SCDNR extends Santee River hunting restrictions amid flooding from Hurricane Helene

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is extending a temporary hunting closure in parts of the Santee River drainage due to extreme flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. This affects all game species except for alligators, doves, hogs, and coyotes.

The extended closure begins at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024, and lasts until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. The area affected includes parts of Berkeley, Charleston, Georgetown, Williamsburg, and Clarendon counties.

However, the hunting ban for parts of the Wateree and Congaree River drainages will end as scheduled at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024. Although floodwaters are receding upstream, water levels in the Santee River are still dangerously high and will peak at record levels this weekend.

The closure is meant to protect wildlife that have been forced out of their usual habitats by flooding. These animals are often stuck on small areas of high ground, making them vulnerable to hunters.

The SCDNR is continuing to monitor the situation and may adjust the closure as conditions change. For more information visit their website.