One if by Land, Two if by Boat? Kill more deer hunting by water

Deer hunters may double or triple their chances of success by accessing crackerjack public hunting areas by water.

South Carolina’s Piedmont area is blessed with an abundance of Wildlife Management Areas, ranging from rugged mountain terrain to lowland — almost swampland — bottoms.

The Piedmont is also home to a number of large reservoirs and at least two major rivers. Overlap these two priceless recreational venues, and even a casual observer will see that some of the most remote areas of hunting land are adjacent to easily navigable waters.

Enter the deer hunter who owns a boat. Imagine pulling your rig into a spacious, public landing, launching your boat, motoring a short distance on well-marked, easy to travel waterway (even at night) and easing into a pristine creek bottom or hardwood stand virtually undetected.

Choosing your ride

Before getting into the where, let’s take a look at the “how.” South Carolina ranks high on the national list of household watercraft ownership. Granted, the jet ski and cabin cruiser are probably ruled out immediately, but what makes a good “hunting boat?”

Steve Matt of Eureka Springs, Ark., is an avid deer hunter and fisherman. Retired from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, he is a Field Staff Pro for Yamaha Outboards and G3 boats. In that position, he has been able to master the art of slipping up on unwary big game in remote locations from the water.

He provided pointers for selecting a hunting boat.

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