More deer hunting closures start today due to flooding

Temporary hunting bans in Georgetown, Marion, and Horry Counties continue

Last week, the SCDNR closed certain portions of flooded areas to deer hunting for a 10-day period. With more areas now flooding due to runoff from rivers, other areas have now been closed. These temporary closures are intended to last 10 days also, and the SCDNR will monitor these areas and adjust that schedule accordingly.

Due to extremely high river levels and widespread flooding following Hurricane Matthew, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has declared temporary hunting closures on all game species (except alligators, doves, hogs and coyotes) within the Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee River drainage systems. The flooding has created potential for exploitation of game species that are deprived of their normal escape routes and are confined to small areas of high ground, and SCDNR has received concerns from multiple sportsmen.

A ten-day closure of the hunting season for all game species excluding alligators, doves, hogs and coyotes will be in effect as of midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. The current closure will continue until midnight on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. SCDNR will continue to monitor flooded areas and will adjust the closure zones and timeframes as conditions change

Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee River Drainages:

Marion County – All areas south of U.S. Highway 378 and bounded on the west side by the Great Pee Dee River and on the east side by the Little Pee Dee River.

Horry County – West side boundary – beginning at U.S. Highway 378 at the Little Pee Dee River, thence south along the county line and Little Pee Dee River to the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, thence southeast along the Great Pee Dee River to U.S. Highway 701. East side boundary – beginning at the Georgetown County line at the Great Pee Dee River on U.S. Highway 701, thence north on U.S. Highway 701 to State Road 24 (Pee Dee highway.) thence north on State Road 24 (Pee Dee highway.) to U.S. Highway 378, thence to the Little Pee Dee River.

Georgetown County – West side boundary – beginning at the Great Pee Dee River at the Williamsburg County line, thence west along State Road 5 (County Line Road) to the intersection with Old Pee Dee Road (State Roads 14, 55, and 36), thence south and east along Old Pee Dee Road to the intersection with U.S. Highway 701. Eastside boundary – beginning at the intersection of State Road 36 (Old Pee Dee Road) and U.S. Highway 701, thence northeast to the Great Pee Dee River, thence northwest along the Great Pee Dee River to State Road 5 (County Line Road).