[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6120790,"mediaKeyId","2706055-8261dfeac9e2ae47cae51692241de530","parentId",2706055,"title","Committee advances Game Check reporting rule and agrees to resubmit donated-deer processing recovery rule after stakeholder changes","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2712000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706055-8261dfeac9e2ae47cae51692241de530&start=2712&end=2712","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706055-8261dfeac9e2ae47cae51692241de530/thumbnail_2712000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120790/South-Carolina/Committee-advances-Game-Check-reporting-rule-and-agrees-to-resubmit-donated-deer-processing-recovery-rule-after-stakeholder-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120790-3112d9d41062d27fffc3bebe99f0d64a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193863&Signature=oyyzwcztxSfq69JmA3L5jhK8YpScTMaTscjBvOZMV-wSpPjX470mcxIouniZ6zb~nZACQ51CQN1ER2QXgrDkP1pAKNXfO3bSUL1FXduXcA2vTicVRMJQahaNYfGlCpAT98ZZ0xvV~Ll9o0v~90V9mg2rWahy3q8Pe-Yf~Q7exQR83lcCucKYEdNuyvUl22uQV3GNnTLLWwqWUog9TENO6EGnwXCHtiNy-~yARMLZ8yAev-A228nIrMATNFbyiPumLC58bda5SWr1wP3LvJ6xGQUJ2iFH0EEGHRrzFDKvRgQ~RxA1MJf4J2XDqkjGgGJH-~L4u2rDPV9DMO5L8qzHQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee on Oct. 12 voted to advance the Department of Natural Resources' electronic harvest-reporting regulation (the South Carolina Game Check system) to the Senate floor and agreed to a withdraw-and-resubmit approach on a related regulation that sets procedures for processors to recover fees for processing donated deer.

Committee staff described the Game Check regulation as formalizing electronic harvest reporting for big game species (deer, bear and wild turkey) via phone, website and app. The system collects time and date of harvest, county, whether the harvest was on public or private land, and, for public-land harvests, the WMA name, weapon type, number of antler points, weight and inside antler spread. DNR biologist Charles Ruth said optional fields such as weight and antler spread may be included by hunters who have the information; the system backfills required fields if needed.

Committee members praised the first-year reporting numbers but voiced concerns about processor burdens and hunter distrust. DNR staff said hunters reported just under 175,000 deer in the first year and described the confirmation-number mechanism: a hunter receives a confirmation number and gives it to the processor, who records it. Several senators urged ongoing work with processors to reduce recordkeeping burdens and improve trust in the system.

On the donated-deer processing regulation (Reg. 5330), staff said the rule would allow processors to recover a processing fee for legally donated doe deer from an entity other than the donor (for example, a nonprofit that receives the processed venison). Committee members and DNR agreed to withdraw and resubmit the regulation to remove or revise a provision requiring processors to record certain donor data tied to the Game Check confirmation number; those language changes were described as technical and intended to address processor concerns. The committee then voted to move the resubmitted regulation to the floor.

Committee members recorded unanimous votes and noted proxies from Senators Cromer, Turner and Young in the affirmative. The transcript records committee debate, the withdraw-and-resubmit agreement, and the favorable votes; it does not show subsequent floor or implementation steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee - March 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee moved DNR's Game Check regulation to the floor and agreed to let DNR withdraw and resubmit a donated-deer processing recovery-fee regulation after committee discussion about processor burdens and system usability.","taxTitle","Senate Fish, Game and Forestry, Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",60722,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6120795,"Committee advances DNR's wildlife management area regulations, including WMA additions and season adjustments",1125,1623000,2748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706055-8261dfeac9e2ae47cae51692241de530&start=1623&end=2748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706055-8261dfeac9e2ae47cae51692241de530/thumbnail_1623000.jpg","/articles/6120795/South-Carolina/Committee-advances-DNRs-wildlife-management-area-regulations-including-WMA-additions-and-season-adjustments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120795-73aa6710c9036b1b677ec1c04e5a3bc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193863&Signature=eCmGnVPPx6xVXmYLHMUV5p92jiDC8pCxaLXPlWXXZjMImA7GEJa2b67QI4JH3FcREjJS5pNjEZINLfBATF3rEq0vuOIh1S8gBOwUkIpsg~jhkB45hA1SfmcW2g9gHaj0LgYZeHbd66oTipp8moatPrzE3A~81LsS5IYx7k66LVqfNCqoiwjk1ljq05MMVjrK5ZccLznQy3qfd8hHOXEAX-zI-KMmWGqIarVXaWcVsI0FIjc55cuwyrQFk9ux2-nSYvZ9g-6-~hfv39FdmNUBCGU8jCA6HgdIr62n~Qz6bGnffDAHlbWrQJfBczC38fBbAgC~In14pmLNjk1oPnYpSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee on Oct. 12 voted to advance multiple Department of Natural Resources regulations affecting wildlife management areas, including quota and season adjustments, creation of public dove fields and the addition of new WMAs.

Committee staff summarized roughly 10 regulatory changes. Notable items included an increase in the bear quota for Game Zone 4 from 30 to 40, modifications to turkey seasons and bag limits on WMAs to conform with a statute change from the prior year, and regulations establishing public dove fields. DNR staff said the public dove fields are highly popular and described crowding on opening day as a predictable safety concern to be managed with on-site safety briefings and observers on the most crowded fields.

Billy Dukes, DNR's chief of wildlife, said DNR is seeking to expand opportunity by adding areas, including the South Saluda WMA in Pickens County (described as about 2,000 acres) and by adding Coosaheechee WMA to Cat 1 and Cat 2 waterfowl areas. Dukes told the committee that most additional changes were administrative and that DNR would answer questions about the new rules.

Committee members raised several safety and wildlife-management concerns. One senator asked whether large numbers of hunters (the committee discussed an opening-day crowd approaching 4,500 participants statewide for dove fields) and the practice of hunters running into fields could create unsafe conditions; DNR replied that safety briefings, observers, and requests to remove unsafe participants are standard mitigation measures and that expanding the number of fields could reduce crowding.

Other senators pressed DNR about wild hog control on WMAs and whether weapon and season restrictions limit removal options; DNR staff explained the agency favors short, concentrated removal seasons combined with trapping and other measures and said safety concerns and longstanding regulations influence weapon rules. A senator said he intended to continue pressing the agency on that issue.

After discussion, the committee voted to move the WMA regulations to the floor. The chairman recorded the vote as unanimous and noted proxies from Senators Cromer, Turner and Young in the affirmative. Committee members said some issues raised in the hearing could be addressed by withdrawing and resubmitting regulations if needed in order to refine language before final adoption.","The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee moved several DNR wildlife management area (WMA) regulations to the floor after discussion about dove-field crowding, bear quotas and turkey bag limits; DNR staff said changes aim to add opportunities while maintaining safety and conforming to statewide statute changes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6120800,"Committee adopts changes and forwards S. 367 to floor to speed removal of abandoned and derelict vessels",855,734000,1589000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706055-8261dfeac9e2ae47cae51692241de530&start=734&end=1589","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706055-8261dfeac9e2ae47cae51692241de530/thumbnail_734000.jpg","/articles/6120800/South-Carolina/Committee-adopts-changes-and-forwards-S-367-to-floor-to-speed-removal-of-abandoned-and-derelict-vessels","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120800-00571b96167ae259c6035c956a3a4beb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193863&Signature=FkG8GVlknaYtAY7hzC7zKXHvvm7geY~FHjtALCEzhpNv45gZ0cYARqKqllrVscipgfk7tBx25KBlXVaPg-8qPhpm-OM2i3w9bRfSFqsTag2zaa457sf6LuSfs80ooJDyj~2RbUq-Mev332fB~0VnYBADrmUm5xNr-eUyLqAQhESPl1QQ9HS9qhTWMYODgjR~rsM6xDd-wKk87MmgJ~VwCsKYSBCitlfyc09X61zecyXm--09CI1XlzXM51PX2sdU3x3JN4mf6pR1mlVoTVcmhmXj9AL8GuReewZ3a3Sb3WLB03CVaOlXGp4xgaF4urpW9Yatg8TCXWsDTxPWCfPb~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee moved S. 367, legislation establishing procedures for declaring and removing abandoned, wrecked or derelict vessels, to the Senate floor after adopting amendments on Oct. 12.

Committee staff described S. 367 as creating a framework for the Department of Natural Resources and other law-enforcement agencies to identify vessels that are wrecked, junked, abandoned or derelict and to provide procedures for removal, including for sunken vessels.

During the hearing, staff and DNR law-enforcement representatives described the bill as a tool to speed removal work and reduce time lost when vessels sink, which complicates removal. Major Michael Paul Thomas, introduced himself as a DNR law-enforcement major on the coast, and told the committee the bill's provisions would help the agency act more quickly. Committee members and staff said Admiralty attorneys assisted the bill's drafting.

Senators questioned provisions including the period allowed to seek costs from owners after removal and the size of the civil fine. Committee members agreed to an amendment conforming the owner-recovery period to the applicable statute of limitations (discussed in the hearing as three years rather than the bill's original 180 days). Members also adopted an amendment to remove language using the phrase \"state of disrepair,\" which staff and counsel said lacked defined case law and could create legal uncertainty.

Committee discussion clarified that the bill imposes a civil fine (the bill references up to $10,000) and requires reimbursement for removal costs; members noted that substantial pollution or federal cleanup could involve separate federal penalties such as under the Federal Pollution Control Act. A senator cited a prior instance where a Coast Guard pollution-control letter prompted an owner or insurer to act.

With the amendments adopted, the committee voted to issue a favorable report. The chairman recorded the ayes as unanimous and noted proxies from Senators Cromer, Turner and Young in the affirmative.

The committee record shows the bill now proceeds to the Senate floor as amended; the transcript records committee debate, the text of the adopted amendments, and the favorable-report vote but does not show further floor action.","The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee unanimously amended and favorably reported S. 367, a bill that creates procedures for declaring and removing wrecked, abandoned or derelict vessels; amendments included aligning recovery timing with existing statute of limitations and removing the undefined term \"state of disrepair.\"",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6120805,"Senate committee forwards Hope Blackley—s statewide DNR board nomination to full Senate unanimously",586,168000,754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706055-8261dfeac9e2ae47cae51692241de530&start=168&end=754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706055-8261dfeac9e2ae47cae51692241de530/thumbnail_168000.jpg","/articles/6120805/South-Carolina/Senate-committee-forwards-Hope-Blackleys-statewide-DNR-board-nomination-to-full-Senate-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120805-f1b5d5801d5cf5aa52fb1e439258de7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193863&Signature=GS5DOlYdYP4FRZx25gWv3mXK8r9yaUHCIn7V3rNob7NbJy7ZX7OR-vqLxkEcl0TLPAeEn6OJISPVH-KcTEoj-Mo3Dj9bhwNNNNZ7-CPYK2lLIv3-TZH2dpv2e1ddybKW~6gtCiosR~B3WfBJuCTxdNmwvi65FtZpKK8PPqG11TKOKJ8YNu02CCLiJDX8PVUqAsJtN4SXloKL~3VPU7EvX~I0HegprcEIXzsnNWTJVM4oBUl0W61Bwz0QKMoNCUmyMGABVVT9iH62TQSQG3B~442aZhwyYkD5sCGq8FQE3xdsqr3tJqVa8MCisN9xeTmTaT4FjAbZvfihUCTTeA9Sbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee voted unanimously to move Hope Blackley's nomination to the Department of Natural Resources board to the full Senate for confirmation after a short hearing on Oct. 12.

Blackley, a Spartanburg County resident and governmental liaison at South Carolina State University, appeared before the committee, was sworn in, answered committee questions about her background and affiliations, and said she would draw on administrative and regulatory experience while learning more about hunting and fishing matters as needed.

Norman Pulliam, identified in the hearing as a former long-term chairman of the DNR board, told the committee he supported the governor's choice and described Blackley as experienced in state government and active in Spartanburg. Tom Mulligan, introduced at the hearing as the DNR director, was also recognized at the start of the meeting.

Committee staff (Mr. Cole) confirmed the panel had received Blackley's personal data questionnaire, background check, credit report and driving record and asked whether there were changes; Blackley said there were none. Committee members asked about her ties to groups that oppose hunting or fishing; Blackley said she does not have affiliations with groups that oppose hunting or fishing and said she serves on the board of the South Carolina Heritage Corridor. She also described personal outdoor activities such as hiking and camping and said she fished as a child.

Several senators offered endorsements in the hearing. One member said Blackley's prior public-service roles, including time as a clerk of court in Spartanburg and work in congressional offices, made her well suited for the post. Another senator said he would move a favorable report at the appropriate time.

When the committee moved to a vote, members present indicated \"aye.\" The chairman noted the vote was unanimous and recorded proxies from Senators Cromer, Turner and Young in the affirmative.

If the full Senate confirms Blackley, she will join the DNR board as the governor's statewide appointee; committee discussion did not include a formal vote of confirmation, only the committee's favorable report to the Senate.","The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee voted unanimously to move Hope Blackley's nomination to the Department of Natural Resources board to the full Senate for confirmation after a brief hearing and questions about experience and affiliations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances Game Check reporting rule and agrees to resubmit donated-deer processing recovery rule after stakeholder changes

Committee advances DNR's wildlife management area regulations, including WMA additions and season adjustments

Committee adopts changes and forwards S. 367 to floor to speed removal of abandoned and derelict vessels

Senate committee forwards Hope Blackley—s statewide DNR board nomination to full Senate unanimously