[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6088056,"mediaKeyId","2885988-d4cc01e92a2a3fba1feb8392c9bbff5e","parentId",2885988,"title","Senate panel advances bill to extend still-hunting window for bears in Game Zone 1","audioSeconds",1088,"startMs",1025000,"endMs",2113000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2885988-d4cc01e92a2a3fba1feb8392c9bbff5e&start=1025&end=2113","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2885988-d4cc01e92a2a3fba1feb8392c9bbff5e/thumbnail_1025000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088056/South-Carolina/Senate-panel-advances-bill-to-extend-still-hunting-window-for-bears-in-Game-Zone-1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088056-f1efae1bed9dbf5c6285fd3e988b7fb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440162&Signature=WYvUr9J1pNPAcTLbQ4EV5wH5dqGFHru~u5mM1WGuEuz8Ewjh2dAf5FHbXQhEHxo4BSpoMKCtBSHW2di8koSdeGCWafw7EusaL1rIgo6OeUAWeI~TVNj7sAm~0MFL8LkzsbU-gDofa7XBdPpsiUYqmIiAgTiULdx4qHuGpZGrTkOpFaw~jfain4LbwSqxk2QWTa97qA0-3hZVv7tuc2S3BgBuK26pzm0ABx76wJc9~ANBw8gw-qvNd51bnHbkXQG~8YNcEVeHGal05cr~OMhYSosqklK5-u96EPOv99g6EYxZX65YJqPtttTwYSpFce4s3DNGv-3ELTnK0BXY3zuWlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill H3813, which would extend still-hunting opportunity on private property and remove a dog-hunt roster requirement in Game Zone 1 (parts of Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties), received a favorable report from the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee after a lengthy discussion.

Charles Ruth, a biologist who supervises the DNR big-game program, told the committee that bear numbers in Game Zone 1 have increased markedly in recent years. Ruth said harvests averaged about 35 bears in the first five years of this century, rose to an average of 134 in the last five years and that last year’s harvest reached 170. \"The bears are doing well up there,\" Ruth said, and that DNR now seeks to allow still hunters on private property to hunt during both weeks of the season while maintaining a separate week for organized dog hunting.

Ruth told senators the historical separation of a still-hunting week and a dog-hunting week reflected years when the mountain bear population was small; DNR staff now recommend removing a requirement that dog-hunt masters submit rosters they no longer use. Ruth said harvests are split roughly 50/50 between still hunters and dog hunters in recent years and that the change would primarily allow landowners greater flexibility on their own property.

Senators questioned the fairness of extending still-hunting opportunity for two weeks while leaving dog-hunting limited to one week; one senator argued dog hunters should receive the same additional week. Committee members also asked which hunting groups and local staff DNR had consulted; Ruth said mountain staff who work the hunts were consulted but that formal group testimony did not appear in the house record.

The committee voted to report the bill favorably by voice; the chair recorded one senator opposed and noted proxies voting aye for Turner and Young. The hearing record includes discussion of Game Zone 1’s geographic limits (upper Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties), the existence of a separate coastal bear population and DNR’s view that wildfires in the mountains would improve some bear habitat.

No amendment text or fiscal impact was provided during the committee hearing. The bill now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee -- Fish, Game and Forestry Committee Wednesday, April 2, 2025 10:00 am ","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill H3813 would let still hunters take bears on private property during both weeks of the existing autumn season in Game Zone 1 and would remove a dog-hunt roster requirement; DNR testified the bear population in the mountains has grown and supports expanded still-hunting opportunity for landowners.","taxTitle","Senate Fish, Game and Forestry, Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",60722,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6088061,"Committee backs bill to ban swimming near public boat landings on Santee Cooper lakes",352,731000,1083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2885988-d4cc01e92a2a3fba1feb8392c9bbff5e&start=731&end=1083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2885988-d4cc01e92a2a3fba1feb8392c9bbff5e/thumbnail_731000.jpg","/articles/6088061/South-Carolina/Committee-backs-bill-to-ban-swimming-near-public-boat-landings-on-Santee-Cooper-lakes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088061-fd6f06d1f6eefc668b4e96db5cc1e1cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440162&Signature=k~41gBDtIqLpQdOfogH~JbxsuKCTdrKwTViekS3cgK61EQHAjOoK8DGRPz-XnSFeh96j-MqWuBnvBMoruVKmcteECPybt7tnEZJsYU7oS4haMKLgXsNpAvUvZlswXWXA0zoGDtEXAbpLz6gZfyuLY4Qf2GLFu6dRH3WYX3pJ6uIcvjNanxFBQX2CKgg5OUb3-B~4OZKMwavmEQQH1n0l7Uw8koewdUolIwS8ECsQdfLKNjmGsBWQOlEULZ67BVXuRXOK6De3Enn0NiCmN1zdSHxkiwvjk~vy16W5gMXoRai1Mgmk1HHiSiVhjQmfITnJ-mV5bmzs9zmknOUPO3HxXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill S463, which would add public boat landings on Santee Cooper-owned reservoirs to an existing prohibition on swimming within 50 feet of a boat landing, received a favorable committee report after a short hearing.

Mr. Cole, a committee staff member, told the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee that S463 ‘‘adds public boat landings on lakes or reservoirs owned or maintained by Santee Cooper’’ to the prohibition and specifically cited Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie. The stated purpose is to reduce swimmer interference with launching and loading operations.

Adam Henderson, representing the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, testified that DNR supports the bill as a safety tool and would like the prohibition applied statewide. Henderson said the 50-foot distance targets the ‘‘immediate proximity to the ramp where boats [are] coming in and out’’ and noted DNR has issued warnings but few citations at boat landings in recent years.

Committee discussion focused on how the 50-foot restriction would interact with people camping at nearby launch areas. A senator from Newberry asked whether people camping a hundred or 200 feet from a ramp could still swim; Henderson said the 50-foot measure targets immediate ramp areas and that more distant swimming would usually be allowed. The transcript shows an exchange about penalties: a committee member quoted a statutory penalty range and Henderson said he had no intention of imprisoning violators.

The committee moved the bill for a favorable report by voice vote; the chair announced the ayes carried.

No fiscal impact or effective-date language was provided in the hearing record. DNR told the committee it would support extending the prohibition statewide; no formal opposition was recorded in committee testimony.","Senate Fish, Game and Forestry advanced S 463 to extend an existing prohibition on swimming within 50 feet of public boat landings to landings on lakes owned or maintained by Santee Cooper (Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie). The Department of Natural Resources told the panel it supports the bill for boater safety.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6088066,"Senate committee advances Davy Hite for S.C. Department of Natural Resources board",638,70000,708000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2885988-d4cc01e92a2a3fba1feb8392c9bbff5e&start=70&end=708","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2885988-d4cc01e92a2a3fba1feb8392c9bbff5e/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/6088066/South-Carolina/Senate-committee-advances-Davy-Hite-for-SC-Department-of-Natural-Resources-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088066-58581247e8df36e6566a36d9312f318d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440162&Signature=bmK3IJsujmSsBn-kpMGo~Vx6ZY8V~JSrMbvQuvvTosv84PYbr-mtNEr6lVZazi~CrW8xszVdkBhlAqmeKTc16zgc4uFLP4-f8JdIfesYh6R77GJ9rFc6R1EtUOg~ZJriTFPnNyCb9fxeTYECr1~lN4NFVVixjT6RHJbHlpEfJc9ppLf9atFUDILY~Jw8x62m1GCeB9vQ1B9CbWbL9gdiFyTF-zQdkih44W4WwuZfXD2ARo~GdbVIX9SJTPV~GjXxTBQVqjCZHPv7zQKeCEdQLvhObU1zaaum1UJBGXg4T2NrfBjdJZwYRKZkdL~kuau4B9XDda67WkHFhuf-6S~p~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Davy Hite, nominated to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) board by Gov. Henry McMaster, told the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee on the record that he was ‘‘born and raised in the state of South Carolina’’ and called the appointment ‘‘an opportunity of a lifetime.’’

Hite, who described more than two decades as a professional angler and service in the South Carolina Army National Guard, said habitat restoration and public access to hunting and fishing are priorities for him. The committee voted to give his nomination a favorable report to the full Senate.

Why it matters: Members said Hite’s long involvement in hunting and fishing and private land habitat work would inform the DNR board on recreational access and habitat-management questions the agency faces.

In his opening remarks, Hite thanked the governor and outlined his conservation interests, noting decades of experience as a professional angler and television host and ownership of private timberland he manages for wildlife. Senator (Greenwood) praised Hite’s background and moved to advance the nomination; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with proxies recorded in favor.

Committee members asked Hite about saltwater fishing, hunting and habitat-management experience. Hite said he has both inshore and offshore saltwater experience, bird- and deer-hunting experience and that he and his wife manage a roughly 200-acre pine plantation in Greenwood County where he follows timber- and habitat-management practices.

No written opposition or additional public testimony was recorded in the committee transcript. The committee did not take a roll-call tally in the hearing transcript; the chair announced the ayes carried and recorded that multiple proxies were cast in favor.

The nomination now moves to the full Senate for consideration. No implementation dates or board-term specifics were given during the committee hearing.","The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee voted to report favorably on the nomination of Davy Hite to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources board after a short hearing in which Hite described his outdoors background and conservation interests.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate panel advances bill to extend still-hunting window for bears in Game Zone 1

Committee backs bill to ban swimming near public boat landings on Santee Cooper lakes

Senate committee advances Davy Hite for S.C. Department of Natural Resources board