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SCWA Chapter Local Volunteer Conservation Carp in Lake Murray |
Opening morning of duck season on Lake Murray we sat looking over the decoy spread like generals looking over their men, hoping they were put in the most strategic location. At shooting time: a pair of ring-necks floated over the decoys. Two shots one duck. Not too bad, we thought, hoping that the rest of the morning would bring many more opportunities to polish up on our shooting skills, which had become a little rusty since last season. That would not be the case. Although, we saw a few more ducks and heard shots from other hunters, that lone ring-neck would be the only one to hit the water that morning. While picking up the decoys, we could not help but feel a little disappointed about our luck on the first day of the season. Then we thought back to the numerous other hunting trips on Lake Murray that produced good results. Maybe there will be something to look forward to after all.
Decoys
Duck hunting on Lake Murray can produce some excellent opportunities to harvest a variety of different species, ranging from mallards and shovelers to scaup and buffleheads. And let’s not forget the abundant Canadas. We start out with a large decoy spread early in the season and decrease the number of blocks as the season progresses.
Our decoy spread consists of five species: mallards, scaup, ring-necks, Canada’s, and coots. Since most of the ducks seen on Lake Murray are divers, the majority of the setup should consist of diving ducks with a few puddler groups set out. Frankie Marion of Fins-and-Feathers, located in Ballentine, has the following suggestions for hunting Canada geese on the lake. Regarding silhouettes:” I use them all the time for the following reasons: They take up little space in the boat, are cheaper than full bodies, and work better. They also give you movement in your spread due to being 2-D. Silhouettes pull geese from a long way away due to their color enhancement-more black and white on them than a real goose making them more visible at farther distances than most full bodies.”
Hydrilla
One source of continuing controversy for Lake Murray residents is how to control the aquatic grass known as hydrilla. Although, this article will not go into the details of this controversy, there are a few things that should be discussed. Hydrilla is not only a good source of food for waterfowl, but it can also be dangerous to hunters and young dogs. We experienced this first-hand opening day with an inexperienced lab on her first hunting expedition. She swam excitedly toward the downed bird and within two feet of the retrieve became tangled in the grass and turned back. Repeatedly she was sent, always with the same result. Hunters also need to take special care when wading in areas of thick hydrilla, because they too can become entangled.
For those unfamiliar with the plant, it grows in vast mats in depths up to twenty-seven feet and appears to be thick enough to walk on. However, ducks do rely on hydrilla heavily as a food source and good hunting can often be found near it. The birds, to our knowledge though, will not land in it. Therefore it is a good idea to hunt on the open waterside of a large patch.
Blinds
There are many different blind options for hunting Lake Murray. Since many islands are available, setting up ground blinds out of native vegetation seems to be the most widely used method. However, this method decreases visibility compared to hunting from a boat. Many cypress trees have also been planted on these islands and should not be disturbed, so take special care when gathering brush for blinds. Hunting from a boat can be a productive way to harvest ducks, but resident populations of waterfowl tend to be wary of these artificial “islands.”
Residential Development
As with many other lakes around South Carolina, residential development on Lake Murray is decreasing the availability of hunting locations. Continuing construction has pushed hunters away from the shoreline, increasing pressure on open water areas. Strict yardage regulations have been set on the lake and differ from county to county. Local authorities should be contacted for information on the restrictions for the county that you will be hunting.
To those who have not hunted the lake and plan to do so, we have a few recommendations. First, due to the construction of the back up dam the lake has been lowered. Take the time to scout the lake not only for ducks, but also for shallow areas that have emerged and beds of hydrilla. Many boat ramps are without water, so allow extra time to locate a suitable launching site. Hunting Lake Murray can be a challenging, but rewarding experience if the proper precautions are taken before shooting time.
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