Deer season is underway in South Carolina, and that means the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is on high alert.

Poaching may sound like something that only happens in movies or in the savannah, but it’s a reality right here in S.C.

Owen Barker, chief pilot of the SCDNR, has been flying for decades.

His job right now is to patrol the state’s fields, forests and back roads to ensure that hunting is only being done in a legal manner.

“I’ve kinda fell in love with that, with service to others and being able to help in any way possible,” said Barker. “It uses something I love to do, which is flying.”

In addition to patrolling done by DNR officers, the department uses the Hunting Regs app for further monitoring of the state’s natural resources.

According to a research study done by Poach and Pay, 95% of big game poaching incidents go unreported.

Financial Impact

This doesn’t just affect wildlife, but the economy, too. Nationwide, unreported poaching costs approximately $1.5 billion annually- that’s $28 million per state.

Irresponsible hunting practices cause disruption for recreational hunters, like SC native Wes McCutcheon.

“There’s going to be a bad subset of people in any sport,” said McCutcheon. “I can’t relate to that mindset.”

One thing McCutcheon and Barker have in common is their love for the sport of hunting.

They both mentioned that it connects them with nature, friends and family.

They both believe that educating individuals on hunting from a young age will lead them to safely practicing the sport.

“It’s very important to us to make sure that people are doing things the right way and in an ethical manner,” said Barker.

Anyone aware of irresponsible hunting can make an anonymous report to Operation Game Thief through its website, app or by calling 800-922-5431. Citizens who report illegal practices may be eligible for rewards of up to $2,500 for tips leading to an arrest.