A host of deer graze under a grove of pecan trees, as turkeys, squirrels and rabbits run from forest to meadow. All the while, bobwhite quails, doves and songbirds weave a melody as they feast on food plots.

This scene is one of many feasts for the senses at a recently opened wildlife preserve and managed forest that is open to hunter, hikers, bikers, birdwatchers, archers and shooters.

The 4,664-acre historical property straddles the Newberry and Laurens county line, with all but 941 acres being in Newberry County, and is known as the Belfast Plantation. It is found on Highway 56 near Highway 560 between Clinton and Chappells.

The property was purchased in October 2008 by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the Conservation Fund.

DNR holds title to about half the property and the Conservation Fund owns the remainder.

The Conservation Fund is a non-profit organization that partners with agencies to help protect land while converting it for public use. In this case, the Conservation Fund helped fund the purchase of the Belfast property, but now the DNR needs to purchase the remainder of the property from the Conservation Fund.

To help purchase the property, the DNR and the National Wild Turkey Federation are having a one evening fundraising event with a goal of $100,000. The event will be held March 9 at Leaside in Columbia. Tickets are $75 per person and $100 for a couple. The event will also include auctions and drawings. For more information on the event, contact www.nwtf.org.

But the disposition of the deeds are not preventing DNR from hosting events at the site.

The entire acreage is open to the public for nature walks and hikes, biking, kayaking and canoeing, and wildlife photography.

DNR Assistant Director and Prosperity resident Emily Cope says 750 tons of gravel have been put on roads into the property. Also, some gates have been added to block vehicles from roads that can not take the heavy traffic. The property has been marked to keep visitors from going outside the public land.

Timber sales have taken place on 226 acres, with four acres being clear cut for a soon-to-be-built rifle range that will be free to the public.

Also, another 954 acres has undergone prescribed burns to help maintain and improve the habitat.

The rifle range designed by the National Rifle Association will have a 50-yard pistol range and a 100-yard rifle range. The range will be easily accessible on the western side of Highway 56 on Highway 560 and should be open this fall. It will be an unmanned range with the rules posted.

Public hunting is offered at the preserve with spring turkey shoots, deer hunting, small game and migratory bird hunting. Some hunts are draws — meaning a person must register for the hunt and their name is drawn to participate.

Also, anyone hunting the land must have a DNR Wildlife Management Area (WMA) permit.

This winter, 159 deer hunters participated in drawn hunts with 56 deer being harvested.

One 10-year-old boy was able to get his first kill — a nine-point buck.

Rules for hunting the acreage are posted at www.dnr.sc.gov.

DNR is also working to boost the dove fields at the site for more hunters to enjoy the sport.

With archery being taught in the local school district, the site will also have high-end archery ranges for all ages.

Cope says she hopes students and their families will come to Belfast Plantation to make day trips for shooting archery.

The facility, which includes the historic Belfast house, is also open for educational opportunities for school and other groups.

The 1800’s house, which is one of the oldest in the two counties, is also used for meetings.

For more information on making donations, or about the site, go to www.nwtf.org or www.dnr.sc.gov.