CLARKS HILL, S.C. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers J. Strom Thurmond Project Office will host primitive weapon deer hunts this fall at the Bussey Point management area, located in Lincoln County, Georgia.

The Corps hosts these hunts annually to maintain the deer population within the carrying capacity for the area and to improve the quality of the herd. The 2,545-acre peninsula will be open for scheduled hunts on the following dates:

Dates:              Hunts:
Sept. 19-20     Archery (ONLY)
Oct. 10            Archery (ONLY)
Oct. 11            Muzzleloader
Nov. 14-15      Muzzleloader

Hunters will be checked through the check station located at the entrance gate. Hours of operation will be from one hour before sunrise through one hour after sundown.

The bag limit is two does and one quality buck each day of each hunt. Quality bucks are those with racks having four points or better on at least one side, or a 15-inch or greater outside spread.

Muzzleloader hunts are limited to 100 hunters per day. Muzzleloader hunters will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis. Archery hunters are invited to participate in all scheduled hunts.

Hunters must be licensed in accordance with existing Georgia Game and Fish Regulations. A Wildlife Management Area (WMA) license is not required for these hunts. Appropriate license(s) will be inspected at check station. All state regulations and bag limits will be strictly enforced.

Park visitors who are not hunting are encouraged to find other recreation areas during the scheduled hunts. The management area will also be closed two days prior to each hunt except to hunters scouting or placing deer stands.  No weapons are allowed in Bussey Point on scouting days.

For information regarding campgrounds and site availability near the Bussey Point facility please visit the J. Strom Thurmond Lake webpage at: http://1.usa.gov/U4jkgh

For more information, contact Ken Boyd at the J. Strom Thurmond Office toll free at 1-800-533-3478, ext. 1159, or at (864) 333-1159.