A commonsense bill
I found myself walking a different path recently. I was treading the halls of state government. The Senate Subcommittee on Fish, Game and Forestry was meeting on a bill regarding the wild turkey hunting season. The meeting was held in the Gressette Office Building on March 13. I signed up and was the first to speak to the committee. Sen. Thomas McElveen chaired the Subcommittee meeting.
The laws regarding hunting, fishing and related outdoor activities in our state are set in place by the state Legislature and are based on traditional uses and advice from natural resource professionals. This system has been in place for a long time and has worked well. It offers the greatest amount of use and opportunity for our citizens and has given way to change when needed. But the system only works if both parties are sincere.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources produced a report dated Nov. 1, 2018, titled "Wild Turkey Resources in South Carolina with Recommendations on Seasons and Bag Limits." The report was met with some skepticism and concern by hunters and members of the Legislature.
As a result, Bill S. 575, relating to the wild turkey hunting season, was introduced in the South Carolina state Senate on Feb. 27. Sponsors include Sen. "Chip" Campsen, Sen. Thomas McElveen and Sen. Shane Martin. The bill is currently residing in the Senate Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry.
In summary, 575 proposes to provide a cost for wild turkey tags, amend the turkey hunting season, set bag limits, establish a Youth Turkey Hunting Day and require an annual report by the DNR.
Wild turkey transportation tags have been issued at no cost to hunters. Section 1 of the bill sets the cost of tags at $10 for residents, $50 for nonresidents, and no cost for persons under 16, lifetime licensees and gratis licensees upon request.
Section 2 would amend the turkey hunting season in Game Zones 1 and 2 to April 1 through May 12 and in Game Zones 3 and 4 to March 20 through April 30. The seasonal bag limit will remain three. The daily bag limit will be one, and only one wild turkey may be taken in the first 10 days of the season. Section 2 also requires the department to provide an annual report on wild turkey resources in South Carolina to the chairman of the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee and the chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
Section 3 will set the Saturday before the start of a game zone turkey season, as the Youth Turkey Day for hunters under 18 years of age. The license and tag requirement would be waived, and the bag limit will be one male wild turkey. Youth turkey hunters who have not completed the hunter education program must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years of age. The adult may not harvest or attempt to harvest a turkey but is permitted to call for a youth hunter.
Section 4 will set funding from resident and nonresident tags to be used only for wild turkey scientific research on public lands, and on private lands with the landowner's consent. To improve wild turkey habitat and hunting opportunities. For wild turkey predator control and enforcement of turkey hunting laws and regulations.
After hearing from a half dozen people at the meeting, there were some amendments made to the bill, and it was passed by the Subcommittee and will be sent to the full Fish, Game and Forestry Committee for their consideration. That meeting will take place next Wednesday in the Gressette Building. The time was set at 10 a.m. I think it's a little ironic that this date is also the first day of the turkey hunting season.
The process is that the bill will be considered by the Senate Committee, more amendments may be added, and a favorable vote will send the bill to the full Senate for consideration. The Senate and House of Representatives will have to vote for approval for the bill to become law.
There will no doubt be more changes made to the bill, but in its current form it is a commonsense bill that can meet the concerns raised in the department's report and offer the greatest amount of opportunity to hunters and land managers.
Reach Dan Geddings at cdgeddings@gmail.com.