Performance like that in a rifle that has tolerable recoil and isnt too heavy to lug around the hills was sure to catch the fancy of savvy hunters. The manufacture of these calibers is at a premium, making hunting with them difficult. Is deer overpopulation a problem in South Carolina? It is unlawful to hunt, shoot or in any way kill deer from a motorboat, raft or any other water conveyance, or to molest a deer while any part of the deer is in water (50-11-730). Do these advantages translate into better performance on game? All harvested deer must be tagged at the point of kill prior to being transported. Its certainly what Id consider the best deer hunting caliber with least recoil generated. Antlerless deer may not be possessed, hunted, shot or in any way killed except during special seasons or by special permit (50-11-410). We are closing in on a realistic set of specifications for possible 150-200 yard deer cartridges and loads. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Deer Rules & Regulations. If coastal communities want to crack down on deer feeding, they should pass an ordinance. 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 the State Farmer's Market, Wildlife
Alligators may be hunted with permit from the South Carolina Division of Natural Resources. Wounding is not an option; our first shot should always be a kill shot and we do not shoot unless we know it will be. Being mature adults with nothing to prove, we are willing to admit we can shoot better with a rifle that kicks less; anyone can. Furthermore, while the.30-06 Springfield and the.300 Winchester Magnum are both excellent calibers for hunting deer with rifles in states that allow it, these two calibers are also acceptable for deer hunting. The best practice is to take a deposit for the processing service when deer are left at the facility. But these numbers dont tell the entire story. Act 2, passed by the South Carolina General Assembly in 2013, removed the prohibition on hunting over bait on private lands within Game Zone 1 and Zone 2. But fewer and fewer hunters look to the .25s these days. Some people may enjoy deer hunting in South Carolina because of the challenge it presents, while others may find it to be a frustrating and unsuccessful experience. We intend to confine our shots to no more than 150 yards, but we know distances can be deceiving in the field and we want to leave room for error. The.270 caliber is an excellent caliber for hunting deer when used in states that allow hunting with a rifle. Like many other hunters, my first real deer rifle was chambered in the ought-six. .270 Winchester, 115 grain at 2710 fps: 1161 ft. lb. This was no simple task. Federal Premium 140-grain Trophy Bonded Tip. Because it has the accuracy and lack of recoil, it is the weapon of choice for Phyllis Cornett. Examples of firearms now legal for the southern part of the state include, but are . The felt recoil from a .300 Win. Im glad you agree. During the hunting season, which lasts between 1 hour before sunrise and 1 hour after sunset, it is illegal to shoot or kill deer from any water conveyance, or to shoot at or kill deer from any portion of the deer that is submerged in water. Additionally, deer populations can fluctuate rapidly in response to changes in food availability, predation, and other factors. Before you can shoot deer in South Carolina, you must first obtain a hunting license and a big game permit. If youve never tried it before, I recommend giving it a shot this season. Both of these calibers are excellent for deer hunting, but they may not be the best for each hunt. This rule is essential for preserving deer and other wildlife populations in South Carolina. Larger cartridges, even something as relatively mild as the .308 Winchester, cant compete with the 6.5 Creedmoor on this point. According to the Kansas Drought Monitor, the majority of the state is now in moderate or severe drought. A harvest report must be completed by the applicant at the close of the season. At this time, the .300 Win. Other, more technically oriented, critics argue the Creed doesnt perform as well as other .264-caliber rounds like the 6.555 Swede, the .260 Remington, 6.5-284 Norma Mag., and the .264 Winchester Mag. Long before shooters were talking about ballistic coefficients, OConnor hammered home the value of retained velocity down range. All private and management areas have the right to permit the carrying of firearms and bows during the regular gun season. The cartridges are permitted during the Youth, Disabled, and Shotgun seasons. Thats what happened with the .308 Winchester. The .30/30 is king, but the .35 Rem. Except for some parts of the West, the white-tailed deer is found throughout the continental United States, from southern Canada to the Great Lakes. Read Next: 10 Best Deer Hunting Guns Today. Possessing any deer with the head detached while in transit from the point of kill is prohibited (50-11-400). This small bullet has a travel time of 2,570 feet per second and a velocity of 300 yards at its terminal range. This measure ensures that hunters have a fair and legal hunting season while also protecting the deer population from being harmed. Fans of the .243 have helped it maintain its status as one of the best deer cartridges, though it never could dislodge the .30/06, .270 and .308 from the top slots. There is no state restriction on rifle caliber. It was introduced in 2006 amid a flurry of cartridge introductions and never quite caught on. As an IFW volunteer, you can be confident that you are receiving complete control over who and when you are assigned. Draw weight, let-off, arrow-length, and sights are not restricted. The original loads for the .300 Winchester were with 150- and 180-grain bullets. The permit only allows for the killing of one alligator. Youth hunters who have not completed the hunter education program must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age. Utilization of DQP antlerless tags is subject to the following restrictions. There is a comprehensive Rifle Recoil Table on the Guns and Shooting Online "Tables, Charts and Lists" index page. and Commerical Fur Harvest, Hunt S.A.F.E. Hunting South Carolinas hunting seasons and regulations are enforced by the Hunting Seasons and Regulations Act, which is critical for protecting the states deer population. 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. Therefore, the use of full metal jacket rounds and other hard tipped rounds was found unnecessary. The smallest caliber recommended for deer is a.243 or 6mm bullet. Mag., it is a short-action cartridge, which is another accuracy-enhancing element in its favor. Deer hunting with .223-caliber rifles is legal in most states. South Carolina's hunting laws prohibit the use of unethical methods of hunting. Mag. 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. If a buck does not have a hot doe with him at night, he will not stay put. When used to hunt bear, deer, elk, wild turkey, alligator and feral swine: Longbows and recurved bows must have a minimum pull of 40 pounds Compound bows must have a minimum pull of 35 pounds. Landholders can use corn, for example, to attract deer to open areas. Carolina deer are a type of deer found in the United States.
Its the scrappy underdog that elbowed its way in between the .270 and .30/06 and has managed to hang in there despite the dominance of those rounds. In SC bullet diameter must be . There are numerous zones around the world that have a different season than others, depending on whether they are private or public land. Participants in the DQP also have the option of receiving a quota for antlered bucks. Cookie Policy -
By using the interactive map, you can find out where deer hunting is best. The average distance at which South Carolina hunters shoot deer is 132 yards with an 81% percent success rate. In most states, AR-15s are legal to hunt with, and they are popular. As hunters, we must be familiar with and knowledgeable about our firearms. Match-grade barrels. The.243 caliber is a good choice for deer hunting in states that allow hunting with rifles. Reloaders also appreciated that it didnt require a cup full of powder to assemble a cartridge. Box 167 Columbia, SC 29202-0167 E-mail: RuthC@dnr.sc.gov Deer prefer corn and corn piles as bait for a variety of reasons. Mag. It is prohibited to shoot and kill eagles, hawks, owls, and vultures and other birds of prey. There are several quarter-bores that are great deer rounds. Because larger caliber rifles are more effective at killing deer and other wildlife, this prohibition is required. No more than five (5) total Individual Antlerless Tags may be used on private land in Game Zone 2 and on all WMAs combined in Game Zones 2, 3, and 4. Looking at the Federal, Hornady, Remington, Weatherby and Winchester ammunition catalogs, here is a list of some reasonably common cartridges and factory loads that fit our criteria when fired in rifles of typical weight. It doesnt give you anything other than excess pressure. Orangeburg, Colleton, Spartanburg, Aiken, and Laurens counties had the most hunters. But the fact is that with the right bullet a .223 is ample medicine for any whitetail buck out there. For hunters the most common bullet choices are those from 150 to 180 grains. All deer must be tagged with a valid deer tag as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill. And more people, by far, search for best deer hunting calibers than the technically correct cartridge. With that out of the way, lets proceed. South Carolina has the least restrictions on the type of ammunition and caliber of hunting firearms. It is not uncommon in South Carolina for hunters to find wild deer. The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat
There is no definitive answer to this question as it largely depends on personal preferences. Deer populations appear to be overpopulated in counties with a high deer harvest, but not in counties with a low deer harvest. It is always advisable to select a caliber for deer hunting. The 6.5 Creedmoor, 257 Roberts, and 825 Grendel all-around calibers were chosen as the best all-around calibers for hogs and deer. Theres no way as shooting editor for this esteemed publication that I could fail to include the .270 Winchester on the list of contenders vying for the best deer hunting caliber. This does not prohibit the use of synthetic products or substances collected by a hunter from deer legally harvested in SC. These studies stopped South Carolina from adopting caliber restrictions for most forms of hunting. You can put some deer to the test in South Carolina during the deer hunting season. Semi-automatic weapons that are not military grade weapons can purchased by South Carolina Residents and non-residents who own property in South Carolina. A great many outright lies are being spread on internet forums, but the fact is that most deer hunters are hard pressed to even hit the paper at 200 yards, let alone shoot an acceptable group. . A lack of melanin pigment in the deers hair is one of the causes of amnesticism. The same rifle has an extremely accurate bullet with newer rounds and can knock any deer out of the woods to about 300 yards with it. 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. The recoil generated by the ought-six is at the upper end of what most shooters can manage without developing a debilitating flinch. Picking the best deer hunting cartridge also comes down to taste. Arrows for hunting deer, bear or feral hog must be broadhead type. No one is perfect, of course, so we also reload after firing, prepared to drive in a second shot to "make sure.". (If you are a metric shooter, just mentally substitute meters for yards; it will be close enough for the purposes of this article.) deer hunting in south carolina can be a challenging and rewarding experience. If you want to hunt deer in a more relaxed environment, consider using the.30-06 Springfield or the.300 Winchester Magnum. While the AR-15 is not your granddads deer rifle, it comes with a variety of advantages for the user. Unless that rifle carries some extra weight or a good muzzle brake, it will be difficult to shoot well. How did it come to dominate? Magnum rounds are less expensive than 6.5 Creedmoor rounds, but they are also less expensive than earlier standards. Hunting for small game birds, such as pheasants, squirrels, and rabbits, has grown in popularity in recent years. The fastest way for a new cartridge to gain widespread acceptance with the shooting public is for the military to adopt it. Such rifles usually generate recoil energy in the 20 ft. lb. (Reg. It definitely hits above its weight class and is my number one choice for open-country hunting. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. It was the brainchild of a group of accuracy-obsessed riflemen, including former Field & Stream rifles editor Warren Page, who went on to establish benchrest shooting. The weather and time of year have an impact on when the best time to go deer hunting is. The 165-grain Nosler AccuBond and 165-grain Trophy Bonded Tip both occupy a sweet spot in the middle. In order to protect against the spread of CWD into SC, the following regulations are in place - No person may import or possess a whole cervid carcass or carcass part from an infected state except the following may be imported: quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached; meat that has been boned out; hides with no heads attached; clean (no meat or tissue attached) skulls or skull plates with antlers attached; antlers (detached from the skull plate); clean upper canine teeth, also called buglers, whistlers or ivories; and finished taxidermy heads. 2020 All rights reserved. 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. Introduced in 1963, the .300 Win. 123-54). The ample availability of inexpensive ammo (at least during normal times) is another factor in favor of the .223. Good striking energy. Except for the under-appreciated .240 Weatherby, there are no magnum cartridges on the list. 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. In Game Zones 1 and 2 it is unlawful to pursue deer with dogs (50-11-310). There are several deer calibers that are still very popular today, the most popular of which is the. Hornady American Whitetail 139-grain SP Interlock. They are a subspecies of the white-tailed deer and are found in the southeastern United States. I know a lot of other young, aspiring hunters felt the same way. Tags can be used on any day beginning September 15 in Game Zone 2, 3, 4, and October 1 in Game Zone 1. We also accept that 800 ft. lb. South Carolina is known as the Low Country due to its coastal region. The 129-grain Hornady load pushes 2,950 feet per second at the muzzle with 2,492 foot pounds of energy. The most popular method of deer hunting in South Carolina is still rifle hunting, as it is the most effective way to take down a deer. The states deer harvest this year is 40 percent lower than the record set in 2002. From the get-go, deer hunters took a shine to the .243 Winchester. For youth 17 years old and younger. In South Carolina, the practice of baiting deer has been legal since 2013. I just have a problem with the headline. at 200 yards In a sad twist of fate, the .243 Winchester has become known as a childs deer cartridge. In Game Zones 1 and 2 it is unlawful to pursue deer with dogs. If meat is not picked-up by the owner, it can be given to another individual at no charge. Tags may only be possessed or used by the person whose name appears on the tag. The .30/06 Springfield is the Captain America of big-game cartridges. All of these reduced recoil loads claim around 10 ft. lb. The animals protected under the South Carolinas hunting laws are bears, turkeys, beaver, bobcat, weasel, waterfowl, mink, and snipe. Wild hogs are not legally protected in South Carolina, and the state does not have a hunting season or bag limit for private land. Mag. Hunting has always been about debate and campfires, so its no surprise that the best rifle calibers are a point of contention. Must be tagged with Individual Antlerless Deer Tag. Titling office is now located at: SCDNR
A decrease in food availability has resulted in a decrease in deer populations. For the time, it represented the pinnacle of high-performance long-range accuracy. The sum of all these details is why the 6.5 Creedmoor winning matches, and why the other 6.5s dont. A deer hunter who cannot shoot a 10 MOA group offhand should not be obsessing about whether his or her rifle will (theoretically) deliver 1/2 MOA groups. 449 S 12th St.Tampa, Florida 33602United States, The Best Firearm For Hunting Deer In Illinois, Equipping Police Cars With Binoculars For Hazardous Materials Incidents, Bringing Binoculars To A Meadowlands Concert: See The Performers And Venue Like Never Before, How To Put Your Name On Binoculars Without Damaging Them, Understanding The 6 Degrees Measurement: A Guide To Field Of View In Binoculars, Understanding Air Travel Rules For Carrying Binoculars: A Guide To Packing Binoculars For Your Flight, How To Properly Tighten Your Bushnell Binoculars: An Easy Guide, How To Repair Sticky Coating On Binoculars: A Guide To DIY Binocular Repair, Unlock The Wonders Of The World With Binoculars: A Guide For Kids, Get The Lowdown On Binoculars: An Exploration Of The Numbers On Binoculars, Choosing The Right Binoculars For Birding: Finding The Balance Between Magnification And Field Of View, Exploring The Strength And Durability Of WW2 Binoculars: An In-Depth Look At A Vital Piece Of Battlefield Equipment, Find The Best Deals On Binoculars: Key Times To Check For Sales, Spotting Potential Connections: The Power Of Jackds Binoculars. As Im sure you know, the military has relied on it for many years in a variety of sniper rifles and in that role, it is effective to 1,000 yards. It really is the best all-around hunting rifle caliber. Tags do not alter the daily or seasonal bag limits for Game Zones or alter the type of weapon allowed. To anchor the deer quickly, he needs a bullet that will put them down, but the bullet must also be accurate enough to make those shots. In Game Zone 1 tags are valid beginning Oct. 1. Its a fantastic time of year to enjoy the deer season in South Carolina. Feral Hog, Coyote & Armadillo Regulations, General Migratory Bird Seasons, Shooting Hours, & Bag Limits, Hog Hunting Seasons for WMAs & Heritage Preserves, http://dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/speciallicenseapp.pdf. Air rifles are legal. This is a prescription for flinching, bad bullet placement and wounded/lost game animals. (Yes, I watch too much late night TV.) We know experience has shown the greater cross-sectional area of .24 caliber bullets makes them more reliable all-around deer slayers. 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. I own 6 good deer hunting rifles: Marlin 336C in 30/30, Rem 700 in .243, Rem 700 in .270, Browning BAR in .270, Browning BLR in .308, and Remington 742 . The 94 was a fast-handling and reasonably accurate rifle with great balance and ergonomics and an impressive magazine capacity. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) reports that the states deer harvest decreased by 1% from last years harvest of 193,986 deer. The first choice is the.22 caliber. Page and his cohorts necked the .308 down to 6mm and gave birth to the .243 Winchester. 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? is a reasonable standard. When it comes to deer harvesting, it is customary to rank counties based on the number of deer killed, with Orangeburg, Colleton, Spartanburg, Williamsburg, and Hampton being among the top five counties in 2020. Tags are valid in Game Zones 2, 3, and 4 beginning Sept. 15 and in Game Zone 1 beginning Oct. 1. South Carolina has the least restrictions on the type of ammunition and caliber of hunting firearms.