Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) is leading the charge to restore the deer population through habitat restoration and increased deer hunting opportunities. Advisories, SCDNR On the state level, baiting is still prohibited. Turkey hunters should be aware that there is no fall hunting season this year. Many cannot do so at 100 yards, shooting from a bench rest! Examples of firearms now legal for the southern part of the state include, but are . South Carolina has little prohibition on handguns. All regulations in this section apply to all private and public lands throughout the state, unless otherwise specified. In the morning and at night, when the moon is full, deer tend to be more active. In comparison, South Carolina has only received 13 bucks from the Boone and Crockett records. A standard Winchesters muzzle is effective at 3,060 feet per second with 130-grain Nosler bullets. It isnt that I have an issue with the subject. Dont bother with the Ackley improved AI version. This does not prohibit the use of synthetic products or substances collected by a hunter from deer legally harvested in SC. For hunters looking for the best long range caliber of that time, OConnor suggested sighting in at 300 yards. All of these calibers are effective for deer hunting, but they may not be the best for specific hunting situations. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. This is a prescription for flinching, bad bullet placement and wounded/lost game animals. In other words, the kick is similar to that of a standard .243 factory load. Page had been fooling around with a number of 6mm wildcats in the late 1940s, but when Winchester introduced the .308 Winchester in 1952, he discovered the platform hed been looking for. Fans of the big magnums insist that a benefit to these boomers is that they are more forgiving with bullet placement than lesser cartridges. The KDWPT is also working on a deer hunting plan to help manage the herd. Black Hills Ammunition 175-grain ELD-X SEE IT Remington 150-grain Core-Lokt Tipped Nosler 168-grain Accubond LR Hornady American Whitetail 139-grain SP Interlock Winchester 150-grain Ballistic Silvertip Phone Numbers | Accessibility | For the purposes of this article, let's assume we are adults, sufficiently mature to understand and accept our limitations. This program is generally better suited for landowners or lessees with large acreages. Individual tags do not alter the daily (2 per day) or seasonal limit or change the type of weapon that can be used during special weapons seasons. South Carolinas hunting seasons and regulations are enforced by the Hunting Seasons and Regulations Act, which is critical for protecting the states deer population. Im glad you agree. His outstanding prose, and experience in the field, tipped the scales in favor of the .270 to the point where it has run neck-in-neck with the .30/06 in terms of popularity for three quarters of a century. The average 55 grain.223 FMJ should allow you to ping steel targets at 800 yards with a set of receivers. (This will vary from place to place.). I hope that you, gentle reader, having read this article will take it to heart. From August 15 to January 1, the South Carolina Lowcountry is an excellent hunting location for wild boar, deer, quail, and even wild turkey. An ultra-long range cartridge or super powerful caliber is not required for shooting deer. In states where hunting with a rifle is legal, the.300 Winchester Magnum is an excellent caliber for deer hunting; however, it is not the most effective caliber to use if hunting with a bow. Most states require hunters to use at least a 22lr round, so this has become slightly larger (but much faster). There are several deer hunting opportunities available during the Youth Hunt, which runs from August 14 to September 11. South Carolinas Hunting Season Is Here If the leaves begin to change color, it is the hunting season for deer, hog, and quail in the state. When hunting with a firearm in South Carolina, you must be 300 yards away from a residence when less than 10 feet above the ground. deer hunting in south carolina can be a challenging and rewarding experience. As it turned out, I used my ballistic crush on the first deer I shota spike whitetail buck at about 35 yards that had wandered out of a cedar swamp to feed on the grassy hill where I had posted up. at 200 yards .30-06 Spfd., 125 grain at 2660 fps: 1249 ft. lb. The best areas to take a trophy in North Carolina are the northern Piedmont region and the Great Smoky Mountains. Falconers must possess a permit from the South Carolina Divisions of Natural Resources. On the lighter end, youll find bullets like the 150-grain Barnes TSX and 150-grain Trophy Copper. The states deer harvest this year is 40 percent lower than the record set in 2002. Box 167 Columbia, SC 29202-0167 E-mail: RuthC@dnr.sc.gov It is unlawful to hunt deer with a firearm within three hundred yards of a residence when less than ten feet above the ground without permission of the owner and occupant. A 7mm Remington Magnum is a deadly weapon that comes in one end and maims the other. The.30-06 Springfield is a good caliber for hunting deer in states that allow hunting with a rifle, but it could be a better caliber for hunting deer with a bow. Being the minimum it must be not as good as bigger, manlier cartridges, and therefore has been equated with youth rifles and first-time hunters. While the AR-15 is not your granddads deer rifle, it comes with a variety of advantages for the user. What Size Caliber Is Legal For Deer Hunting? Sellier & Bellot Win 270 - 150 Grain SP - 20 Rounds - Best Premium 270 Win Deer Hunting Caliber 1 Federal - 270 Win - 150-Grain Soft Point - Non-Typical Whitetail Rifle Ammunition - Best Whitetail Hunting Caliber Any keen 270 Win Whitetail hunter will do well to try this highly effective Federal Premium cartridge. The accuracy and shot placement of your deer rifle and caliber are the most important factors to consider when selecting it. All of these reduced recoil loads claim around 10 ft. lb. The fastest way for a new cartridge to gain widespread acceptance with the shooting public is for the military to adopt it. As part of Game Zone 1, hunters may only kill four antlerless deer per season. The deer population in South Carolina is estimated to be between 1.5 and 2 million, which is significantly higher than the human population of around 4.8 million. The timber covered mountains have patches of clearcuts where the deer hang out and long cross-canyon shots are the norm. Commercial natural deer urine products are made of urine collected from deer in other states, many of which have diagnosed CWD. Hunting for small game birds, such as pheasants, squirrels, and rabbits, has grown in popularity in recent years. Air rifles are legal. Note: These recoil figures are only approximate and rounded off the the nearest full ft. lb. Nonetheless, the business has the potential to grow significantly. For him, the .308 is the answer, combining the desired knock-down power with pin-point precision. This does not apply to storage at a private residence or to deer on which a hunters personal tag remains attached to the hamstring because the tag identifies the hunter. Pennsylvania, for example, does not allow the use of semi-automatic rifles for any big game, deer includedthough you can legally use AR-15s for coyotes and other such varmints. If a person does not live in the area, he or she is required to purchase a license in order to harvest fish from water bodies. Waste or Abuse to SC Inspector General | Armadillos also require a permit to hunt despite the animal not having protected status. If a buck does not have a hot doe with him at night, he will not stay put. With a muzzle velocity of about 3140 fps, the .270 is forgiving on deer at unknown ranges. This law was passed in response to complaints about hunters hunting too close to houses. It is unlawful to transfer a bear during the off-season. of recoil energy in standard weight hunting rifles. You wont find another round with a more versatile array of offerings. Processors may not accept untagged deer; however they are not responsible for any missing information on a deer tag, e.g. at the State Farmer's Market Published velocities put them at 3400 fps and 3070 fps respectively giving the round a 350 to 400 fps advantage over the .30/06 with the same bullet weights. at 200 yards Hunting has always been about debate and campfires, so its no surprise that the best rifle calibers are a point of contention. More often than not, that cartridge would be the 7mm Rem. Arrows for hunting deer, bear or feral hog must be broadhead type. In a well-constructed action, it is one of the most accurate rounds out there and is capable to 500 yards on deer and other big game. Hunting by crossbow is illegal on public hunting grounds. When up to 60% of animals die, live trapping and trucking has a diametrically opposed effect to non-hunters original concerns. In Game Zones 1 and 2 it is unlawful to pursue deer with dogs (50-11-310). In a Remington.223, a bullet has a 500-yard effective range. But with the significant caveat that the hunter must be able to handle the .300s sharp recoil. shoots about 15 inches flatter than the 06 with a 180-grainer, so you can see the appeal. Its certainly more gun than most whitetails require, but it gets the job done and carries with it a nostalgia that few cartridges can match. This caliber is suitable for deer hunting in states that permit rifle hunting. Deer may be taken with handguns, rifles, and shotguns. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Rembert C. Dennis Building Wildlife Refuge, Report The neck and chamber dimensions are tighter and the leade in the throat is at an optimized (1.5 degree) angle, so the case is more inherently accurate than those other rounds. These studies stopped South Carolina from adopting caliber restrictions for most forms of hunting. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. In our opinion, the best caliber for deer hunting is the. Deer hunting with .223-caliber rifles is legal in most states. There are several deer calibers that are still very popular today, the most popular of which is the. The archery only season runs from August 15 to September 30, and it is a great way to hunt deer with a bow and arrow but do not intend to shoot them. STATEWIDE DEER PERMIT All deer hunters ages 16 and older, unless license exempt, must first buy and carry proof of purchasing an annual hunting license and a statewide deer permit while hunting. The gun hunting season for deer runs from September 1 to January 1, and firearms are permitted during that time. Baiting or hunting deer over bait is permitted on private lands statewide. There is also a 223 exemption that can be used. It is expensive to society if there are too many deer, causing damage to agriculture and domestic plants. Hunting on private land requires a permit from the owner of the land. The first choice is the.22 caliber. According to the annual scoring of the antlers around South Carolina, the months of mid-October to mid-November are typically the best months for trophy hunting. Hunting licenses and hunting permits are required for some games. Terms of Service - Winchester debuted the cartridge in 1925 along with the Model 54 rifle, which was the predecessor to the famed Model 70. Here is a list of possible Fusion Lite loads we can add to our caliber list. Otherwise, it is meaningless marketing blather. This includes gear reviews, features on technical innovations, stories on shooting techniques and general hunting coverage with the occasional fishing story thrown into the mix. Nobody wants to admit it, but 150 yards is a long way and 200 yards is a very long way. Winchester thought the project held promise for civilian shooters and hunters and in 1952 trotted out the .308 Winchester. We understand that calibers smaller than .24, a centerfire .22 for example, will kill deer under ideal conditions, but also know that conditions in the field are not always perfect. Is deer overpopulation a problem in South Carolina? Is the .223 the best AR-15 deer hunting caliber? It also lacks track, which Jamie Thomas describes as flat-lining. Kelly Shouse, the sheriff of New Hampshire, enjoys shooting the 300 Winchester Magnum. Hunters who favor the .30/30 see no reason to go to anything else and consider it the best deer hunting caliber for 200 yards and in. Draw weight, let-off, arrow-length, and sights are not restricted. The genius of the 6.5 Creedmoor is that it is such a well-balanced cartridge that is designed to maximize its accuracy potential. To improve hunting safety for both the public and the environment, South Carolina has adopted this certification process. South Carolina hunters are permitted to buy a hunting license in the following form. The manager of my local sporting goods store told me that young hunters today are buying 7mm Magnum and .300 Magnum rifles for deer hunting. During the season in Zone 2, each hunter may kill up to five antlerless deer. Hunters who purchase 4 Individual Tags will receive 2 free bonus tags valid only on private land in Game Zone 3 & 4 to help control deer damage to agriculture. Its just a pleasure watching them smack the ground after the hammer hits the ground without any tracking. Introduced in 1963, the .300 Win. The state of South Carolina has a white-tail deer population of approximately 730,000. Mag. Hunters who used dogs were 20% more likely to find deer. Deer hunting is available in four different zones throughout the state. It is legal on private hunting grounds. Youth hunters who have not completed the hunter education program must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age. Being mature adults with nothing to prove, we are willing to admit we can shoot better with a rifle that kicks less; anyone can. The .30/06 dominated with bolt-action rifles and the availability of cheap surplus ought-six ammo dissuaded shooters from trying this new-comer. Mag. The.243 is a good caliber for hunting deer with a rifle in states that allow it, but it may not be the best caliber in those that have more restrictive deer hunting laws. 220 or larger. Landholders can use corn, for example, to attract deer to open areas. You didnt think we could make it through a list of the best deer calibers and not talk about the 6.5 Creedmoor, did you? Overall, Orangeburg, Colleton, Kershaw, Spartanburg, and Aiken were the top five South Carolina counties for deer hunting days during 2020 (Figure 8). Less game will be wounded and lost, which means more animals and better hunting for all of us. This old military cartridge is very reliable and capable of shooting 300 yards with a 30 caliber bullet. Tags do not alter the daily or seasonal bag limits for Game Zones or alter the type of weapon allowed. is about 30-percent greater than from a .30/06. The Winchester 311 was designed by William Smith. For non-lead bullets, the 85-grain Barnes TSX and Federal 85-grain Trophy Copper deliver outstanding terminal performance. South Carolina only requires citizens to carry a permit if owners choose to carry a concealed handgun. South Carolina Hunting Licenses, Permits, and Tags. Primitive seasons require the use of firearms to hunt. It is critical that the tag is attached to the deer/carcass until it is quartered or received by the processor. Match-grade ammunition. I agree with my friend Ron Spomer that it is probably the best deer cartridge youve never tried. 15 ft. lb. I just have a problem with the headline. The gun hunting season for deer runs from September 1 to January 1, and firearms are permitted during that time. It is not uncommon in South Carolina for hunters to find wild deer. So theres no shortage of rifles chambered in this round. In addition, ammunition with expanding hunting bullets designed for killing Class 2 animals (and bullets for reloaders) must be available where we live. Since 1962, when the round was introduced in conjunction with the Remington 700, countless others have arrived at the same conclusion. The 94 was a fast-handling and reasonably accurate rifle with great balance and ergonomics and an impressive magazine capacity. Deer prefer corn and corn piles as bait for a variety of reasons. Gun statistics show that most South Carolina residents purchase their firearms for the purpose of hunting. Boone and Crockett records advantages for the best deer cartridge youve never tried OConnor sighting. 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