Antlers will abound throughout the Palmetto State as the search for new state record deer antlers gets underway during the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ annual series of measuring sessions.

Each year during March, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) measures deer antlers throughout the state, with a major effort during the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic scheduled for March 22-24 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia. A total of 5,915 sets of white-tailed deer antlers, including 5,690 typical racks and 225 nontypical, are currently ranked on South Carolina’s all-time antler records list, according to Charles Ruth, Deer and Wild Turkey Project supervisor for DNR. Minimum scores for state record listing are 125 points for typical antlers and 145 points for nontypical antlers. Measurements are based on the Boone and Crockett system.

The objectives of the state records list are to recognize outstanding animals and to identify areas that produce quality deer, according to Ruth. This information allows biologists to take a closer look at habitat and deer herd conditions in order to make future management recommendations.

Although record deer have been recorded from all counties, Aiken, Anderson, and Orangeburg counties have produced the greatest numbers in the past three to four years. Generally, larger deer are more abundant in areas that have fewer deer, as compared to parts of the state with high deer numbers, according to Ruth. Last year’s measuring sessions produced 257 new entries into the South Carolina records list, the highest number of entries in the last 15 years.

Hunters must provide necessary documentation, such as the date and county of the kill, and sign a “fair chase” statement when they bring in a set of antlers for measuring. Antlers in velvet or those that are broken and repaired or antlers separated from the skull plate cannot be officially measured for the state records list. If the lower jawbone of the animal was extracted during taxidermy or otherwise saved, it should be brought to the scoring session so biologists can determine the deer’s age. An accurate weight measurement at the time of the kill is also helpful.

For additional information on the Antler Records Program visit the DNR website.

2013 ANTLER SCORING SESSIONS

Date, time, location, telephone

•Friday, March 1, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Bath, Wilson’s Taxidermy, 158 Victory Lane, (803) 593-3357

• Tuesday, March 5, 2-8 p.m., Easley, Academy Sports Outdoors, 201 Rolling Hill Circle (864) 850-6130

• Thursday, March 7, 2-8 p.m, West Union, Neville Hardware, 120 S. Hwy 11 (864) 638-2531

• Monday, March 11, 2-8 p.m, Taylors, Rock’s Country Store, 430 Groce Meadows Rd. (864) 895-8324

• Thursday, March 14, 1-7 p.m, Anderson, White Jones Hardware, East Shockley Ferry Rd. (864) 225-1406

• Friday, March 22, noon to 8:00 p.m., Columbia, Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, State Fairgrounds, (803) 734-3886

• Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Columbia, Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, State Fairgrounds, (803) 734-
3886

• Sunday, March 24, 1:30-6 p.m., Columbia, Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, State Fairgrounds, (803) 734-3886

• Wednesday, March 27, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Bonneau, Dennis Wildlife Center, 305 Black Oak Road, (843) 825-3387

• Clemson: At DNR Office, 311 Natural Resources Dr., by appointment only during March (864) 654-1671 ext. 16.

• Columbia: At DNR office, 1000 Assembly St., by appointment only any time of year, (803) 734-8738

• Florence: At DNR office, 295 S. Evander Dr., Florence, by appointment on Fridays during March, (843) 661-4768

• Garnett: Webb Wildlife Center, 1282 Webb Ave., by appointment only during March, (803) 625-3569

• Greenwood: At DNR office, 2751 Hwy. 72 East, Abbeville, by appointment only during March, (864) 223-2731

• Union: At DNR Office, 124 Wildlife Drive, Union, by appointment only during March, (864) 427-5140