10/18/07
Awesome shrimping; deer dangers while driving
By Terry Madewell

TERRY MADEWELL/Manning Times

Mike Cox and Drew Reeser with two awesome limits of jumbo shrimp caught last weekend. It only took a total of three hours of low-country shrimping before their coolers were full.

One more brief discussion of the shrimping season before it is too late is in order.

Based on conversations with many shrimpers during the past two weeks, this may be one of the very best shrimp seasons in memory. And that includes both long term as well as short term memory.

Limits of huge shrimp are being taken from the Charleston to the Georgetown areas for sure. There’s no reason to figure it’s not happening all along the coast, but that area is absolutely red-hot for large-to-jumbo sized shrimp.

While there are still a few weeks of season left, if you haven’t done your shrimping for the year, go now before something like a tropical storm messes it up.

Plus, the big shrimp that are now in the inshore area may just vanish into the ocean at some point. But right now with a good boat driver and decent net man, you can catch a limit of shrimp in short order. Lots of shrimpers, if both have permits, will get a limit, come back in and get another boat and set of poles, return to the same area and get another limit on the other shrimpers permit. It’s really that good right now.

Another issue we need to consider is our beloved, but sometimes hated, deer population. Last week I had two near misses with deer running across the road while I was driving before daylight. We’re getting close to that magical time of the year we love as deer hunters. But it is also the time when an already hazardous situation gets worse as deer begin to move more during the pre-rut and rut phase.

Motorists throughout the state need to be constantly aware of roaming white-tailed deer, according to a state deer biologist.

Despite a persistent rumor, neither the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) nor any other state agency will compensate motorists for injuries or damages resulting from deer collisions. Besides practicing safe and defensive driving techniques, each motorist should carry adequate collision and comprehensive insurance. “As the states’ human population increases and more people move to the country which increases commuting traffic, increases in deer-human encounters should be expected,” said Charles Ruth, DNR Deer/Turkey Project supervisor.

The S.C. Department of Transportation reported 1,466 deer-vehicle collisions in 2006, one of the lowest numbers since the 1980s. However, this decline may have more to do with lack of reporting for minor damages than with an actual reduction in collisions, according to Ruth. Although deer-vehicle collisions are an issue in South Carolina, the state is in a much better position than most states, particularly states in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Many states have 30,000-50,000 deer-vehicle collisions annually.

“Sound deer management through regulated annual harvests is the most effective way of curtailing deer-vehicle collisions,” Ruth said, “but following some common sense rules for driving defensively in deer country will make the trip safer.”

White-tailed deer are masters at evading predators, according to Ruth. However, these same predator-avoidance instincts often cause deer to bolt in front of oncoming vehicles.

When deer are sighted well ahead of the vehicle, Ruth recommends sounding the horn several times, flicking headlights (if no oncoming traffic is present) and reducing the vehicle’s speed. If deer are sighted only a short distance in front of the vehicle, these same collision-avoidance techniques—horn and flicking lights—may spook the deer into running across the road, thereby increasing the likelihood of a collision, so in that case it’s best to just slow down. Always anticipate another deer if you see one or more crossing the highway and do not expect the deer to get out of the way.

Motorists should understand that deer-crossing signs—diamond-shaped signs bearing the silhouette of a deer—mark a stretch of road where deer have been hit previously, however, these signs do not mark specific deer trails. Deer may frequently cross for several miles where the signs are posted. Studies show that about 45 percent of deer-vehicle collisions occur in roughly a 60-day period that corresponds with the deer-breeding season. In South Carolina, the deer-breeding season, or “rut,” is generally during the months of October and November. Deer movements, and vehicle collisions, are at their peak during the breeding season in October and November. Also, most vehicle collisions occur near sun-up and sun-down because deer tend to move more during these times. Unfortunately, these are also the times that most humans commute to work in their vehicles. “Pay attention to changes in habitat types along the highway,” he said. “The zone between habitat types is a likely place for deer to cross a road. Creek bottoms and where agricultural fields meet woodlands are also prime areas for deer to cross roadways.” Rural or secondary roads rank highest in deer-vehicle accidents because of the frequent curves and narrow shoulders. Motorists often have little warning and therefore limited reaction time when they see deer.

South Carolina’s deer population peaked in the mid 1990s as did the number of deer vehicle collisions. Fortunately, thanks to efforts by hunters in addressing the increasing population deer numbers have moderated since 2000, and the statewide population is estimated to be about 25 percent less now than 10 years ago.

What should motorists do if they hit a deer?

“Report the incident to the state Highway Patrol or local law enforcement and to your insurance company,” Ruth said. “Finally, many people wonder if they can keep the deer for consumption. This it is not a problem as long as there is an incident report demonstrating that a vehicle killed the deer and that the deer was not illegally shot.”