#07–269 September 17, 2007

Youth deer hunt opportunities available at Samworth WMA

An important goal of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources youth deer hunts is to strongly encourage participation by youths who have never been deer hunting.  Sportsmen’s children are certainly welcome to apply for the hunts, but are encouraged to bring another youth who has never been deer hunting or has very limited hunting experience.

The youth deer hunts at Samworth Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are scheduled on October 13, October 27 and December 1 of this year.  All applications must be received by 5:00 pm on September 28, 2007.  The age requirement for S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Youth Deer Hunts is 17 and younger.  There is no application fee or any other costs associated with these hunts.  However, a hunting license is required for youth participants 16 and 17 years of age.  Young people who have an interest in deer hunting, but have not had previous opportunities because they lacked a hunting connection, should certainly apply.  Applications are available from the Columbia DNR Office at 1000 Assembly Street.  Applications can also be copied.

Return applications to: SCDNR – YOUTH DEER HUNTS, Attn: Willie Simmons, P.O. Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202, (803) 734-3898 or fax (803) 734-6020.

All DNR youth deer hunts are scheduled on Saturday mornings and conclude at 10:00am.  At each hunt there will be a thorough review of firearms safety.  More detailed instructions and directions to the hunt sites will be provided to applicants, who are selected based on a random drawing.  If you have any questions regarding DNR Youth Deer Hunt safety, supervision, etc., please contact Willie Simmons, DNR Wildlife Biologist at (803) 734-3898 or E-mail SimmonsW@dnr.sc.gov.

One of the best ways to recruit new youth hunters is through their friends and family that already participate in hunting activities.  We support "youth sportsmen" in encouraging one or more of their friends, who do not hunt, to apply for our youth hunt.  DNR especially want to introduce these new hunters to the challenges, thrills and enjoyment associated with hunting.  Equally important, we want to make sure this introduction is done safely and ethically. Both youth sportsmen and new hunters, who wish to apply for these hunts must fully complete and return an application that includes a questionnaire about their hunting experience and a completed liability wavier form.  Their legal guardian must sign both the application and liability wavier form.

DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
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