ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. () — It’s a main road to get to several homes and to one of the only public beach accesses on St. Helena Island, but it’s also being used for another recreational activity which has caused a little stir on safety in the area.

Many residents and visitors have started noticing people lined up down Lands’ End Road on St. Helena.

They’ve been spotted getting out of their vehicle with safety gear, guns and dogs.

According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), its private land deer hunting season, and the lower end of the road is a private owned spot many hunters flock to.

But several people have voiced concerns on social media, worried about their safety driving down the road.

Many asked if hunters are allowed to shoot or present their gun from the highway, or if they can shoot across.

Juston Gantt, SCDNR First Sergeant for Beaufort County, said in most cases, no.

“It would be unlawful for a person to hunt from a public road or railroad right away if the person does not have permission to hunt the land immediately adjacent to the public road or railroad right away,” said Gantt.

Gantt said that’s according to South Carolina Statute 50-11-760. The statute also outlines that there are exceptions if a property across from private land allows them to hunt adjacent to the private land.

In this case, according to Gantt, the Lands’ End Road adjacent property does allow it.

“They can shoot across the road, like to the other side If they have permission from the property they’re standing on the and they have permission from the property on the other side,” said Gantt.

SCDNR holds several hunter safety courses throughout the year on the island to keep hunters informed of the public and surrounding properties.

Gantt said most hunters in the area are aware but should still consider general safety.

“They always want to maintain situational awareness and make sure that the shot wouldn’t endanger people or property like vehicles or anything like that,” said Gantt.

Gantt noted that private hunting land does not have to be marked or posted with warning signs to notify the public.

“There’s nothing against that they couldn’t utilize some of that, but the law does not require you to have any of that signage or anything out on the property, or to be marked as far as this is a hunting property,” said Gantt.

He said if folks see hunters in bright orange gear, they should become extra aware and slow down.

“If you were to come in approach, you see that they’re wearing their orange and stuff and you see that as a hunting, or like a sanctioned hunt that’s taking place, just use caution as if it was to be like roadway construction,” said Gantt. “Just kind of slow down to be visual if there’s a dog or someone that were to be running around or the dog may be trying to just be caught and may just be in a general area of the edge of the roadway.”

Gantt said they see these types of concerns every year, but they do monitor the areas frequently to make sure hunters are practicing safe hunting.