Lexington County, SC (Paul Kirby) – Across Lexington County, game hunters have either already begun their white-tail deer season, or they are busily preparing to do so. Lexington County is perfectly positioned geographically so that hunters can enjoy the hunting season on very different lands begin at different times of the year.
The season for whitetail deer hunting on private land in Lexington County opened on August 15, 2020. Lexington County is in Game Zone 3 along with several other counties in SC that are south and east of Lexington.
Game Zone 2 directly abuts Lexington County in the northwest. Saluda County is in this zone and that season opens on September 15th for archery only and continues to open in stages with other weapons in October. All white-tailed deer seasons run through January the 1st of 2021. You can find more details on season’s dates on both private land and Wildlife Management Area hunting in South Carolina by going to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website at www.dnr.sc.gov.
Private land in each zone may include beautiful fields, dense woods, cut over forest, and other great places to hunt. There are also a variety of trees and other vegetation that naturally draws deer to these zones.
Thursday, the SCDNR distributed a press release reminding all hunters that natural deer lures and attractants are prohibited for use in South Carolina. This type of lure was first prohibited in 2019. This does not include a prohibition on the use of synthetic products or substances collected by hunters from deer legally harvested in South Carolina.
This preventative measure was established in response to the continuing spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) across the United States and Canada. CWD is a contagious disease that affects members of the deer family. CWD can be spread via deer urine and other bodily fluids which can contaminate the environment posing a risk to deer in the area.
While there has not been a case of CWD in South Carolina or in any neighboring states, SCDNR and many other states have proactively prohibited the use of natural lures and attractants in order to minimize the potential for CWD introduction. Please do your part to keep CWD out of South Carolina.
