VUL. I, NU. "l. I NUVEMBER, 1966 fEl ~GEORGIA [~, -,;, GAME &FISH NOVEMBER 1966 Volume I Number 2 Contents The Quail Capital of the World . . . . ... Jim Morrison 1 What's happening to Georgia's quail? Venison Vacation . . ...... Dean Wohlgemuth 4 Managed deer hunts are a tradition Pointers for Bobwhites ..... Ronald Simpson 6 Tips on how to hunt 'em Meet Your Commissioner .. Jim Tyler 7 Leonard Bassford, vice chairman Saltwater Fishing? Why Not Georgia? .. Glenn Smith 8 November's the best time for saltwater angling Happy Hunting Grounds .Jim Morrison 10 The story of the license increase Which Is Most Dangerous - Man or Gun? . . . . . . . . . .. Dean Wohlgemuth 12 A look at how hunting accidents occur Get the Jump on Ducks .. . .. Dean Wohlgemuth 14 Duck hunting is still a popular sport Sportsman's Calendar 17 Up-to-Date hunting, fishing season information Carl E. Sanders Governor COMMISSIONERS Judge Harley Langdale, Chairman Valdosta-8th District Leonard Bassford, Vice Chairman Augusta-lOth District William Z. Camp, Sec. Newnan-6th District Charles L. Davidson, Jr. Avondale Estates-4th District James Darby Vidalia-1st District Rankin M. Smith Atlanta-5th District Richard Tift Albany-2nd District J. B. Langford Calhoun-7th District William E. Smith Arnericus-3rd District Edgar B. Dunlap Gainesville-9th District Jimmie Williamson Darien- Coastal District ROSSER MALONE DIRECTOR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS Howard D . Zeller Program Planning Jack A. Crockford Field Operations COORDINATORS Leon Kirkland, Fisheries Charles M. Frisbie, Hubert Handy, Game Marine Fisheries RobertS. Baker, Law Enforcement Jim Morrison, Information and Education REGION MANAGERS C. V. Waters, Gainesville, N. Ga. Frank Parrish, Fitzgerald, S. Ga. Wayne W. Thomaston, D avid Gould, Brunswick, Coast Fort Valley, M. Ga. GEORGIA GAME & FISH STAFF Jim Morrison, Editor Dean Wohlgemuth, Managing Editor Dan Keever, Photographer Jim Tyler, Staff Writer Glenn Smith, Staff Writer Wildlife is where you find it If there is one single lesson to be gleaned from the articles which appear in this month's issue, it probably ?oils down to the little understood principle that wildlife IS where you find it for a very good reason, and fre- quently man's efforts to change nature's plans are a foolish waste of effort and money. If this simple reason could be learned by all of the state conservation agencies in the United States, as well as by the sportsmen who pay for their programs and ex- pect results, many dollars of the sportsmen's license money would not have gone down the drain with so little to show for it in all too many cases. Undoubtedly, the problem is much more acute in the field of game management, where animal species cover larger and more diverse habitat areas than do fish, which are rather severely concentrated in clearly-distinguish- able habitat areas. . For instance, how many petitions have you seen lately demanding that a State game and fish agency stock red snapper or sailfish in fresh water streams and lakes? That obviously would be a waste of time. But with game animals, things aren't quite so black and white. Take the raccoon, an animal that requires extensive swamps and bottomlands to survive in num- bers. For this reason, it is most populous in South Geor- gia where these conditions exist. Stocking it in the dry hills and mountains of North Georgia will never over- come the unsuitable habitat there, even though avid coon hunters and conservationists devoutly wish that some- thing could be done. Other examples can be brought forward , such as the thousands of dollars wasted every year by well meaning sportsmen who attempt to stock quail in areas which will never support a high quail population because the exist- ing land use pattern does not produce the food and cover that quail must have to flourish. The simple principle that game is where you find it is recognized by Georgia's game biologists. For this reason, their efforts are devoted to improving game species that are compatible geographically with the use that the land is being put to. This is the reason they have in the past frequently concentrated on deer stocking and protection as Georgia's forests rapidly grew in size. This is the reason that they are now actively searching for a woods bird to help replace declining quail popula- tions, since the Game and Fish Commission cannot cut the ever growing pine trees or cultivate the spreading pastures, neither of which are good quail habitat. This is not to say that nothing can be done to preserve Georgia's magnificent quail hunting. But to more fully understand the reasons why the task is so difficult, and what can be done to slow the trend down, we recom- mend that you carefully read the article on the facing page about Georgia's quail hunting. Then turn to page 10 and see what the Game and Fish Commission proposes to do about it. Your eyes may be opened. -J. M. ON THE COVER: With a thunderous heart stopping commotion, a Georgia bobwhite quail takes to the air from under the feet of our startled hunter. There is no better illustration of why Georgia is "The Quail Capital of the World."-Photo by Dan Keever. Photo Credits: D an Keever I, 4, t. 6, t. & b . r. 7, t. 10, c. 12; Jim Mornson 3, c. 6, 8, 9, c. 10, t. I. & b. I. 12, 14, 15, 16; John Robinson, Power Boating b. I. 7; Glenn Smith t . r. 12; Walter Stephens 2. * * * Georgia Game and Fish is the official monthly magazine of the Georgia Game and Fish Commission, published at the Commission's offices, 40I Stare Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. No advertising accepted. Subscriptions are $I /or one year or $2.50 for three years. Printed by Stein Printing Company, Atlanta, Ga. Notification of address change must include both old and new address and ZIP code with 30 days notice. No subscription requests will be accepted withoui ZIP code. Articles and photographs may be reprinted. Proper credit should be given. Contributions are welcome, but the editors assume no respons~bi/iry or liability for loss or damage of articles, photographs, or zllustratrons. Second-class vostaRe vaid at Atlanta _ r;,.nr~ln th e quail de pends on hit; 'z ly nutritious weed seeds common to fertilized cropland. Pine forests offer him little nourishment. THE QUAIL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD PART I What 's Happening to Georgia's Quail By Jim Morrison Suddenly, buzzing brown blurs filled the air through the small opening in the pines, rising so rapidly that the sound of my Sweet Sixteen exploding down the fire lane took the place of my next heartbeat, sandwiched between two loud reports from Leon's 12 gauge at my side. Where fl ying shapes had appeared to draw together in a knot the moment before, now soft brown feathers gently parachuted down over the pine needles in the narrow strip. "Dead, dead , dead, here boy, dead , dead, dead bird, here boy, dead," intoned Leon, calling his two brown and tan pointers back to the spot where the unexpected covey came up wild . One by one, the dogs sniffed out the birds and returned them to their master - two . . . three .. . "Any more?" . .. four .. . "That's all." . . . "Wait ... dead, dead, dead, dead bird" . . . fi ve. Five! Five quail on one covey rise? Good shooting, you say? Or maybe just luck? Maybe both, but still a hunting story worth talking about . .. one of those stories the grandchildren will probably hear about "the good old days" of Georgia quail hunting. But wait a minute. That story didn't happen in the good old days. It happened almost yesterday, last season , or the year before. It could have happened today, and it might happen again tomorrow, because Georgia still deserves the proud title of "Quail Capital of the World." 1 During the 1964-65 season, more than three and a third million quail were taken by an estimated 135,000 quail hunters. To average 25 birds apiece during the season, it's obvious that some fortunate hunters got their limit of 12 more than one day to make up for the kind of marksmanship most of us produce on exploding quail coveys. It's also apparent why Georgia quail hunting has made the state famous for more than just peaches of the fruit and female variety. This kind of hunting has long been a powerful lure to hunters from all over the country from President Eisenhower on down to millionaire plantation owners and ordinary sportsmen like you and me. Regardless of our financial background at the moment, I imagine that most of us have at least experienced the invigorating flow of fresh air through our lungs, the pleasure of watching good dogs work protective cover, and the all too brief thrill of the covey rise and a quickly aimed shot. Of course, the quality of the quail hunting you've experienced varies plenty with where you live, or at least where you hunt. South Georgia, especially the Albany and Thomasville sections, has long held the crown in the "'Quail Capital," but good quail shooting is found over the entire coastal plains and into the piedmont area of middle Georgia. Farm areas in Northwest Georgia still produce good shooting, but quail rapidly thin out with the approach of the Blue Ridge mountains. But where you are hunting within these areas plays perhaps as great a Game biologist Scott Fussell uses a drop stick to control burn an area inside a plowed firebreak on the Allatoona public hunting area. Controlled burning improves quail habitat economically. role in how good your hunting is. Even as Leon Kirkland and I gath- ered fallen birds into our game pouches on that memorable Saturday afternoon hunt, we could see the evidences of future quail hunts on the same area that would probably never again produce five bagged birds on a covey rise, or 15 birds for three or four hours of hunting by two shotgunners. "That's the wild covey I told you about," Leon said. "I'm glad we got those ornery cusses. I've been trying to kill those quail all season. They won't hold for a point, and they always get up wild 200 ya rds in front of the dogs. We were just lucky to get a shot at 'em." Luck indeed. Just a few more feet and the skillful flyers would have been darting through thick pine saplings higher than our heads surrounding the narrow firebreak. As we trudged over the abandoned middle Georgia farmland , our eyes seldom failed to discover a growing army of small pine trees, springing from the once cleared fields and pastures of a small fami ly farm. Further back, we had passed the weathered shell of the farmhouse itself, now choked by weeds and hooeysuckle vines. We carefully skirted the house and the abandoned well shaft that we knew must be nearby. "I'm going to make a deer stand in that old house next year," chuckled Leon an allround sportsman if there ever was one. As if to dramatically prove his point, "look at the size of that hoofprint," he suddenly exclaimed, kneeling beside the unmistakable fresh footprints of a deer across the plowed firebreak where we were hunting at the moment. Later, hunting across a small patch of timber fi lled with old felled treetops, a large, big animal suddenl y jumped up from beneath the branches of an old tree top and bounced saucily away from us, white flag waving in our surprised faces. a heap a sight better 'n farmn'." Resisting the impulse to shoot at the medium-sized doe, I was impressed that Leon 's well-trained pointers paid the deer no attention at all, but continued busily searching the short grass borders of the woods for birds. It was clearly evident that deer hunting was probably every bit as good on the area we were hunting as quail, at least for the time being. What Leon and I were seeing was not unique. Equally saddening sights for the avid quail hunter can be seen over the entire State of Georgia, but especially so in the middle Georgia piedmont area. In this section of Georgia, as well as many other parts, the time of the small family farms that once covered Georgia like a patch-work quilt is gone forever, killed by machinery and modern science that now make farming largely unprofitable for all but a few large operations who can survive on high volume of production and low profits. The plight of the small family farm is well illustrated by the story of a man who stopped in a small country store and was amazed to find the storekeeper bu ying eggs from local farm women for 50 cents a dozen, only to tum around and sell them to customers for 45 cents a dozen. Asked how he could make a profit that way, the storekeeper replied, "Well, it's not much, but it's a heap a sight better 'n.farmin'." The trend away from agriculture has been most pronounced in the rolling hill areas of the piedmont which are not as suited for working by machinery, as are the level fields of southwest Georgia. The rapid drop in small family farms on a state-wide basis is startling. In 1950, there were approximately 2 14,000 individual farm owners in Georgia. By 1963, this figure plunged to only 106,000 owners, a 100 per cent decline. At the same time, farm youngsters were leaving home for better jobs and a higher standard of living in the city - they hoped . Georgia is rapidly becoming industrialized, and the industries go to the people in the cities, drawing more farm youth and leaving more land uncultivated. What is happening to the land that is no longer needed for crop production? Leon and I could readily see the most common answer - trees, usually pines, and thick, brushy areas. In most cases, the land is simply being allowed to lie idle, slowly, and naturally growing up into forests. In other cases, the change is being deliberately speeded up by landowners planting pine seedlings for pulpwood and saw timber. During the years from 1945 through J 964, the Georgia Forestry Commission estimated that more than two million acres were planted with almost a billion and a half pine seedlings. Each year for the past 20 years, more than 200,000 acres of open land a year have become forest land, either naturall y or by seeding. This represents more than two million acres every 10 years. In 1934, there were only 21 million acres of trees in Georgia. Now, there are more than 27 million ac res, leaving only about I 0 million acres of open land. PART ll: December Issue 2 G eorgia's reputation for the world's finest quail shooting is still unchallenged. growing army of little pine trees all over G eorgia has signaled th e decline of quail hunting in many areas, as has th e sharp permanent paslllreland used by dairy and beef cattle. 3 VENISON VACATION By Dean Wohlgemuth This wily old buck is curious abo ut th e hunter he's spied sitting out in th e open in hopes a deer will com e by and give him a shot. But that buck may be in for a surprise, too, when th e hunter realizes he's th ere. It's called Turkey D ay, or Thanksgiving D ay by everyone. To most people it means turkey on the table. To still others, it means seeing that big football game. But to thousands of Georgia deer hunters, not only the day but the entire week has come to be a tradition of a different sort. More and more, Georgians think of that last week of ovember as "deer bunting week." And if things go right early in the week, there's a good likelihood the Thanksgiving feast will be graced by venison rather than turkey. The tradition was born out of the extra fine deer hunting made ava il able, normally on Thanksgiving week, on the many management areas operated by Hunting Areas of Georgia the Game and Fi h Commission. Under intense care, deer popula- tions are excellent and growing. If they we re allowed to grow too large for the available food supply, the populations would dwindle because of starvation and disease. This means each year a surplus of deer must be removed. This assignment is given to the hunter. Indeed, the hunter is the reason behind the managed area. The hunter who knows no place on private land where he can go - and annuall y, this number grows by leaps and bounds - finds the management areas to be a blessing. Here he can hunt and he knows it. There's no chance involved in finding a place to go. ot only that, he has an excellent chance - generally better than on the "out ide" hunts - to find his deer. The herd is concentrated into the area. Thi doesn't make getting your deer automatic, however. Many deer hunters plan their week -of vacation to coincide with the weeklong buck hunts on the managed areas. Those who can't go that week, or tho e who prefer not to go that. week - or some who don't get their deer that week , sti ll have other opportunities for hunting the man aged areas. The variety of hunts on these areas i getting better each year. For example, last year the first primiti ve weapons hunt for the state was held on the Warwoman area, near Clayton. Muzzle loading firearms shotguns and rifles - and long bows and cro sbows were the only weapons allowed. This year, this feature was extended to three more areas, Clark Hill , Russell , and Chickasawhatchee. AI o in north Georgia, a new area will be opened for deer hunting. A threeday hunt for bucks only will be limited to the first 400 hunters to check in at the Allatoona area. Th is year, hunts on Suwanoochee will be free, although a hunter must check in and out. All other areas will charge a fee of $5 for each hunt, as in past years. The very popular Chickasawhatchee area wi ll be open for buck only hunts on three two-day periods. For each two-day period , 300 hunters will be 4 issued permits after a drawing from of Georgia hunters. While access is accuratel y because deer populations applications. Applications must be very good on all areas, Lake Russell are hard to count in such thick coun- mailed to the State G ame and Fish area has more and better roads, and try, we have the deer to offer some Commission, 401 State Capitol, be- provides the best visibility. promising hunting," he said. "We have tween Nov. 7 and Nov. 12. Antlerless bunts are scheduled for Clark Hill and Cedar Creek areas on a limited basis. Both are Jan. 2. Cedar Creek's antlerless hunt will be limited to the first 500 hunters in line at the check station at 8 a.m. the day before the hunt. Clark Hill will be limited to 300, and like Cedar Creek, the first hunters in line at 8 a.m. the day before the hunt, will get the permits. Management areas in mountainous north Georgia hold the most promise this year for hunters anxious to get a buck. Middle Georgia areas are among the most popular because they are easier to hunt than the rugged mountain terrain, but populations seem to be in better condition in the mountains. Warwoman has a good population , and has the largest deer in the North Georgia region. "There is not much participation in our hunts there because it is di fficult to hunt. But if a person wants to try for a trophy, this is the place to go in North Georgia," Populations are at the carrying ca- no fa ntastic herd , yet there is a good pacity on all areas, and a good repro- huntable population at Suwanoochee. duction last fall bas left a good number Chickasawhatchee will probably offer of deer to be harvested . Track counts good hunting for buck hunters. How- have shown good quantities of deer. ever, I'm pretty sure the success ratio In middle Georgia, Clark Hill and will not be as high as in the past. One Cedar Creek again have excellent reason is that there are not as many deer populations. The fairly new Pied- bucks as we'd like to have. The big mont Experiment Station area's popu- problem here is that all the country lation is not as dense, but should pro- around thi s area is open to hunting vide very good hunting, said Dick with dogs. We feel that constant dog- Whittington, game management super- ging of deer over a long season har- visor for the Middle Region for the rasses the deer to the extent that it sets Commission. Biggest bucks in middle up stresses which have an effect on Georgia areas are to be found at Pied- reproduction . The situation is the same mont Experiment, he said. Also, the number of hunters is much smaller. Because of excellent access to Clark Hill , bucks don't last too long there, consequently they are less in numbers at Suwanoochee." Suwanoochee, he said, is a complete- ly different situation from any other management area in the state. Heavy undergrowth of palmetto and gall- and smaller. At Cedar Creek, bucks are larger than at Clark Hill , yet smaller than at Piedmont Experiment. berry exists, leaving the hunter with two choices-get a tree stand or hunt the firebreaks and woods roads. Generally, it is hoped that a few Studies on reproduction in South less deer will be taken off middle Georgia areas show that reproduction Georgia's areas this year than last, was down 24 per cent this year. In said C. V. Waters, manager of the however, it is possible as many will samples of does, nine of 10 had only Commission's Northern Region. be harvested as last year. Additional one embryo where under good condi- Burton, Chattahoochee, Chestatee hunts other than buck-only bunts at tions, at least half of the does should and Blue Ridge areas have populations Clark Hill this season are aimed at have had twins. This could be an in- equal to or better than last year, and providing more varied sport for more dication of the effects of harrassment should produce at least as many deer people while still helping to balance the by dogs, Parrish said. to hunters as last year. Better results buck and doe populations. Studi es at the Atomic Energy Com- are anticipated. The picture is not quite as bright mission's property along the Savannah Blue Ridge, one of the largest of in the Southern Region, according to River showed that when hunting with the state's management areas, has al- Regional Manager Frank Parrish. dogs was begun , reproduction of deer ways been one of the favored places "While it is difficult to predict very dropped very sharply. PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS, GAME MANAGEMENT AREAS, 1965-66 HUNTING SCHEDULE NAME OF U:U Allatoona Altamaha (except Butler Island) Arabia Bay Blue Aidle Bullard Creek Butter Island Cedar Creek Chattahoochee Chestatee Ch ic kauwhatchee Clark Hill Coleman River John's Mountain Lake Burton Lake Ausst:ll Oaky woods Piedmont Experiment Seminole Suwanoochee Swallow Creek Warwoman Waycross Whitesbura Pointers for Bobwhite Tips on how to hunt By Ronald Simpson Game Biologist The motionless stance of a bird works near the hunter and one which dog, the sudden rush of beating wings, works a large area around the hunter. and the fast shooting that follows is a ln hunting large open fields a wide scene familiar to all quail hunters. As fami li ar as the hunt, is the feeling of satisfaction that fo llows a meal of southern fried quail after a hard day of hunting. The air is crisp, the dog is on point. Up comes the quail, and . .. well what else could be a fin er sport-or m ore typically Georgia? ranging dog is best and in hunting wooded and dense shrub areas a close ranging dog is best. A bird dog will find dead birds which would otherwise be lost. This is Excellent quail hunting is part of true in all types of cover because a bob- our heritage in the South, especially white blends in well with the forest here in Georgia. This high quality floor and its downed location is easily hunting has gained a nationwide repu- lost when hunting in grass and shrub tation for Georgia and annually at- areas. A bird dog will also find many tracts many hunters from over the en- wounded birds which will sometimes tire United States. run considerable distances through un- The bobwhite is essentially a farm- dergrowth and eventually die. land game species. This, however, does Practice makes almost perfect when not mean that forest land cannot pro- shooti ng quail. Even the best marks- vide good quail bunting. If conditions men do not score a kill with every are suitable for quail in wooded areas, shot. The greatest obstacle a new as can be maintained with proper man- quail hunter must overcome is shooting agement practices, large numbers of into the entire covey when the birds quail can be supported. are flushed. The experienced bunter The bobwhite is usuall y found on or calmly concentrates on just one bird near field borders, fence rows, or at a time and in doing so may kill two wherever there is a change from a or three birds on the covey rise. grass or shrub area to woodland. In In areas with a high quail population wooded areas with a huntable quail many hunters prefer to bunt only population, the bobwhite is likel y to be coveys and do not hunt single birds found just about anywhere but, here after a covey is flushed. Hunting again, it is usually found near shrub singles can be fun and is good experi- areas which provide cover for them. ence for a beginning quail hunter. Quail hunting is not affected by the or an improved cylinder with a barrel Shooting singles wi ll allow him to con- time of day as is deer, turkey, or length from 18 to 32 inches. A 26 inch centrate on just one bird and readily squirrel hunting. On warm days it is barrel with an improved cylinder see hi s mistakes when shooting. better to hunt during the cool morning should prove to be best under most The number of persons per hunting and late afternoon hours as a bird dog circumstances. The best shot size to party should be kept to a minimum , wi ll not get as hot and wi ll be able to use is the number 8 but this also varies two or three people, for safety reasons. find birds easier. with the type of cover hunted and Accidents are more likely to occur The shotgun is the standard quail hunter preference. when five or six persons are in a quail "getter." The type of shotgun and the Quail may be bunted with or with- hunting party because of the difficulty size of shot used are as varied as the out bird dogs if a person knows an in positioning everyone so that he can hunters that use them. Everything area well enough, but hunting with get a safe shot and the laxness that from a single shot to an automatic dogs is unquestionably more success- may occur due to excitement when the shotgun in gauges from 410 to 12 are ful. Pointers and setters are the most birds flush. A large hunting party could used . However, a 12, 16, or 20 gauge common types of bird dogs. The best be broken down into several smaller double barrel , pump, or automatic combination in hunting with bird dogs hunting parties and, thus, provide betshotgun are the most preferred. The is to have both a close ranging and a ter and safer quail hunting for each shotgun may have a modified choke wide ranging dog, that is, a dog which person. 6 Leonard Bassford 1Oth DISTRICT meet your commissioner The State Game and Fish Commission is a constitlllional body composed of 11 members, one from each of the ten con~?ressional districts in Georgia, plus one m ember from the six coastal counties. Its members are appointed by the governor for seven year terms. In this series of articles, you will meet individually the men who represent you in the conservation and development of Georgia's wildlife resources. By Jim Tyler "There were a hundred boats churning the water behind me. It was the National Regatta Outboard Motor Race. I was in third place. And then it happened. My motor blew up. Those one hundred boats roared by, their wakes pushing me back and forth . . ." The speaker was lOth District Game and Fish Commissioner Leonard Bassford of Augusta. "But golly," he chuckled, "that was a long time back. lt was in 1928 in the Cape Fear River near Wilmington, North Carolina. The boats would only go about 45 miles per hour, but that has one boat for chasing bass, a different boat for conventional fishing, and a cabin cruiser for trolling and pleasure riding. On a recent visit to Clark Hill, Bassford took his wife Doris and two of his grandchildren for a ride in the 26 foot cabin cruiser. There are three daughters and four grandchildren in the Bassford family. The boat cut cleanly through the water whi le the passengers savored the ride, the lake, and the late summer sky. When it was over, the Commissioner eased the cruiser into the boat Fish Commission are as varied as they are many. And with his close touch with the sportsman's needs and wants, he has been a very effective commissioner. Presently vice chairman, he is in the third year of his second term as a commissioner. He served previously from 1948 to 1955, and was chairman in 1954. The biggest feather in his many feathered commissioner's hat, represents his efforts in getting the ball rolling for the purchase of the McDuffie Public Fishing Area near Thomson. Other notable accomplishments include was fast then. I raced for a few years dock slip like an old pro. hi s part in the fish stocking in Clark in my younger days, won a few, then A veteran fisherman and boatman, Hill. During his first term as a commis- quit boating for a long time. Commissioner Bassford is a hunter as sioner, a rather large feather was added ow 60, Bassford is back to boat- wel l. He looks forward to dove season for his work in the project of stocking ing again, but his boat racing is limited each year; he's also been known to drop deer and turkeys in the Clark Hill Man- to chasing the schooling ba s on Clark a few quail. agement Area. Hill Reservoir. It probabl y isn't as ex- Like everyone else, it's not all rod All these many streams of Leonard citing as hi s previous racing, but the and gun and sky. The businessman Bassford's commitment and enjoyment action is pretty fast when racing a boat ide shows the li felong resident of of the outdoors, flow smoothl y and form after hungry bass that break the Clark Augusta as the owner of a textile by- one river of fact. Georgia outdoorsmen Hill surface in a feeding frenzy while product company in Augusta - Bass- have one of their kind sitting up there they pursue schools of small shad. ford and Company. calling the plays on the future of Geor- An enthusiastic fisherman , Bassford His ac tivities on the State Game and gia's wildlife. .. .. - .. ........... __, ..:yrc_. . - - ~~.,....._. ~ ~ ~- ~- - ~ ~ .. Zippin g across th e water, L eonard Bassford guides his racing boat. This picture was taken nearly 40 years ago, when at 45mph you were really moving. On his favorite lak e, Clark Hill, Bassford enjoys a bit of fishin g with two of his grandSOilS. It's a toss up as to wh o is having th e best tim e. 7 Saltwater Fishing? Why Not Georgia The best trout and bass fishing spots are on beds of oysters, called shell beds or " fish drops." H igh tide is usually best, when the shells are covered by water. Augusta Chron icle outdoor editor Bill Babb holds the evidence that sea trout and channel bass are in abundant supply on the Georgia coast during the late fall. By Glenn Sm ith The page of a calendar is thin. Perhaps the line also is thin that separates anglers into two groups, one that catches an abundance of fish and the other that doesn't. When it comes to fishing Georgia's coast, tearing off a page or two of the calendar means removing many of the second group of fishermen from the scene. It also brings out the most successful group. When the November page is top after tearing away all the summer months, then coastal fishing in Georgia comes into its own. This is the month for catching big stringers of channel bass and sea trout in direct contrast to freshwater fishing, which usually is considered best in early spring. Come November, private boat-owners have geared up for this annual fishing spree, while fishing camps with boats, motors, bait, and guides are ready for whoever may wish to try his - or her - luck at any one of a variety of species that are attracted to Georgia's unique coastline. A big feature of the Georgia coast is the great abaundance of natural sounds, bays, and inlets which provide protected feeding grounds for fish , not to mention quiet waters for fishermen who are at the mercy of the winds and waves in many other areas of the East. Georgia offers the advantage of a choice to salt water anglers. They can take advantage of the sl-ieltered bays or rivers to fish for a variety of tasty and sporting species. On the other hand , the daring can go out as far as fifty miles for some mighty kings of the sport fishing world. November offers some true excite- taken on cut mullet or artificial lures. ment for coastal fishermen, and the If you're inclined to good sport, while folks on the shoreline predict this will lo ing an occas ional fish, try light spin- be a banner year. The spotted sea ning tackle with 12 to 20 pound test trout, also known as the speckled monofil ament line. If yo u wa nt to in- trout, ju t pl ain "trout" , or winter crease the size of your catch , the ac- trout, is probably the most abundant cepted gear includes a heavier bait and frequently fi shed for of all coastal casting rod and reel with 27 to 36 va rieties, and they started hitting earl y pound test line. this year, indicating a good run . The For trout, the boat should be trout is a denizen of the sounds and anchored, preferably over oyster beds rivers along the eastern edge of the state. called "fish drops" by natives, using a It is world famous as a table delicacy, slip float wi th the line allowed to drift which is the main reason why it is so back with the current or tide. Red popular. It can be caught in the late drum fishing is best with a slip float months of the yea r, but is particularly or by surfca ting. The trout usually bounteous in ovember. pick October to move into rivers and Another prizewinning fi h at thi s creeks from the sounds and bays . time of the year is the red drum , or There are abundant facilities on the channel bass, red fis h, bass, and spot Georgi a coast for all types of salt wa- tail. It can be caught yea r round, but ter fis hing, but right now we'll concen- the best months are October and No- trate on the be t bets for trout and vember. Smaller fis h are caught in the ba s fishing. The small boat is best, rivers leadi ng inland , but surf fisher- and if you own your own, you can men catch larger red drum, as do la unch it at one of a number of fishing Shellman Bluff at Eulonia is one of th e most pop- anglers working the inlets. They are cam p . If you own a motor, but no ular sport fishing villages on th e G eorgia coast. usuall y taken by still fishing with dead boat, you can rent the boat, or a boat Fishing camps have bait, boats, m otors, gas, guides, shrimp or cut bait, although surf cast- with motor at a fish camp. The great- lodging, and restaurant facilities. ing is quite popular. Inshore catches est concentrations of fi sh camps are are especiall y good in grass beds and located in the Savannah area, near usuall y ave rage two to ten pounds. Shellman's Blu ff, and at the resorts Offshore, channel bass run ten to thir- near Brunswick , but it is not impossi- ty pounds, and that's thirty pounds of ble to rent boats at other spots along excellent eating meat. the coast. All these many streams of Leonard If you are a newcomer to coastal Ba sford's committment and enjoyment fishing, it might be wort h the invest- of the outdoors, flow smoothly and ment to hire a guide the first time yo u for m one river of fac t. Georgia out- go out. The gu ides are not as plentiful doorsmen have one of their kind sit- a the boats. but most fish camps can ting up there calling the plays on the provide a guide or at least recommend future of Georgia's wildlife. a pot where yo u can fi nd one. You can also rent tackle at a reasonable Another popular and more abundant rate if you don't own your own. fish at this time of the year in Georgia's coastal waters is the striped bass. Stripers are excellent food fish and can be caught during October in the The coastal fishing cene in Georgia is as good as any state in the South. The State Game and Fish commi sion has a pamphlet which outlines the dif- Th e most popular bait for both th e channel bass or "spottail bass" and the trout is sh rimp, which are readily availab le until after th e first of the year. This is th e most common line rig. bays and sou nds leading to open wa- fere nt fishing that can be had in vari- ters. A little later and earl y in the Spring, they will be found in fre h ous seasons as well as the varieties of fis h and facilities available to fisher- water rivers and tidal creeks. The best men . It can be obtained free by writ- way to catch stripers is by trolling ing the State Game and Fi sh Commis- with spoons, jigs, or broken-back plugs. si on, 401 State Capitol , Atlanta, 30334. fa The best runs of this great game fish There is nothing that can comoare I can be found in the Altamaha, Ogee- with the sight and scent of the sea on chee, Sava nn ah, and St. Mary's river . a sunn y da y, which i one reason why They range in weight from three to salt water fishermen are so enthusias- 40 pounds. tic about their sport. Coastal fishing The tides on the full of the moon wil l build a bigger appetite, bring on wi ll have an effect on fis hing along sounder sleep, and satisfy the urge to the coast. The best choice for Novem- be ou tdoors better than any other ber will be the first quarter around the type. And the sound of the surf in 20th. T he last quarter, ovember 5th, yo ur ears is a music that can't be re- will also be good. Three to five days produced anywhere else but right at either side of the full or new moon the ocean's edge. ( ov. 28 and 12) wi ll produce less desirable results owing to strong flood tides . Fi bing for sea trout and red drum is very much the same. The best bait is live shrimp, but they can also be Launching hoists are located at most fishing camps, but boats must be equipped with lifting rings in m ost camps to use th e hoist. Launch ing ramps are not practical in th e tidal area. PHOTOS: Jim Morrison Happy B Hunting PRIVATE CLU Grounds MEMBERS 0 l TRESPASSERS I l f 0 CU By Jim Morrison In som e parts of G eorgia, it seems as if a posted sign is standard equipment for every tree, but 011 public hu11ting areas leased to the State Gam e and Fish Commission , the sign has a different m eaning. Suppose for one awful moment that you are one of the estimated 100,000 hunters who live in the metropolitan Atlanta area, or in one of Georgia's other growing cities. Make the picture even worse and pretend that you are one of the thousands of people who have recently moved there from a farm area that is many hundreds of miles away, perhaps in another state, and that you have absolutely no connections with a landowner nearby to hunt on his property. Carry this awful nightmare one step further and imagine that you are driving out of town in the country with your son Bill, shotguns in the trunk, looking for a place to jump a rabbit or two. Here's where the imaginary part takes off and harsh reality steps in. You don't have to imagine what those roadside signs say for at least the first 50 miles, because they really exist. It seems that almost every tree or fencepost has overnight sprouted a " o Hunting, o Fishing, o Trespassing, o othing" sign, followed by the not o veiled threat " Violators will be prosecuted." It's obvious that this trend toward posting of private land is all too common in Georgia, especially around large cities where more and more of us live. The reasons for it are many, and most of them are very ound. In the first place, many of those new arrivals in town don't have any connections with landowners in the immediate area, and have few chances to make any. But. these people still enjoy hunting and would like to continue it after moving into their new home. These hunters must find an out- let for their interests, so it's quite natural that areas directly adjacent to the cities soon have all the hunting pressure that they can stand, frequently leading to the sprawl of posted signs, especially in good hunting areas. The problem is rapidly compounded by inconsiderate hunters who "forget" to ask permission to hunt, and who may have some other mental lapse like forgetting to close the pasture gate on thoroughb red beef cattle, breaking down fences and posts while crossing over them, and perhaps even threatening livestock, buildings, and people with injury from stray bullets, etc. Of course, we all like to think that anyone who hunts is a considerate sportsman who always asks permission to hunt and respects the property of others when he does. But this isn't always the case, unfortunately. Just a few 10 incidents of this kind by a small num- research and stocking programs which ber of inconsiderate, ungrateful indi- may succeed in establishing such birds viduals can close thousands of acres of in Georgia. private land to everyone except the Because of the shortage of game bi- trespasser for hunting. True, it's probably easier to find a ologists in the Game and Fish Commission's ranks during recent lean place to hunt rabbits or squirrels, es- years, the Department has had little pecially in South Georgia. But how time to devote to extension work with about quail hunting? The farmer who landowners who wish to improve hunt- hunts quail himself, and many do, re- ing, especially small game, on their gards them as among his most valu- own lands. With license increase funds , able possessions. He frequently wants mission hopes to double this acreage as it will be possible for the first time to to save the few quail he has left for soon as the land can be leased, possibly hire an adequate number of game bi- himself. If he has gone to some trouble reaching a goal of two million acres ologists to institute such a program on and expense to raise quail, then he's within the next five years. the same scale now available to private more than likely to post his land. It's Money from the recent license in- pond owners. The efforts of the biolothe natural thing to do, and there is crease will not be used to pay land gists will be especially valuable to landno valid criticism of it that the land- owners for leasing their land to the owners in improving quail hunting. less sportsman can make. State. These funds are used only for In addition to extension service For the law-abiding but landless paying the salaries of area managers to work with landowners, the additional sportsman, there are only two ap- patrol the areas and to improve the game biologists are needed to help ex- proaches that can be made to private habitat, to purchase equipment for pand research into a wide number of landowners. One is to come to the their use, and to provide needed sup- investigations designed to find the anfarmhouse with hat in hand and, in a plies and materials, such as boundary swers for improving Georgia's hunting. friendly way, ask permission to hunt, signs, boundary paint, gates, bridges, During the coming year, game biolo- politely retiring if refused. The other access roads, food patches, etc. gists will begin work on 11 different way, becoming more common, is to In all, more than four million acres and far-reaching research projects. join a group. of sportsmen who like to of land owned by private timber com- To assist extension services to land- hunt and lease hunting rights from the panies in Georgia could be put under owners, one project will be initiated to landowner for perhaps 50 cents an game management programs by co- study and make information available acre a year. There is little criticism that operative agreements with the Com- on small game management techniques can be made of this either. mission. Advantages to the companies for increasing quail , rabbit, squirrel, But how about the sportsman who are several in number, including fire dove, and other populations on private has no connections, who doesn't belong protection advantages by the assign- land. Yet another study will attempt to to a group, and who can't afford to ment of a full-time area manager who determine what predators, if any, pay $300 a year himself to quail hunt would assist in spotting and reporting harm wildlife populations and how on 600 acres? forest fires , as well as helping to prevent great is the damage by them on both This is where the State Game and vandalism. small and big game. Fish Commission comes in. It is al- Because of the reasons brought out in Several studies will be continued ready obvious in many areas of the the "Quail Capital" article in this and in the field of deer management. One state that the hunter's greatest problem next month's Game and Fish Magazine, investigation almost completed will show is simply the problem of finding a the only areas available for Commission the breeding dates of deer throughout place to hunt (or fish, in some areas) . leasing are forest areas, which prima- the entire state to help the Commission It is also equally obvious that this prob- rily will have forest game hunting. On in setting deer hunting seasons, as well lem isn't going to get any better in fu- these areas, Commission game man- as indicating whether deer herds are ture years, with more and more hunt- agement manipulation of the habitat decreasing or increasing. ers and more and more posted or must be consistent with the primary Biologists are now planning to pur- leased land. use of the areas by their owners : chase small radio transmitting units for Realization of the need to do some- growing marketable timber. attaching to deer during a managed thing about this problem before it be- In future years, the Commission hunt to evaluate the movements of comes severe was one of the primary hopes to begin a program of actually deer while being hunted . Another proj- reasons why t4e Game and Fish Com- purchasing land for hunting areas. On ect will attempt to determine what the mission asked for and received an in- such areas, manipulation of the habitat crippling loss of deer is using various crease in the price of hunting and fish- to produce good hunting could be types of weapons and hunting meth- ing licenses from the General Assembly. more easily accomplished. Control of ods. With this increase in the budget of the habitat is the key to game manage- In addition to these many research the Commission, the State is now ac- ment. Such areas would also be virtu- tasks, the new biologists will be as- tively attempting to lease the hunting ally self-sustaining through the sale of signed to help the wildlife habitat pro- rights on every acre of land that can be timber grown on them. grams of other governmental agencies, acquired which meets the requirements After the problem of finding a including the U.S. Forest Service, Soil for a public hunting area." Generally, place to hunt, the second greatest Conservation Service, ASCS, Coopera- this means that the area should be problem concerning many hunters is tive Extension Service, and the Geor- composed of at least 15,000 acres of declining bird hunting, especially quail, gia Forestry Commission. For exam- contiguous land under the ownership in the many areas of Georgia rapidly ple, one study is now in progress by of a small number of owners that is becoming forest or grassland areas. the Game and Fish Commission to capable of being managed as a public Because of this, Commission game evaluate the effects of the Small Wa- hunting area should be. biologists are devoting more attention tershed Program on wildlife. At present, approximately half a to finding a suitable woods game bird Wouldn't you say that all these many million acres of land meeting this de- for Georgia as well as a good grassland programs are worth paying a dollar a scription is under lease to the State or pasture game bird. Money from the year more for the wonderful privilege Game and Fish Commission. The Com- license increase will be used to expand of enjoying better hunting in Georgia? 11 Top left: Trigger-happy gunner takes out his wrath of not finding any game on a National Forest sign. He probably needs target practice all right, but this isn't the place. Not only is it destructive to public property, but a car might come around the curve just as he fires and the bullet may be deflected toward the car. Top right: Watch those muzzles! Walking side by side, these careless hunters suddenly realized with horror and shocked surprise, that they were staring down the muzzles of each other's weapon. Center left: When two hunters are together, this is the proper way to get across. If each crawled through, taking their own guns with them, there would be a very great likelihood one of them might be shot accidentally. Center right: Hunting by himself, this hunter is risking a blast hitting him square as he pulls the gun through after him. Properly, he should have opened the action of the gun, laid it carefully 011 the other side, then crawled through. Bottom left: A /coho/ and gunpower can make a very explosively deadly combination. Senses dulled by alcohol breed many deadly mistakes afield. When there are firearms about, there's no place for alcohol. Pick a newspaper - any newspaper. ning. The first thing anyone should do a fence, with his companion beside Chances are good you'll find a story or think about when he touches a gun him. The safety of the gun was off, of a violent death. Death may be by is that the weapon is due respect. It and the guy held the gun in hand while any of dozens of available methods was made to kill. But to be a killer, it climbing across. A twig, the fence, and tools. Nonetheless, you can bet needs man. By itself it is only half the something caught the trigger. that in the story's wake, there'll be a team. Or else he leaned against a fence flood of editorials, crying for firearms Always treat every gun as though it post. Or laid it down. But he forgot to legislation. were loaded, until you have checked open the action first. Now, this article is not being writ- and know for sure that it is not. Even That gun can't fire, if its action is ten for the purpose of arguing pro or after making sure, just as a matter of open. This is a cardinal rule that all con on gun legislation. But, with hunt- good habits and further safety, never hunters must be aware of at all times. ing seasons getting into full swing, it's point that gun toward anything you No matter if it's a single shot, pump, a good time to look into the gun situa- don't want to shoot. bolt, lever, double barrel or whatever. tion, and the dangers involved with When you read of a youngster that If that action is open, the gun cannot firearms. killed himself or his brother or sister be fired. When crossing fences, or Forget about murders and concen- with a loaded gun at home, there is crossing or going through anything trate on gun accidents. Every year always one important fact that is difficult or risky, open the gun's action. there are tragedies in the woods. If all omitted in the story - the owner of There's another point that needs to sportsmen were as careful as they the gun or the last person to use it, be brought out, and here's just as good should be, there would be no need at left the weapon loaded. a place as any to insert it. Many peo- all for any deaths or injuries while Many people feel that for home ple are of the opinion that a high- hunting. safety purposes, it's useless to have the powered rifle used for big game is Then too, not all shooting or gun gun unloaded . Do they ever stop to more dangerous from a hunter-safety accidents happen in the woods. Fre- think of the risks involved? Especially standpoint than is a shotgun. quently you'll see a story in the paper if they have young children? Have you ever seen a person that's about a child that was killed when It doesn't take that long to load a been hit with a shotgun at short playing with his father's gun. gun , if indeed you really do need it range? If you do, you'll never forget Is the gun a killer? Is it the real loaded. The sight of a gun in a per- it. Nothing, believe this, NOTHING is culprit in these cases? Just how deadly son's hand would make most any in- more deadly in the way of firearms at is a gun? truder think a second time before do- close range, than a shotgun. The old saws have it that a chain is ing anything foolish. Why? Simply because it spreads out no stronger than its weakest link, that As opposed to the need for using a its shot into a wide pattern. With a a football team is no better than its gun for home protection, consider the solid hit, it injures a much larger area. quarterback, and you could go on and likelihood of a youngster picking up a Injury is usually more severe. A single on . Now, let's write one for gun own- gun in your house. I'll wager for every bullet may miss a vital area, while a ers - the gun is no more deadly (or time a gun is needed to protect a home, shotgun blast covers a wide area, in- safe) than its owner. there are 10,000 times that a person cluding vital spots. One thing you can bet on - that other than the owner of said gun, So within 100 yards, the shotgun gun didn't climb down from its place picks up a weapon to look at it. If loaded with many pellets, is by far the on the rack on the wall, insert a car- that person is a child, he'll pull the most dangerous. The slug loaded gun tridge into its own chamber, aim it- trigger. Maybe even an adult hunter is similar to the rifle, except that the self, and pull its own trigger. In each will do the same. slug is much larger and-at that sho,rt instance, there was at least one person The moral of this part of the story range - more deadly than a rifle responsible, in some way or other, in is short, simple, but very very impor- bullet. the firing of the gun. tant: DON'T KEEP GUNS LOADED, Beyond a hundred yards, the rifle is Guns cannot kill unless they are EXCEPT WHEN IN THE FIELD more dangerous than a shotgun. But loaded, their muzzles are aimed and WHERE THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE the chances of being hit at that dis- their triggers pulled. The gun, without SHOT! tance are far less. A gun aimed just a a person's hand upon it, is as harmless Of all hunting accidents actually in degree or two to the side of an object as a bottle of milk. It's just an inert the field , one of the biggest causes is can miss by several inches, even feet, piece of metal and wood , incapable of this one: the shooter failed to make at any great distance. thinking or doing anything. certain of his target before pulling the Statistics prove that most shooting For years they've been saying that trigger. accidents happen well within the 100 about cars. It's about time people be- The same story is told over and yards we've been talking about. gan to think along the same lines when over again . The hunter just had a cou- Here is something else well worth it comes to guns. ple of days to hunt. This might be his passing on. Teach boys how to Accidents in the home are complete- only chance for a shot at big game all PROPERLY handle guns when they ly inexcusable. When they happen, you year. He got over-anxious and when are young. Teach them to give guns can be sure that the gun owner either he saw a movement, he was SURE he due respect. They'll never forget . never bothered to learn the basic rules saw antlers. The "antlers" turned out Teach them to enjoy the great out- of gun safety, or else he just ignores to be small limbs above the head of of-doors and they'll never forget that them. another hunter. either. And they won't be juvenile de- So let's get down to a bare begin- Then there is the guy who climbed linquents. ., 13 GET THE JUMP ON THE DUCKS By Dean Wohlgemuth Slow, careful, very quiet strokes with one or two paddles can m ove a small boat almost silently through th e water. In marshes, swamps and tidal waters, this works well in jumping ducks, just around the next bend. To get at wood ducks, you have to get where th e wood duck lives. That means getting on some waders and sloshing through the thick swamps. Thick timber makes shooting fa st and tricky. The boy, small for his age at 16, crept quietly as possible across the grain field , below the small dam. The water on the pond was out of sight. From the road, some quarter of a mile distant, there had been a few dark spots on the water. Ducks! The heavy old double barrel 12 gauge, outside hammers and all, was clutched firml y in the boy's hands. In the twin tubes were heavy loads, num- ber sixes. At last the long stalk to the dam was completed. Hearing nothing after a short pause to suck in his breath as soundlessly as he could , the boy began carefully climbing up the dam, keeping as low to the ground as be could. Then , at the instant be reached the top of the dam, hammers back on the ancient double, be burst to his feet . There was a startled reaction from the ducks. They recovered quickly and bounced into the air, perhaps six or eight of them. The boy drew a bead on the closest greenhead drake and let blast his modified barrel. As the duck fell , he was already swinging toward another duck! Bam! A double! One of the birds had fallen out into the water, badly wounded, barely able to move. Off came the boy's shoes, pantlegs were rolled up, and the boy waded into the icy water. It was shallow for quite a distance, and at last he was able to capture the duck, but only after another shot, which was required to dispatch the mallard . Happil y, he grabbed up his quarry, gun and shoes, and walked back to his old jalopy, parked on the country road , out of sight of the pond. He loaded the gun and ducks into the trunk of the car, put on his shoes and slid under the steering wheel. His pantlegs were wet. Well, he thought, I'll hear from mother about that. He was on his way home from school. Living in a small country community far from a high school, he had to drive 12 miles a day each way. During duck season it always took longer to get home because he knew by taking the back roads he could pass at least six ponds. And with luck, half of them or more would have ducks on them . Occasionally he'd get home with his limit or at wo rst, several ducks. Then it didn't matter what was said about getting his school clothes wet or mudd y. Nothing could dampen his spirit then. In his mind , the boy pictured the day when be would be a man. Someday, he thought, I'll have a blind on a good duck bunting lake where ducks are plentiful. I'll have a spread of decoys, and a nice, new pump shotgun. Just watch me then! Quite a few years have passed. Other methods of hunting ducks have all been given a try. A shin y new automatic is on the rack of the wall. Nonetheless, with nostalgia, I recall those boyhood duck bunts fondly and if given a choice, I'd go back to jump shooting ducks on the ponds before hunting them any other way. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sitting in a blind , even though the wind is icy and my feet are freezing. Duck buntin g is one of my very favorite forms of recreation. Alas, it's now harder to come by, with diminishing waterfowl populations in recent years. Mention duck hunting and your audience will probably picture a stool (or spread) of decoys in front of a blind. This is the popular conception of what duck hunting is all about. But there is more than one way to shoot a duck. Jump shooting is not only the simplest way, it's often the most producti ve. The action certainly is fastest, at least most of the time. Blind shooting can be slow in blue- bird weather, but you might still find some ducks in streams and potholes when the sun insists on shining dis- gustingly bright. Just because there are good flights of ducks overhead does not insure that there will be plenty of action in the blind. Three ingredients are important to bl ind shooting. They are decoys, blinds and calls. You've got to get the ducks in to you , and to do this you need something to attract them . This means you need to have a good set for your duck decoys. There must be an appropriate number of block, (or decoys) , and they must be set in such a fashion so as to look natural. On large water, for example, a small hand ful of decoys probably won't be enough to get much notice. On the other hand, if you're hunting potholes for mallards, a small puddle filled with three dozen decoys could tell Mr. Mall ard Leader that there isn't enough room or food for his flock . The basic purpose behind using decoys is to make passing ducks feel secure in stopping over at your area. T he stool must be made to look as if ducks were feeding and resting. To my way of thinking, this means most of the blocks should be along the edge of weeds and food pl ants, rather than just sitting out in open water. But don't get the decoys so far into the grass that they can't be seen. Further, when laying out your stool, leave an opening of water near your blind where the ducks can land. Some hunters like to set their blocks in a sort of question mark pattern, with the open water in front of them , surrounding the small pool with decoys. Others set them in something of a doughnut shape, with the open water in the center. Still others prefer to set their blocks in a V shape, a natural position for flying ducks. 15 settling into the water. That way, he can get several shots. And if he's on the ball , he'll have his blind close enough to his decoys so that a modified choke will be tight enough. There may be times when a full choke is necessary over blocks, when the decoys need to be a little farther from the blind, .or when the ducks are just a little too nervous to come in his close. And the jump shooter, too, may occasionally fi nd the majority of shots are at longer range. Perhaps these things are the reasons why double barrels have long been among the most popular guns of duck hunters, since they are usuaJl y equipped with a modi fied choke in one barrel and a full choke on the other. Sizes of shot to use on ducks is a Against a background of th e dark , early morning sky, this skilled caller sends out notes point of argument. I like number sixes that woo a flock of ducks to wa rd his decoys. for most situ ations, but a lot of fives, even fo urs are used . For longer range Decoy sets should be arra nged so One of the popular forms of duck shots, the larger shot sizes usuall y that incoming ducks will head into the hunting in Georgia - and rightl y so - work better. Over decoys, especiall y spread from downwi nd . That is, they'll is another type of jump shooting. The on smaller species, some hunters even I be fl ying upwind when they head into di ffe rence is th at a boat is used . It use 71h shot. \ your stool. So a V pattern stool should might also be referred to as drift shoot- Expert hunters sometimes say that be set with the point of the V fac ing ing. small shot penetrates feathers much into the wind. Always set the blocks The hunter drifts down a river and better at very short range, no more so they' re faced into the wind . jumps ducks as he goes around a bend , than 30 yards. Beyond that, however, Another important factor in blind getting in some good shots on each small shot sheds its velocity rapidl y, shooting is the blind itself. It must flock. and just isn't very deadl y. blend in with the natural setting. It must be solid enough to hide your movements, and your shining upturned face as you sca n the sky. Yet, you must be able to see out of it, so a flock won 't sneak up on you - or a high fl ying flock will pass you by unnoticed, unattrac ted to your stool without a call. This brings us to the other ingredi- Too, this type of duck hunting is very popul ar in coastal tidal creeks and rivers, and in swampy areas in south Georgia. Here, of course, the boat won't drift too much . You'll have to paddle very quietl y, preferably using the old Indian sculling method, or use a long pole to push the boat along. Jf you're after the wood duck, Georgia's most prominent waterfowl An y way you want to hunt them, you can 't find much better sport than duck hunting. And when the day is over and you sit by the fire, drying out yo ur socks, you'll get a whiff of roas t duck coming from the kitchen . There's a meal fit for a king coming up. And at the moment, you feel sort of like a king. ent. Calling ducks is an art which few species, the method of poling or pad- have reall y mastered. If you 're not dling a boat is best in flooded wood outsta nding with a call , it might pay areas although some hunters wade the to leave it pretty much alone most of shallow water with chest waders. Attention: Executives the time, except when the flock is high- You 'll hear duckhunters talk of pass ly unlikel y to pay your stool any at- shooting quite often, too. But you 'll An Ideal Christmas Gift . .. tention anyway. seldom see it done. This is a method of By all means, don't get carried finding a place on an oft-used fly way away with the musi c in your soul when to and from a feeding or roosting area, subscriptions to Game and Fish for business associates mouthing a duck call. Too much calling perhaps between a grain field and a and employees. is worse than none at all. If you had large body of water. Most of the shots a good thing going for you , would you are long, and the birds are moving fast Saves Time ... send us be anxious to call in every person in sight? Ducks will let others know if they have found food and safety, but the y wo n't go overboard in inviting guests. and rather high . It's tough shooting. The jump shooter, float shooter or the man who shoots over decoys doesn't really need magnum loads and rarel y will he need a full choke. A your list with names and addresses. Each one will receive a gift card in your name. To attract the flying ducks' atten- modified choke is better for most of tion , the loud, rapid "highball " call is the work he'll do. Hurry! used. Once your quarry has noticed If a man who hunts over blocks your call and your decoys, go into the is doing it right, he won't have to take Make checks payable to chuckling feeding call. This is the one that brings them in to yo u. Too much loud , fast, excited calling will make them suspicious. If ducks on the water sound too excited , it tells others that many long shots. He should be patient enough to wait until the birds are all well in range. He shouldn't blast at the first duck that approaches just as it gets in range, but wait until all the birds Georgia Game and Fish Commission 401 State Capitol Bldg. Atlanta 30301 it isn't safe thereabouts. are even with him , or perhaps even 16 " . Sportsman's ~ Calendar SEASONS NOW OPEN Bag Limit-Two (2) Bucks, except in Chattahoochee, Marion, Muscogee, Stew- GUN DEER SEASON Southeast Ga. Season-Oct. 29, 1966 through Jan. 5, 1967 in the following counties : Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch County south of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad and east of the run of Suwanoo- Baker, Calhoun, Grady, Dougherty, and Thomas counties where the bag limit is two (2) bucks or one (1) buck and one (1) doe. Exception: The Worth County bag limit shall be one ( 1) buck only for the season. Hunting with dogs will be allowed in all of the counties listed above during the season with the exception of Chattahoo- art, and Talbot. Bag Limit-One ( 1) per season . Southwest Ga. Season-Nov. 19, 1966 through Feb. 28, 1967 in the counties of Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, and Thomas. Bag Limit-Two (2) per season. chee Creek, Echols County east of U. S. chee, Muscogee, and Worth counties, where QUAIL, BOBWHITE 129 and south of Ga. 187, Effingham, Emanuel north of U. S. 80, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Jefferson, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, Mcintosh, Pierce County south of hunting with dogs will be prohibited in order to prevent over-harvest of deer and to insure continued growth of the deer herd. Season-Nov. 19, 1966 through Feb. 28, 1967. Bag Limit-12 Daily, possession limit 36. U. S. 82 and east of Ga. 121, Screven, North and Middle Ga. Season-Nov. 5, RABBITS Tattnall, Washington and Wayne counties. 1966 through Nov. 28, 1966 in the fol - Season-Nov. 19, 1966 through Feb. 28, Bag Limit-Two (2) Bucks. Hunting with lowing counties: 1967. dogs is allowed in all of the above counties. Banks County east of U. S. 441, Bald- N. Ga. Bag Limit-S Daily. GROUSE, RUFFED win, Bartow County south of the Etowah S. Ga. Bag Limit-10 Daily. Season-Oct. 15, 1966 through Feb. 28, 1967. River west of U. S. 41, Butts, Columbia, Crawford County north of U. S. 80, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd County east of U. S. GEESE Season-Nov. 7, 1966 through January 15, Bag Limit-3 Daily, possession limit 6. 27 and north of U. S. 411, Gilmer County 1967. SQUIRREL Season-Oct. 15, 1966 through Feb. 28, 1967 . west of U. S. 76 and southwest of Ga. 52 and southeast of the Big Creek Gap Road to the Fannin County Line, Green, Habersham County west of U. S. 23 and south Bag Limit-2 daily, possession limit 4. See federal regulations. Migratory stamp required. Liberty and Mcintosh counties closed . Bag Limit-10 Daily. OPOSSUM Season-Oct. 29, 1966 through Feb. 28, 1967, Exception: Coweta County opens Oct. 1, 1966 through Jan. 21, 1967. No Bag Limit. RACCOON N. Ga. Season-Oct. 29, 1966 through Feb. 28, 1967. Bag Limit-One ( l) per night per person. S. Ga. Season-No closed season. of Ga. 17 south of Hollywood, Hancock, Haralson, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lincoln, Lumpkin, McDuffie, Monroe, Morgan, Murray, Newton, Oglethorpe County south of U. S. 78, Paulding, Polk County east of U.S. 27 anci south of U.S. 278, Putnam, Rabun, Richmond, Rockdale, Schley, Stephens County south of U. S. 123 and west of Ga. 17 north of Toccoa, Talbot, Taliaferro, Towns, Union, Warren, White, Walton, Wilkinson, and Wilkes County east of Ga. 47 and south of U. S. 378. DUCKS, MERGANSERS, AND COOTS Season-Nov. 24, 1966 through January 7, 1967. Bag Limit-Ducks: 4 daily, including no more than 2 wood ducks or 2 canvasbacks. Possession limit 8, including no more than 4 wood ducks or 4 canvasbacks. Mergansers: 5 daily, including no more than 1 hooded merganser. Possession limit is 10, including no more than 2 hooded mergansers. Coots: 10 daily, possession limit is 20. See federal waterfowl regulations available with the required $3.00 federal No Bag Limit. Bag Limit-Two (2) Bucks, except that in migratory bird (duck) stamp at all main SEASONS CLOSING THIS MONTH order to harvest a bumper crop of deer, U. S. Post Offices. State regulations for Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Putnam and Mc- waterfowl hunting are the same as the MARSH HENS Duffie counties will be open for either-sex federal regulations. deer hunting on the last day of the regular (GALLINULES & RAll..S) season, Nov. 28, 1966, with a bag limit of Season-Sept. 15 through Nov. 23, 1966. no more than one (I) doe deer. The regu- SEASONS OPENING NEXT MONTH Bag Limit-15 Daily, possession limit 30. lar season bag limits will also apply dur- WILD TURKEY SEASONS OPENING THIS MONTH GUN DEER SEASON Southwest Ga. Season-Nov. 5, 1966 through Jan. 5, 1967 in the following counties: Baker, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee County west of U. S. 19, Marion, Mitchell, Muscogee, Seminole, Stewart, Terrell, Thomas, ing this period, provided that no gun hunter during the entire year may take more than two (2) bucks or one (1) buck and one ( 1) doe by any method or methods. Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited in all of the above listed counties, and it is illegal to run, chase, or pursue deer with dogs in any of these counties. WILD TURKEY Southeast Ga. Season-Dec. 1, 1966 through Jan. 5, 1967 in the counties of Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, Mcintosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, and Wayne. Bag Limit-One ( 1) turkey gobbler per season. Hens are protected. WOODCOCK Season-Dec. 12 through Jan. 30, 1967. Webster and Worth County south of U. S. West Central Ga . Season-Nov. 5, 1966 Bag Limit-5 Daily, possession limit 10. 82. through Jan. 5, 1967 in the counties of See federal regulations. 6. 6 I owe it all to GAME & FISH A publication like this means a lot to a sportsman . Factual up-to-date information on the best hunting and fishing. Tips on how to make the most of your sporting activities . We're glad to send you the first four issues of GAME AND FISH free. But beginning with the February issue, you will receive GAME AND FISH only on a subscription basis. DON'T MISS THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF GAME AND FISH ... SEND IN YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TODAY! Only $1.00 a year buys you 12 big issues of GAME AND FISH. 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