Your digital farming and outdoor activity guide.

At FARM SMART or gpt.farmsmart/

Learning is earnings.

best hiking sc

South Carolina offers a variety of hiking trails that cater to different levels of experience and interests. Here are a few popular ones:

1. Table Rock State Park Trails: This park offers several trails, but the most famous is the Table Rock Trail. It’s a strenuous hike that rewards you with breathtaking views from the top of Table Rock Mountain.
2. Caesars Head State Park: Known for its spectacular views and rugged terrain, the park has a range of trails, including the Raven Cliff Falls trail leading to South Carolina’s tallest waterfall.
3. Congaree National Park: Offering a unique hiking experience through its old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, the park has boardwalk trails and wilderness trails where you can experience the park’s rich biodiversity.
4. Foothills Trail: Spanning over 76 miles through the Appalachian Mountains, this trail is perfect for those looking for a multi-day hiking adventure.
5. Jones Gap State Park: Featuring the Middle Saluda River and lush mountain coves, this park offers beautiful trails, including the popular Rainbow Falls Trail.

Foothills Trail Conservancy Maps & Coordinates​

best deer and turkey food plots/crops and plant times for Newberry SC, Greenwood SC, Laurens SC, Saluda SC, Clinton SC

For Deer:

1. Spring or Early Summer Planting:
   • Cereal Grains: Cereal grains like oats, wheat, and triticale are very attractive to deer, especially in the early part of the hunting season. These grains have high carbohydrate levels and are easy to grow. They should be planted in spring or early summer.
   • Clover and Other Perennials: Good clover blends, alfalfa, birds foot trefoil, and chicory are also attractive and nutritious for deer from the end of August into October and even later if warm temperatures persist. These should be planted in spring.
   • Corn: Corn is known for its attractiveness to deer. Plant in spring or early summer for best results.
   • Annual Legumes: Soybeans, iron and clay peas, or lablab offer great summertime nutrition. These are typically planted in spring but become especially attractive after a frost when the beans are dried and brown​​.
2. Late Summer/Fall Planting:
   • Winter Peas: These are palatable right after germination and are highly attractive to deer. Plant from early August in the north to early October in the south.
   • Cereal Grains: As mentioned earlier, these can also be planted in the late summer or fall. The planting time is crucial to ensure they are attractive during the hunting season​​.
   • Brassicas/Beets: These crops are very nutritious and attractive to deer, especially after a hard freeze or several frosts. They include rape, canola, turnips, radishes, and sugar beets. Planting should occur from late July or early August in the north to September in the south​​.

For Turkey:

1. General Recommendations:
   • Crops Variety: A mix of different crops is recommended. Rye, millet, oats, wheat, soybeans, and sorghum are popular choices. Chufa is a favorite of wild turkeys. Also, legumes like clover, alfalfa, and sainfoin should be part of the mix. Include wildflowers to attract insects, which are a significant part of a turkey’s diet​​.[“]
   • Planting Times: Plant either in the spring or late summer, considering the season your area receives most of its rainfall since moisture is crucial for successful crop establishment​​.[“]
2. Fall Planting Options (as per NWTF):
   • Cereal Grains: Wheat, rye, or forage oats are good for fall planting. They provide nutritional forage and attract insects in the spring, beneficial for turkeys.
   • NWTF Annual Fall Mix: This mix contains winter peas, crimson clover, and brassicas, offering a good food source throughout the fall and winter months​​.[“]

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is an excellent choice for deer and turkey food plots in South Carolina, including in areas like Newberry, Greenwood, Laurens, Saluda, and Clinton. Here are some key points about buckwheat:

1. Ideal for Various Conditions: Buckwheat is an easy-to-grow, warm-season annual that thrives in sandy soils and remote food plots. It can be planted alone or in blends with other warm-season crops like cowpeas, grain sorghum, or soybeans. However, it’s not recommended as a companion crop for cool-season legumes such as alfalfa or clover​​.[“]
2. Planting Time: Buckwheat can be planted in the spring, but it’s also beneficial for late-summer food plots. For deer managers in the South, including South Carolina, planting in late summer (July or August) is advantageous. This timing aligns well with the early bow season​​.[“]
3. Planting Depth and Growth: For successful growth, seed buckwheat by broadcasting or drilling 1- to 2-inches deep. Summer-planted buckwheat establishes quickly and competes effectively against broadleaf weeds and grasses. It’s adaptable to plots with varying degrees of seedbed preparation and fertility​​.[“]

Download Planting Gudie For South Carolina

Crop,Best for,Planting Time,Notes
Cereal Grains,Deer,Spring or early summer,"Includes oats, wheat, and triticale. Attractive and nutritious."

Clover and Other Perennials,Deer,Spring,"Red and white clovers, alfalfa, birds foot trefoil, and chicory."

Corn,Deer,Spring or early summer,Highly attractive to deer.
Annual Legumes,Deer,Spring,"Soybeans, peas, lablab. Vulnerable to cold, attractive before frost."

Winter Peas,Deer,Early August (North) to early October (South),"Palatable after germination, 25% protein content on average."

Buckwheat,Deer and Turkey,"Spring, Late summer (July/August)","Easy to grow, ideal for isolated plots. Competes well against weeds."

Brassicas/Beets,Deer,Late July/August (North) to September (South),"High protein, digestible nutrients. Includes rape, canola, turnips, radishes."

Garlic,General Ingredient Planting,Late October to early November,"Establishes roots before the ground freezes, resumes growth in spring."

Stay in the NOW with Inner I Network;