Scouting report

According to Richard Morton, an SCDNR wildlife biologist, the quantity and quality of deer hunting available at Fant’s Grove WMA has changed since the SCDNR began managing the area in 2000. It was around that time that quality deer management practices were put in place in an effort to manage the herd toward better deer.

“What we’re seeing after these efforts is the quality of the deer has gone up, while the overall numbers of deer, including antlerless deer, are down,” said Morton, whose Clemson office lies on the northern boundary of Fant’s Grove. “The good news is that rack sizes and body weights, even for the does, should be up.”

A buck that’s legal for harvest on Fant’s Grove must have at least four points on one side or a 12-inch antler spread. At a total of 8,540 acres, Fant’s Grove is primarily owned by Clemson University and is located principally in Anderson County, with smaller portions in Oconee and Pickens counties, and sits on the shores of Lake Hartwell.

Clemson University also owns the 4,100-acre Keowee WMA, which lies primarily in Pickens County, with a smaller portion in Oconee County. Keowee is also centered around Lake Hartwell. Like Fant’s Grove, the season limit is three deer, but not more than one buck. No gun hunting for deer is allowed on either WMA, except for an early-season youth hunt at Fant’s Grove. The draw gun hunt held annually at Fant’s Grove toward the end of the season has been discontinued.

“These areas are used as an experimental forest by Clemson University,” said Morton. “The land is intensely managed with prescribed burns and provides ample food, habitat and cover for wildlife, especially deer. We do maintain a few food plots, about 12 acres on each tract, but these are for supplemental feeding. If you plan on setting up on a food plot to hunt, be prepared to see other hunters.”

“I access these lands by boat,” said veteran hunter Bill Plumley. “Since most guys won’t travel very far from the boat, if I pull into a cove and see a boat on one side, I’ll stay on the other side or go find another spot. I think I’ve only seen three other hunters in the last five years, and everyone was respectful of the other hunter and made it work out.”

Editor’s Note: This story appears as part of a feature in South Carolina Sportsman’s October issue. To ensure you don’t miss any information-packed issues, click here to have each magazine delivered right to your mail box.