Bird Dog Training Areas See Increased Use
- Mark Coleman
- Jul 2
- 1 min read
Answering requests from hunters across the state for a place to train their bird dogs, the SC Bobwhite Initiative and the SCDNR established the first public training areas in 2018.
Modeled after successful efforts in Georgia, all of Angelus and sections of Landsford Canal, Cliff Pitts, and Edisto River WMAs were set aside as spots where owners could release quail and pigeons and train their dogs. A fifth location at the Saluda River Tract of the Lake Murray WMA was added later. The current dog training season runs from Sept 15 - March 15.
Hunters have responded by visiting these spots, on average, 40% more each year (COVID years excepted), with 2024-2025 being the busiest season yet. Highlights from this year’s data include:
Over 370 visits by more than 160 parties
More than 900 quail released (65% of these were harvested)
An average time per visit of almost two hours
54% of the counties in SC were represented by visitors along with two counties from North Carolina
You can find out more about our public bird dog training areas, including locations, directions, and regulations, at this link:
Comments