm – Bob Jeter
Fairforest Timber Company – Frank Sistare
Fowken Farm – Kegan Roberts (Norris Fowler)
Laura Lyn Farm – Steve Koskela
Padgett’s Creek Reserve – Bob Santanello (Donnie Loftis)
Pea Ridge Hunt Club – Ty Cheek
Rabbit Road Hunt Club – Chick Hutchinson (Donnie Loftis)
Rackmaster Hunt Club – Larry Cook (Rusty Sellers)
Triangle 113 Hunt Club – Walter Oates
Trophy Buck Hunt Club – Terry Shockley
Tyger Ranch – Wayne High (George D. Johnson Jr.)
U. S. Sportsman’s Hunt Club – Wayne Garner
The second hunt was conducted on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at sites in Laurens and Newberry counties. All hunt participants, their assistants and hosts met at the Clinton National Guard Armory in Laurens County on Friday for bluegrass music and an outstanding barbecue lunch. After lunch and prior to everyone dispersing to go hunting, a number of hunt participants won some very nice door prizes that included gift certificates, a rifle and various other items.
* Laurens County
Benjamin Property – Ricky Childers
Blackmon Farm – Charles Blackmon
Hawks Nest Hunt Club – Tom Hawkins
Pitts Place – Wade Pitts
Quaker Creek Farm – Dr. Wallace Boyd
Southern Timber Associates – Steve Frantz
Spearman Property – Penny Spearman
Sugar Flat Hunt Club – Tim Howard
The Clinton House Plantation – Mike Johnson (Chris Grant)
Togo - John McCaulie (Tom Pope)
Triple S Hunt Club – Dave Schemm
Woollen Farm – Dr. Claude Woollen
* Newberry County
Belfast Hunt Club – Lee Walsh
Belfast WMA – Gary Stephens
Lester Estate – Terry Cotney
Mudlick Lodge – Mr. & Mrs. Roy Jones
Pacolet Milliken Enterprises – Danny Roach
Piedmont Conservation Club – Rusty Harter
The Scott Place (TCA Timberlands) – Otis Taylor
The Upstate Warrior Solution in Greenville arranged for several servicemen injured in combat within Iraq or Afghanistan to attend these special events. Outdoor activities such as hunting can provide immense physical and psychological benefits to injured service people as they transition back into civilian life as well as to other individuals who as a result of an illness or accident are forced to adjust to a new lifestyle that drastically restricts their mobility.
Applications for the 2015 Upstate hunts will be available in early summer, but you may contact
the Union DNR office at anytime to get your name on the mailing list for an application. Information about becoming a host is also available from the Union DNR Office. The office address is Union DNR Office, 124 Wildlife Drive, Union, SC 29379 and the telephone number is (864) 427-5140. You may also download an application in the early summer from the DNR website.
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