I have been planning on getting into hunting some rails down off of Fripp this fall/winter. I was wandering if anyone had any information on the regulations or hunting seasons for them because I am having trouble finding rules on scdnr. I need to know where I can hunt legally for them and I was also wandering if anyone had some tips on where to find them. Any help and information will be much appreciated!
quote:
Marsh Hens/Rails (Clapper, King, Sora & Virginia) Sept. 18--Sept 22 Oct. 13--Dec. 16
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/migratorybird/regulations.html
You want to hunt them on the highest tides around the full and new moons. Need a small boat that you can pole easily through the flooded grass. We usually do best around the edges of hammocks where we can get out and walk.
Most all state owned marshland is open, just stay a few hundred yards from houses or boats.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
The higher the tide the better. Not sure how the law reads on shot, but we always use steel just to be safe. Also make sure the boat comes to a stop and the motor is up before you start shooting. You CAN NOT run the motor and shoot. Not only is it illegal but it makes those of us who do it right look bad.
Sea Pro SV2100 Bay
Just curious, are those things any good to eat??
Thanks,
NN
06 200 Bay Scout 150 Yam
Coming from somebody who thought he gave up dove and quail hunting by moving down here… This is fascinating. (Yes I had to Google what in the world you guys were talking about) So you’re telling me… that in theory… I could buy a real skinny boat and shoot birds from it?
What?!?!
Without hijacking this thread and in relation to the original poster’s inquiry, somebody please enlighten me. I’m very intrigued!
218 Sailfish
Yamaha F225
Hilton Head/Beaufort
Thank you very much for the tips Larry and Skrimp, I will be sure to post any pictures and reports when I do head down. That is if I get anything!
And Salt Weapon: hijacking is welcome. Ha, to answer your question yes rails, or “marsh hens” are migratory birds that can be found in the marshes. From what I have seen the only rules are no motor can be running on the boat so you have to pole through the marshes, and you can’t aim at the bird until it starts flying. The bag limit is 15 per day.
Here is an awesome video I found on youtube of Capt Owen Plair doing a “cast and blast” out of Beaufort:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZbWSkLWJa4
The people we rent the house from came back in last year with 38 (three in the boat). He says they are a blast to go after but do NOT have the motor in the water when the shooting starts-apparently the LEO’s take a tight view on that rule. We did have a marsh hen fry that night-not quite as good as pheasant or dove but still pretty good!
Wow. I really am in heaven down here 
Thanks for sharing. Thats so awesome.
218 Sailfish
Yamaha F225
Hilton Head/Beaufort
quote:
Wow. I really am in heaven down here :-)
Yep 
They are an easy bird to hunt and the marshes are loaded with them. The real high tides flush them out of the marsh and they have to head for higher ground, so all the little hammock edges and higher humps will usually be holding the birds. They can swim and dive, but usually they’d rather have their feet on the ground, and there ain’t a lot of ground with a 9’ tide and a NE wind.
They are almost a ridiculously clumsy flyer and real easy to shoot. As kids a long time ago we used to wing shoot them with slingshots and .22 rifles. 12 ga. is overkill, a .410 is much better. You can run them down with a slow boat and scoop them out of the air with a dip net, not that I’ve ever done something like that They hold tight to cover until you flush them out, and they get up real close to the boat, or to your feet if you are wading. To me, it’s easier to wade than to pole a boat around through the grass. Just look for the higher pieces of ground and work the edges, you’ll find the birds. They also cackle a lot and give away their position.
Might as well take a fishing rod too, in case you see some redfish on those same flooded flats 
Yep, it’s heaven.
Since you’re new to the area, let me add this. Watch those tides! You do not want to have the tide leave your boat high and dry at the top of a big tide, or it will be 12 hours before you get off again, if you are lucky, or 30 days waiting on the next big tides if you are not.
You can hunt ducks out there too, when they open.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
They are decent eating. They are pretty strong and take lots of soaking to take the wild taste out of them. We kill a few to eat while we are down fishing, but the wife wont eat them.
Sea Pro SV2100 Bay
Yes, they are pretty decent eating. We usually soak them a few hours, batter and fry, then cook them down some in a gravy.
One more tip about wading in the marsh I need to add, if you are not familiar with it. I don’t want anybody to get in trouble. Only wade where the grass is relatively short, never try to wade a spot that has tall grass. The shorter the grass, the harder the bottom. The taller the grass, the deeper the mud. Head tall grass will be growing in head deep pluff mud that can swallow you. If you ever get stuck in that deep pluff, don’t even try to fight it and don’t try to walk. Lay down flat and swim. Treat it like thick water, not soft dirt. Many a people have got stuck in the mud at lower tides, and then the tide comes in and covers you, and the crabs eat the rest of you. So be careful where you walk out there:wink:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
LOL - pluff mud on the attack!
186 Bone Flats Boat
140 Suzuki fourstroke
Ya ever been stuck neck deep in pluff mud?
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
You mean… like this poor guy!?
Or better yet, these poor ladies?
I think I’ll just go ahead and get stuck and have them help me, they seem like experts
Ahhhh, mud wrestling.