SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Spring turkey hunting season is upon us and the Shaw office of natural resources will be hosting hunts at Poinsett Electronic Combat Range (PECR) on Saturday mornings Mar. 27 through April 24.
The natural resources managers at Shaw Air Force Base and PECR use many tools to manage the diverse resources on the base and range.
One popular tool, and an important quality of life initiative for base personnel, is the hunting program. Hunting is open to all base personnel and the public. This program helps maintain wildlife population at proper levels to meet management goals as well as provide outdoor recreation opportunities for Shaw personnel and the local community.
All hunting is conducted on PECR south of Wedgefield, S.C.
To be eligible and to participate, all hunters must comply with or possess:
· A valid South Carolina hunting license.
· Persons under 16 years of age may hunt with an adult with no additional charge while accompanied by a permitted adult and but only one shotgun may be used. (Both require turkey tags)
· The legal weapon for this season are: shotguns, muzzle-loading shotguns, bows and crossbows.
· Turkeys may not be hunted with dogs, live decoys or electronic calls.
· Unlawful to shoot any turkey between 30 minutes after official sunset and 30 minutes before official sunrise. Unlawful to take or attempt to take a wild turkey from a vehicle on a public road. Unlawful to trap or snare a wild turkey. Unlawful to take wild turkey from a watercraft.
· Harvest limits on Poinsett Range are 3 gobblers for residents and 2 for nonresidents per season with no more than 1 gobbler harvested per day (Bearded hens are not legal).
· All hunters, including hunters younger than 16 or those who are calling or guiding must possess a valid set of turkey tags All harvested turkeys must be tagged and validated as prescribed on the tag form before being moved from the point of kill. No person may possess more than one set of turkey tags.
· A new regulation for the 2021 turkey season requires all persons (including youth) harvesting a wild turkey to report their harvest by midnight of the day of harvest using SC Game Check on line at www.dnr.sc.gov/scgamecheck or by calling 1-833-472-4263.
· Hunters who have used all their tags may call or guide for other hunters provided they possess their tag form.
· The permit fee for each hunt is $20 per person made payable by check or money order to "DDO DSSN 3801 Shaw AFB S.C."
· Hunters must not be under the influence of drugs/alcohol, or use drugs/alcohol during this event. Zero tolerance for violators.
· Hunters must sign a waiver of liability before participating on the hunt.
· Hunters must be prepared for weather conditions, bring own snacks, insect repellent, drinks and not litter.
· Hunt at own risk.
· Hunters must remain at their assigned drop off point when truck returns to pick them up. All instructions, directions, and rules must be followed to insure the safe return of all participants.
· All state turkey regulations apply on Poinsett Range and can be found at www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/turkey.
Individual hunt dates or times are subject to change without notice as mission needs dictate. Reservations for hunts on PECR are made by calling 803-895-9985 beginning Tuesday mornings at 8:30 prior to that Saturday's hunt. Reservations are taken on a first-call, first-served basis dependent upon the number of slots available.
Additional callers are placed on a stand-by list and notified in the case of a cancellation. Cancellations must be called in by the reserved hunter by 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to the hunt or the permit fee is due. The hunt permit fee of $20 may be paid on the day of the hunt.
A hunter with a reservation who does not show up for the hunt and has not cancelled by 5 p.m. the Thursday before the hunt still owes the $20 and may be required to pre-pay prior to any subsequent hunts.
On the day of the hunt, permitted hunters must meet at the Rosemary Fire Tower complex before the "Gate Lock" time specified when the reservation was taken. The meeting time for each hunt will change as appropriate during the season based on sunrise and sunset times.
The Rosemary Fire Tower complex is located just south of the entrance to Poinsett State Park on State Highway 261. Hunters will receive a safety briefing, draw for a deer stand and be transported to and from their stands.
If you have any questions, please contact Bryan Jobe at 803-895-9985 (bryan.jobe@us.af.mil) or Ronnie June at 803- 895-5193, (ronald.june@us.af.mil) at the natural and cultural resources office in building 250, room 304 on Shaw AFB.