SC Dept of Natural Resources shuts down shooting ranges, other events over coronavirus

As South Carolina continues to grapple with the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, the state’s Department of Natural Resources announced additional cancellations and closings Tuesday, while reiterating that the upcoming hunting and fishing seasons remain unaffected for the moment.

Included in a new round of cancellations are the following events:

• All dates and all hunts for the 2020 Turkey Lottery Hunts
• All in-person boater and hunter education classes through March 30
• All Trailer and Take One Make One (TOMO) events until further notice
• Historic Camden Fishing Rodeo (April 25)
• 8 Oaks Park Fishing Rodeo (April 25)
• Charles Town Landing Fishing Rodeo (April 25)
• Blue Heron Youth Fishing Rodeo (April 25)
• Barnwell County Fishing Rodeo (May 2)
• Diversity Outreach Program - Margaret H. Lloyd Nature Hike (May 23)

• The S.C. Envirothon Competition (April 24)

The following locations are also now closed:

• All SCDNR-managed shooting ranges
• Crackerneck Wildlife Management Area and Ecological Reserve in Aiken County
• Duke Energy has closed Bad Creek Hydro Project and Musterground Road in Oconee.
• The Oconee County access to the Jocassee Gorges is closed to vehicles. The gates will be locked until further notice. This also closes some vehicle access points to the Foothills Trail.

The following events had already been canceled or postponed:

• All volunteer lab days at Parker Annex Archaeology Center are canceled until further notice.
• SC Archery in the Schools Program State Championship (March 24-26)
• The Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic (March 27-29)
• The Youth Bass Fishing Championship (March 27-28) —postponed
• Coyote Management Workshop – Webb Wildlife Center (April 2-3)
• Fish Brosnan Forest Fishing Rodeo (April 4)
• Table Rock State Park Fishing Clinics (April 4 & April 18)
• Diversity Outreach Program - Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve Nature Walk (April 11)
• Diversity Outreach Program - Volunteer Lab Day at Parker Annex Archaeology Center (April 13)
• Blue Hole Recreation Area Fishing Rodeo (April 25) — postponed
• Sun City Grandparents Park Fishing Clinics (May 16, June 20, July 18)
• The St. Stephen’s Fish Lift is closed
• All SCDNR freshwater fish hatcheries are closed to the public.

Greg Hadley

The State

Covering University of South Carolina football, women’s basketball and baseball for GoGamecocks and The State, along with Columbia city council and other news.