Tigerstripe,
Not jumping down your throat, just posted a few explainations in one of the other threads, the one with the tower stand and the bait.. As a matter of fact, in another post I offered to host you on a hunt, in the lower state hunting deer over foodplots or bait... if you're not opposed to that. For someone from the upstate, it will feel funny at first, but you'll soon discover its not a magic wand that makes deer commit suicide by walking into the awaiting bullet path
In SC there are several major distinctions.. Lower state WMA, Upper state WMA, Lower State Private Land, and Upper State private land.
As you've stumbled upon, there are VASTLY different regulations between each of those distinctions.. The closest set of regs are Upper/Lower State WMA, but there are still differences..
As far as Private land, the lowcountry has a completely different management approach from the upstate Aug 15-Jan 1, NO LIMIT of antlered deer, Antlerless harvest is still managed.
The hunting guides the DNR prints are not comprehensive, they address mostly changes from the year before, dates for the new seasons, changes in bag limits, etc.. AND WMA regulations.
Litterally, the only thing I think is currently off limits on private land is poisoned arrows and darts. You also have to observe the legal shooting times/hours.
There is nothing wrong with baiting, its just not allowed in your area. Theres a difference between being illegal, as in the whole world thinks its a crime, and "its against the regulations in my area"
I watched a video of a turkey hunt in texas... the gobbler was strutting under an elevated deer feeder and the hunter shot him dead as a doornail.. If I did that here, I would be in violation of the regulations, and subject to punishment in the form of fines, etc... It was perfectly legal there. I'm not accustomed to that, I'm not encouraging it here, I know better than to do that on my own in SC. But they have hardcopy video "evidence" of a crime that did not occur..
DNR Rules and regulations don't always reflect moral distinctions, they are management based decisions, not black and white good versus evil.