Senate amendment would allow ribbon feeding for wild quail on permitted properties during turkey season

The South Carolina Senate on March 11 adopted an amendment to S.345 to allow ribbon feeding for wild quail during turkey season on large private properties that obtain a permit from the Department of Natural Resources.

Senator from Georgetown, explaining the amendment, said the change responds to land managers’ needs for wild-quail restoration. “DNR has a new position today,” the senator said, and the amendment would permit ribbon feeding on permitted properties, subject to conditions: the property must not be leased for turkey hunting, must not host commercial hunts, and DNR must promulgate regulations and issue the permit.

The senator said the amendment “allows you to take a wild turkey over, a bait it allows you to, I'm sorry. It allows you to to get a permit by DNR in which you can manage that property specifically for wild quail.” The amendment was adopted by voice vote and the bill received a second reading.

Nut graf: The amendment creates a permitting path for large land managers who use prescribed burning and ribbon feeding to support quail habitat, while including restrictions intended to avoid creating unfair baiting opportunities for turkey hunters.

During floor colloquy, members asked whether the amendment would restrict turkey hunting in baited areas; the sponsor confirmed the permit would prohibit taking turkeys over the baited area and would preclude commercial hunts on that property. The amendment’s sponsor said the change does not affect the Santee Cooper system and was intended to protect quail restoration efforts.

Ending: The amendment was adopted and S.345 was given a second reading; further floor action or final passage was not recorded in the transcript.