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#05-223 October 24, 2005

Youth Coon Hunts Planned Around S.C.

A series of nine youth coon hunts will be held around the state from October to February, sponsored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the South Carolina Coon Hunters Association.

These youth coon hunts will serve as regional qualifying events for the state championship youth hunt. The youth hunts are designed to teach ethics and sportsmanship through low-intensity competition events. The regional qualifying events will be held in Anderson, Barnwell, Colleton, Darlington, Edgefield, Georgetown, Greenville, Orangeburg and Pickens counties.

The top two hunters in each age bracket (Under 13 and 14-17) will qualify for the 11th annual South Carolina Youth Raccoon Hunting Championship at the Webb Wildlife Center in Hampton County, scheduled for Feb. 25, 2006.

For more information on the youth coon hunts, call the Columbia DNR office at (803) 734-3609 or e-mail Patty Castine at CastineP@dnr.sc.gov.

These are non-harvest events, and guns will not be allowed. Modified United Kennel Club (UKC) rules will be used to score hounds and handlers. Each applicant should send an index card to the appropriate contact with the youth applicant's name and the name of their adult guardian on the same card. Applicants should include address, day and night phone numbers. Each applicant is also responsible for bringing a coon dog to the hunt. Each youth should be able to tell when his or her dog strikes and trees with minimal help from the adult. Youth coon hunt locations, dates and contacts are:

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