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SCWF recently had the opportunity to represent South Carolina at the National Wildlife Federation’s Annual Meeting - the largest and oldest gathering of grassroots conservation leaders in the nation. The South Carolina Wildlife Federation, previously the SC Game & Fish Association (formed in 1931), has been a state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) since NWF’s inception in 1936.
In 2019, SCWF launched Project Prothonotary, a state-wide conservation effort to install nest boxes for a beloved, yet declining bird species known as the Prothonotary Warbler. As habitat specialists, these birds seek out existing cavities in trees to build nests and raise their young. However, habitat destruction has led to less and less trees available for nesting, and that’s where nest boxes come in.
“Next time”, said Representative Heather Bauer after climbing out of the deer stand recently. Although she did not harvest a deer on that hunt, Representative Bauer spent the day learning about deer hunting including safety, types of gear, what to wear, how to prepare, and more. Representative Bauer, a state representative from Richland County is co-chair of the Sportsmen’s Caucus and serves on the Wildlife subcommittee of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and sponsored the bill to designate the third Saturday in November as “Women in Hunting and Fishing Awareness Day” each year.
November is seen as the best time of year to be in the deer woods, and for good reason. Absolutely anything can happen. A big-bodied 10-point that you’ve never seen before could leave his home range three miles away and stroll by your stand at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. This is the allure of hunting the rut.
There are few misconceptions more common in the world of deer hunting than the October Lull. Ask 10 field edge hunting, rifle-toting deer hunters about hunting in early- to-mid-October, and you’ll likely hear from several of them to stay home. But within the mobile hunting community, October is seen as one of the absolute best times to tag a buck, or any deer for that matter.
Even for adults, hunting can be kind of boring at times. In the age we live in, you’d be hard-pressed to find a hunter, even a diehard, who doesn’t pull their phone out within the first couple hours of a hunt. There’s so much peace and beauty to be found in the silence and stillness of the woods, away from all the technology and noise, but we’ve become so connected to it all that it’s hard to step away from it for even just a few hours.
High school students from across the state gathered recently at King's Mountain State Park to take part in Camp Wildwood, a conservation camp founded in 1954. Campers attending the camp are selected after being nominated by a teacher or other advisor and take part in daily classes including Wildlife, Fisheries, Forestry, Hunter Education, Boating, and more. In addition to the classes, campers participate in hikes, crazy sports, team building, leadership development, and dances. This camp is an excellent opportunity for high school students to learn more about careers in natural resources and the outdoors.
Busy. That’s the word that describes most Americans living in 2023; especially when you throw a family in the mix. Get up, get the kids fed and ready for school, head off to work minutes later, get home in time for dinner, put the kids to bed, watch a little Netflix, then rinse and repeat the next day. The exhaustion that comes from all that we do on a weekly basis can make it extremely difficult to find the time or energy to head off to the woods looking for deer on the weekends. But I’m here to tell you that summer scouting is one of the single most effective ways to have success in the fall.
Do you have a fishing rod in your garage? Or maybe even a cane pole? If so, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) invites you to join our Plishing Challenge this summer! Plishing is a combination of the Swedish phrase “plocka upp”, meaning litter pick up, and fishing! Our Plishing Challenge is designed to keep the public engaged with fishing, and to help keep our waterways clean by using best fishing practices, picking up litter, and catching fish! This conservation initiative is a great way to enjoy South Carolina’s aquatic resources, practice conservation, and win prizes.
SCWF was honored to be featured in the National Wildlife Magazine’s recent article about our Project Prothonotary!
A BRIGHT SPLASH OF COLOR amidst the muted tones of a flooded forest, the prothonotary warbler is nicknamed “swamp canary” for its vivid golden feathers and the male’s lyrical springtime song. “That sweet, sweet, sweet song is a sound that says you’re in a Carolina swamp,” says Jay Keck, a habitat manager for National Wildlife Federation affiliate South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF).
The General Assembly, 124th Session, adjourned sine die at 5:00 pm on May 12 thus concluding their work in the second year of a two-year session. All in all, the 2022 Legislative Session proved to be beneficial to our state’s wildlife, particularly shore birds, and good to conservation and land protection initiatives some of which are highlighted below.
Scientists estimate that roughly one-third of America’s wildlife species are at an elevated risk of extinction. Here in South Carolina, there are 828 species of wildlife and plants in need of conservation action. These species are found in every habitat and among all major groups of wildlife—from Horseshoe Crabs to Wood Ducks to Bartram’s Redeye Bass. Please consider a donation now to help us continue our mission to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy.
