Hey Gang - Hunts this year at The Savannah River Complex are ON.

This includes Blackbeard Island bowhunts. Dates so far are October 8,9,10 and December 3,4,5.

That December hunt is a more traditional date for the second hunt and from our experience the deer activity is excellent early December. October is always fantastic.

October can get blown out by a hurricane so non residents wait to purchase license and annual permit.

TBG usually has a group of guys there.

It is one of my all time favorite hunts for lots of reasons.

Federal website should post all you need to begin planning by mid August

Thanks Cory <><
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I hunted Blackbeard twice back in the 1980s, way before hogs got there. Actually they were worried squirrels would get on the island and eat all the deer food back then.
I thoroughly enjoyed both hunts I went on. Blackbeard is such a beautiful and primitive place to hunt. I did shoot a doe there but never found her after she ran out into the savanna but I did see the largest cottonmouth I've ever seen while tracking that deer. From 30 yards away that snake looked like a truck tire laying under a myrtle bush. 

Ive been to blackbeard a bunch and love it.  It's a little crowded but really a fantastic hunt and gorgeous place. Its probably about fifty percent trad guys too.  Lotta bugs, gators, rattlers, and cottonmouths to keep it interesting. We usually fish there also and typically do real well on sea trout. Hate to miss it again

I will be in Savannah on military duty during this time. What are the details?

Jim, you can contact the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge for info, Blackbeard is part of that system. The state regs booklet may have info. Being an island you'll have to find your own way to Blackbeard although there are folks that will bring you over and pick you up when the "harvest" is over for a price.
When we were there back in the '80s the officials told us this wasn't a hunt but a harvest. They said they needed to eliminate 50% of the deer heard each year for the health of the heard. That may have changed since then.

You can also contact Matt Schuster PBS for info, he's hosting the Dec. hunt.     matt@easterndynamics.com

Yeah there will be a handful or two of us PBSers there for the December hunt.  We did it a few years back and it was fun, although they were trying to eradicate the hogs and that was a little disappointing.  Bill Dunn shot a big buck, but somehow left the rack behind...🤓

It would be difficult for me to make the October hunt, I will have limited transportation and time. Sounds like a great time though! looking forward to hearing about it.

Haha I was on the island for that hunt Jeff...I remember that "monster" buck...lol

I was on that hunt too. Ordered a zipper from Bill as soon as I got home

Yep there were several people from here in yalls camp

When I hunted on Blackbeard back in the 1980's one of the largest deer ever taken off of the island was a beautiful 8 point that weighed 117# and the smallest deer was like 15#. Back then they wanted you to shoot any deer that walked by.

I saw a buck get killed on the north end one year on the december hunt that scored in the mid 120's.  An absolute monster for the island. The guy had been hunting him for several years. Believe I saw that buck out in the savannah the previous year

This is a very unique and beautiful place.    And, as someone said earlier, there is a huge percentage of guys on this hunt that use traditional equipment.   It has always been that way for some reason.    It is worth the trip just to hunt along the beach and visit the numerous campfires in the camping field.

Game ON people - SRNWR website posted official rules today - with the information on the website you should be able to manage logistics.
Good Luck
Stop by to say hey
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Looking forward to some stories from Blackbeard Island this fall.   

Terry, are you coming to this hunt?

Jeff, if you are talking to me, I'd love to.

Just back from the December Blackbeard Island Hunt. It was a great hunt! Last I saw 40 deer to the game pole with around 130 hunters checked in. Some wild hogs were taken too and a friend of mines son got his first ever wild hog on a stalk hunt Friday midday. I didn't shoot but had two close encounters almost shooting both times. PBS had a group and I saw Jeff Holchin got a deer so maybe he'll post a pic. Great camp great time can't wait to get back!!