Introduction

If you are new to shark tooth hunting in the Lowcountry, then you will quickly learn, if you haven't already, that hunters do not like to disclose their hot spots.  You will be hard pressed to find productive hunting locations anywhere online (even within the enthusiast Facebook groups).  And rightfully so - you give up a location and suddenly it becomes overhunted, overcrowded, or even damaged by folks who haven't taken the time to understand how to respect the landscape. So in this section, we will not be disclosing location hotspots, but teaching you how to find your own! And the folks who are passionate about the hunt will certainly be able to do so.

creek / Drainage ditch hunting - how to find productive spots

There is a lot to unpack here. Summerville is one of the premier inland shark tooth hunting destinations in the Southeast. Many local creeks cut through fossil-rich sediments that were deposited when much of the Lowcountry was covered by a shallow sea millions of years ago. Erosion continually exposes and concentrates fossils in creek-bottom gravel, shell beds, and other low spots, making these waterways productive hunting grounds. Patience and a careful eye can reward you with anything from small shark teeth to impressive megalodon finds.

How to get started:
Step one: Finding a creek
There are a few ways you could go about this: One way to do this would be to look for lush forests - something has to be feeding them, right? Are there bridges nearby that might indicate flowing water? Google maps can help with this to a degree, but not all creeks or flood control ditches appear on maps, so you may need to get outside an put eyes on these areas.
Step Two: Get out on foot and survey creeks
Some creeks are productive while others are not.  Look for gravel beds - is the gravel somewhat smooth as if its been tumbling around for quite some time? Or do you see only jagged stones like granite (this type of stone is not native to the Lowcountry and is trucked in from the upstate for construction purposes.  Look at the creek banks - do you see fossil bearing sediments? Look for phosphate nodules, silty olive clay, shell hash. 
In some creeks, you can visibly see the separation of different sediments, and if you look closely, you may be able to spot a lag layer (gravel-like layer where fossils tend to concentrate). If the creek you are surveying meets these conditions, you may wonder how do you get to the fossils? Well, fossils often erode out of the banks due to rain, changing tide, storms, etc. and end up in the creek bed where you will then collect them by hand (do NOT dig into creek banks - it is illegal). If there is vegetation growing out of the creek sides, that is ok! It is not necessary to see the strata in order to determine if the creek is productive.  Creeks are long, you don't know what is depositing in from upstream. So it is always worth it to get in the creek and check the concentrated gravel beds anyway! Now, this isn't the only set of conditions that would indicate a creek is fossil-producing.

It is important to note that what you can see on the surface is not always what matters.  Some creek banks don't fully expose the fossil layers they are in contact with because they actually sit under the creek.  For example, if you see only sand, use your hands to feel around the bottom of the creek bed (under the sand) - do you feel any gravel? If so, it is worth taking up a few handfuls to see if there are any teeth there. If you are very new to this or from out of state, I would highly recommend doing a guided creek hunt. There are some excellent guides who will take you out hunting. And you can take advantage of your time with them by asking all the questions you have.

Another strategy for identifying potential hunting locations would be studying the topographic maps of the greater Charleston area provided by the U.S. Geological Survey. They have an excellent map repository, some detailing which formations are exposed where across the broader Charleston/Summerville area. Note that the specific map we are referring to only details what is at or very near the ground surface and is NOT a surefire indication that fossils are located in one spot and not another. However, it could be a good resource to use in your recon.

PLEASE NOTE: Be mindful of where you are surveying and get permission to enter land as necessary. Some land is not legal to creek hunt in South Carolina (ie: state historic sites, heritage preserves). Collecting fossils below water also requires a hobby license. You can read more about this in the Local Laws and Ethics section.

River hunting

Our recommendation depends on whether you are a diver or non-diver. 

Divers:
The Cooper River is where you want to go. No question. It is widely considered South Carolina's premier destination for fossil diving as most of the large megalodon teeth, even museum-quality teeth, come from the bottom of the Cooper. Ancient river currents have concentrated shark teeth and other fossils into gravel beds along the river bottom, giving divers the best opportunity to recover large and exceptionally preserved specimens.
Know before you go: Diving the Cooper is considered black water diving. Visibility is often limited and diving conditions can be challenging (strong current, varying depths, flowing debris). 
Non-Divers:
The Ashley River and surrounding tidal creeks are excellent options. Exposed riverbanks, creek bottoms, and fossil-bearing sediments can often be searched on foot or by kayak during low tide. While giant megalodon teeth are less common than those recovered by Cooper River divers, these locations offer easier access and provide a great opportunity to find a variety of shark teeth and other fossils without scuba diving (the Cooper generally offers fewer productive/accessible opportunities for bank hunting than the Ashley). 

Construction Sites

Construction sites have potential to be great hunting grounds as excavation often cuts directly into fossil-bearing formations such as the Ashley, Chandler Bridge, and Goose Creek formations.
You must get permission from the property owner or contractor to hunt the property. Entering without permission is trespassing. 

Digging

Digging on public land is prohibited as we have discussed, but the rules for private land are a bit different.  If you own the land or have the owner's permission, you can generally dig for and collect fossils on private property. However, when it comes to waterways that cut through private property, the rules can vary. South Carolina treats many rivers, creeks, and canals as state waters and state jurisdiction generally extends to navigable and formerly navigable waterways even when they flow through private property.  This would mean no digging into said creeks, and surface collection only. 
A great option for folks interested in digging as opposed to creek hunting would be a guided dig. There are a few services in the Lowcountry where you can pay for a guided dig excursion on private property, but it isn't cheap.

A few commonly known spots to start

I know we said we weren't going to disclose hotspot locations, and that is still true. However, there are a handful of commonly known locations to hunt around Summerville that we consider "low hanging fruit".  They are easily accessible, public, and you can certainly find some nice fossils and teeth in these area's. But we want to manage expectations - you will not find pristine trophy teeth in these spots, but you can certainly find some nice smaller teeth, ray plates, and fossilized vertebra. If you are just visiting the area, I highly recommend doing a guided creek hunt. Take advantage of their expertise and ask all your questions.

• Sawmill Branch Creek - Public, with plenty of access points parallel to the Sawmill Branch trail. A popular spot being behind the Oakbrook YMCA in Summerville
• Doorchester Creek - Common access point at the west end of the big lots parking lot near KFC