Hunting closed in certain areas to prevent exploitation following Hurricane Helene
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is implementing a temporary closure of hunting game in certain Lowcountry areas due to lasting impacts from Hurricane Helene.
The closure includes all game species except for alligator, doves, hogs and coyotes and is effect from Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 12:01 a.m. until Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11:59 p.m.
The closed areas are within the Wateree, Congaree and Santee River drainage systems. SCDNR said several hunters have contacted the agency with concerns.
"Flooding has created abnormal conditions wherein game cannot protect themselves, thus producing the potential for exploitation of game species that are deprived of their normal escape routes and confined to small areas of high ground," agency officials said.
BERKELEY COUNTY: the area bounded on the north by Clarendon, Williamsburg, and Georgetown counties; on the south by S.C. 45; on the west by the old Santee Canal; and the east by Charleston County.
CHARLESTON COUNTY: the area bounded on the west by Berkeley County; on the south by S.C. 45, on the east by U.S. 701/17, and on the north by Georgetown County.
GEORGETOWN COUNTY: beginning at the point where the Williamsburg, Berkeley and Georgetown county lines meet and running north and east along the Georgetown-Williamsburg County lines to U.S. Alternate 17 and thence running along such highway to its intersection with state road 387, thence to state road 24, and running southeast along state road 24 to its intersection with U.S. 17, thence south along U.S. 17 to the Charleston County line, thence west following the Charleston and Berkeley County lines to the point of the beginning.
WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY: beginning at the point where state road 48 (River Road) crosses the Clarendon County line and following state road 48 until its intersection with S.C. 375 (Mackey Road/Gourdin Road), thence running along said road to Gourdin, thence along state road 45 (Santee Road) to the Georgetown County line, thence south along such line to the Berkeley County line and following said line northwest to the Clarendon County line, thence northeast along said Clarendon County to state road 48.
