GEORGIA VOL. 1, NO. 3 I DECEMBER, 1966 B ~GEORGIA {~ -;, GAME &FISH DECEMBER 1966 Volume I Number 3 Contents Drifting Doves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Kight 1 The Dove Season Is Too Late . . . . . . Jim Morrison 3 Bushy Tails Are For Boys .. James T. Hicks 6 Oaky Woods is Okay . . . . . . . . Dean Wohlgemuth 7 Small Game- Hunter's Choice . . . . . . . Dean Wohlgemuth 8 Mark Trail of the Mounties . . . . . .. Jim Morrison 10 800,000 Busy Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Tyler 12 Commissioner Charles Davidson . . . . . . . . Jim Tyler 13 The Quail Capital of the World .... . . Jim Morrison 14 Georgia Sportsmen Meet in Macon Glen Smith 16 Sportsman's Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 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 Americus-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 Photo Credits: Dan Keever I , t. 2, t . 5, t. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, t . II , 12, t. & b. 13, t, 14, 16; Jim Morrison b. 2, 3, b. 5, b. 6, b. II , c. & b. 13. Georgia Game and Fish is the official monthly magazine of the Georgia Game and Fish Commission, published at the Commission's of/ices, 401 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. No advertising accepted. Subscriptions are $1 for 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 without ZIP code. Articles and photographs may be reprinted. Proper credit should be given . Contributions are welcome, but the editors assume no responsibility or liability for loss or damage of articles, photographs, or illustrations. Second-class postage paid at Atlanta, Georgia. Agovernorwho wasn't afraid Georgia's dynamic young governor, Carl Sanders, is a man who is not afraid to stand up and be counted for a cause which he feels is right, even though it may be potentially unpopular. It is for this reason that we dedicate the last issue of Georgia Game and Fish this year to Governor Sanders in the last month of his historic four year term in office. During that time, Governor Sanders did more for the cause of wildlife conservation than any other man in Georgia history. Primarily at his request, the General Assembly this year increased the budget of the Game and Fish Commission from two million to more than three million dollars a year, the largest increase ever made in its appropriation. That Governor Sanders had the courage to make the increase possible by helping raise hunting and fishing license fees is a noteworthy tribute to the strength of his convictions. As a result of the one million dollar increase, wildlife conservation for the first time in many years in Georgia is adequately financed. Now, the State Game and Fish Commission can afford to staff and manage every acre of public hunting and fishing land that it can lease or purchase. Public fishing areas will be built in many areas of the State, and more than 200 public boat launching ramps will be constructed over the next five years on previously inaccessible streams and lakes. The eight fish hatcheries of the Game and Fish Commission will be renovated and modernized to produce millions of new fish for stocking in public lakes and streams. 20 new wildlife rangers are already on duty, protecting Georgia's invaluable wildlife resources from plunder by ruthless game law violators. These rangers are now better trained, better equipped, and better uniformed, than ever before in history. Early in the Sanders Administration, the Governor provided funds for the purchase of the largest channel catfish hatchery in the world at Cordele for the Commission, along with the purchase of the McDuffie Public Fishing area near Thomson, first of a chain of such areas to ring Georgia's metropolitan centers. During his administration, more than 132,000 acres of public hunting land were leased to the Game and Fish Commission in the Allatoona, Whitesburg, Chickasawhatchee, Piedmont Experiment, and Oaky Woods game management areas. His sponsorship of a limited liability bill eventually will open more than a million additional acres of industrial lands for hunting. But Governor Sanders' most important accomplishment probably is his initiation of a reorganization of the leadership of the State Game and Fish Commission along the more efficient, decentralized, professional lines recommended by the study of the department made at his request by the Governor's Commission for Efficiency and Improvement in Government, known as the "Bowdoin Commission." As an avid hunter and fisherman all his life, Governor Sanders shares many interests in common with Georgia sportsmen. He is a crack shot who especially enjoys dove and quail shooting, and is a deer and a duck bunter as well. If we could select a nominee for the title "Wildlife Conservationist of the Year" for this year or any year so far, our choice would be Carl Sanders, a great governor that Georgians will miss. - J. M. ON THE COVER: Georgia's number one dove shooter, Governor Carl Sanders, fires a volley at the star of this month's Game and Fish Magazine, the mourning dove. Photo by Jim Morrison. by joe kight drifting doves Doves are perhaps the hardest easy shooting or the easiest hard shooting of any of Georgia's game birds. They can float in as though they were suspended from wires, or bobble along like a butterfly with the hiccups, or flash by like an unguided missile. Weighing only four or five ounces, they can cruise between 30 to 40 miles per hour in calm air. Alarmed by hunters or traveling with the wind they can, of course, go much faster. More people in Georgia hunt doves than any other game bird. In most areas a dove shoot takes on a festive air. Although the weather is usually a little warm, especially in the southern regions, a different smell is in the air. The languid murky feel of summer is replaced with a crisper, cleaner feel. The harvest is underway, denoting the end of one season and the beginning of another. Some of the poplar and gum trees are hinting that they are thinking seriously of exchanging their summer suits for a bright colorful gown for one last fling. What is probably the most noted and least mentioned is the sounds of the fields. The rustle of the corn stalks, the caw of a faraway crow, the chirr of insects - especially the sound of the insects - all take on an eleventh hour feel of expectancy. Dove season is anticipated by some from January when the season closed , to the opening day of the new season. The time in between these dates serves only to round out the calendar and also provides time to catch an occasional fi sh. 1 In case you're in doubt, that blur is a mourning dove , th e hardest to hit gam e bird in Georgia. Last year more than 11 2,000 hunters wen t after doves. Hunting from a home-made blind of corn stalks and pine boughs is especially popular in middle G eorgia. It pays off with closer shots and clean ground for locating down ed birds quickly . 2 Doves are found throughout the state. While we have a large resident nesting population, many birds found here during the late fa ll and winter were raised in states to the north. The nest is a very frail affair that is more of a platform than the cup-shaped nests of songbirds. The usual clutch consists of two eggs. Doves have been known to nest in South Georgia every month of the year except December. Although each brood is small , production continues throughout the nesting season . Five to seven broods are started by each pair per yea r, but nest mortality accounts for about half of the young birds. Three successful broods of two birds each are abo ut average. Hunting doves requires very little equipment and a minimum of effort. Dull colored clothes which blend with the backgrou nd wi ll do very well although camouflage clothes are usuall y harder to detect. However, don't forget th at an upturned face will shine like a full moon, so keep your head down until the birds are in range. A long billed cap will help. A wide variety of shotguns are used, but repeaters in 12, 16, or 20 gauge are the most popul ar. An improved cylinder or modified choke is quite adequate. Although a full choked guo has a greater range, probably not more than one person in teo can shoot this choke efficientl y. Size 7112 to 9 shot are large enough. Most guns seem to pattern these smaller shot better than larger shot. However, each gun will shoot a little differentl y, so it is a good idea to pattern yo ur gun with different shot sizes to determine which is best for you and your guo. Doves are strict vegetarians that require free water. Although quail can get enough water from dew and succulent foods, doves must have water to drink. This is especiall y needed dur- ing nesting season to manufacture "pi geon milk" which is fed to the young. Good shooting can be had at a watering hole when dry weather forces the birds to concentrate on a few available watering places. A mo re dependable pl ace to shoot is over a harvested grain field . Millet, corn, wheat, peanuts, peas, and grain sorghums are choice foods , as are watermelon and tomato seeds. The object is to provide a choice food supply and conditions that are attractive to doves. Bare ground between the rows i best, but a field with close cut stubble is good too. Doves are not scratching birds and therefore have to find their food on top of the ground . In preparing a field for dove shooting, be sure to check the federal regulations. As doves are considered migratory, they are included in the migratory bird treaty act and are under federal regulation . A lot of people find it hard to stop shooting when they have their limit and the birds are sti ll coming in to the field . But bear in mind th at if yo u wa nt to go dove hunting next year and the next, and would like for your kids to enjoy th is fine sport, stop shooting when you have the limit. Too, both state and federa l judges have been known to frown on game hogs. The secret of dove hunting, if there is one, is to keep still until the birds are well within range, fo llow through on your swi ng, and LEAD him. Perhaps the real secret of a successful hunt is the observance of one simple but "common sense" rule. D on't shoot at low flying birds! Picking shot out of your hide is not a pleasa nt way to spend the evening. Having a surgeon pick a shot from your eye is even more unpleasa nt. But to be on a fie ld with good fr iends when the doves are starting to drift in is, as the man sa id , paradi se enow. by Jim Morrison "It's just shameful, the way the State lets hunters go out and kill those little birds in September. Why, most of them are so small they can't hardly fly yet, and they're being slaughtered right and left. I even killed one bird that left an egg in my hunting coat. Shooting birds still nesting, or that can't fly, and they call that conservation?" It doesn't really matter just who it is that's doing the talking, because almost exactly the same words have been said for many years by dove hunters, especially in South Georgia. If, on the other hand, we were listening to a fellow dove hunter in North Georgia, we probably would hear different, but equally familiar words: "Those idiots in the State Capitol have done it again! Why can't they ever set the dove season right and leave it the same every year. By the time the season opened, all the birds had left out. We had plenty of birds two weeks ago, and now you can't find any." Confusing? You can say that again! Both of these viewpoints are based on valid arguments. And both are made by si ncere sportsmen interested in good dove shooting. Presumably, they are also good wildlife conservationists. In between these two warring factions are the poor devils who are supposed to make everyone happy, including the doves: the men of the State G ame and Fish Commission. But settling the issue about the dove season 3 is one problem with even more knots ments were made about the present But, what about the picture in South than the average burning issue facing system, and some of them are shared Georgia during the first season in Sep- a State wildlife conservation agency. by the Game and Fish Commission. tember? Here the complaints about To begin with, not all doves are born The federal regulations determine birds unable to fly or still on the and raised in Georgia, although about how hberal the seasons, bag limits, and nest ring through the air, along with 70 per cent of them spend their en- hunting regulations can be that are set some more valid comments about the tire lives here. Because of the migra- by Georgia. Actually, the state could better shooting that will be had later tory 30 per cent that flies into Georgia set a shorter dove hunting season with in the year when the birds are not so every year, and more especially be- a smaller bag limit and more restric- scattered and food is less plentiful. Be- 't ( cause of the doves that fly into the tive hunting regulations than is al- sides, the weather is usually unbear- United States every year from Mexico lowed by the federal government. It ably hot for hunting, usually in the 90's, and Canada, the dove has been de- could not set a season longer than insects are still out in bloodthirsty clared a migratory bird under federal allowed by federal regulations, etc. droves, and snakes are still a nagging protection. Under treaty acts, doves Normally, the greatest concentration worry. But just the same, hunters who and other migratory game birds such as of birds in North Georgia is during the have impatiently survived the spring ducks may only be hunted between middle two weeks of September, at and summer are eager to get into the September I and March 15 of each year. the time that brown top millet, milo, field again, and the dove season is their But even though the dove is protect- corn, and other early silage or hay first opportunity, in spite of early sea- ed by federal law, it would be unfair crops are mature enough for cutting. son objections. But undoubtedly the to entirely "pass the buck" to the fed- During this period, the entire year's South Georgia hunter would prefer a eral government concerning the dove production of surviving young birds is season opening in October or later, season, since both the states and the at its greatest numerical peak, and the when shooting is better on fields being federal government share joint respon- birds are more concentrated on the planted to winter wheat or being har- sibility for the rules and regulations. harvested fields than at any other time. vested late. These regulations are conservatively set Naturally, this is the time that North By this time, the obviously perfect to insure that the annual survival of Georgia hunters want to shoot doves. answer to this dilemma has undoubt- the dove breeding population is well Later on, when the crops have been edly swept over you in a great wave above the level needed each year to harvested and cold weather moves in, of realization. It's so obvious, you produce as many doves as possible for shooting will be poor, except on a few can't help but wonder why it hasn't r hunting, year after year. scattered late corn fields that are har- already been done. Why, you say, The federal government declares the "framework" for the dove season, meaning within what beginning and ending dates the states can set their seasons, including the number of days of shooting they can have. In addition, the federal government sets up the maximum bag limit each state may have, along with regulations governillg the hunting methods which may be used, such as shooting over baited fields, etc. These regulations are promulgated through the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Bureau has established the framework for the dove season of September !-January 15, with 70 half-days of shooting which could begin and end at any time between those dates within two or three consecutive shooting periods, during which time the entire State would be open. The daily bag limit was set at 12 birds a day. vested with a mechanical picker. Many of the September birds will already have died at the hands of predators, disease, exposure, or parasites. Normally, dove shooting in North Georgia during the first half of the season is over within two weeks. Shooters are anxious for the legal opening of the season to coincide with this grain maturation date, which unfortunately may vary considerably, depending on rain and climate conditions. Browntop millet, for instance, can be planted anytime from May through July, maturing in six weeks. If rain coincides with cutting, the millet seeds soon germinate, and doves leave the field. But, suppose the season does hit the grain maturation right on the head. Even then, shooting may be poor. With the rapid increase of dairy and beef cattle farming in Georgia, the acreage of hay and silage crops grown has soared, especially in level terrain that can be worked by machinery on large farms . This has the effect of scattering don't we just simply zone Georgia into a northern zone with a season opening in September and a southern zone opening in October or November? But throwing a bucket of cold water on this charming daydream is the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, which refuses to consider such a plan on the grounds that it would almost double the number of days for Georgia shooters to hunt doves, possibly threatening the surviving brood stock with a serious reduction. According to the Bureau, if the state were zoned as has often been suggested, Georgians would expect 70 days of shooting in North Georgia and 70 days in South Georgia, giving us up to 140 days of shooting, as compared to the 70 given other states in the eastern management unit. According to the Bureau, hunting pressure on doves would be greatly increased, perhaps doubled, by migration of hunters into North Georgia during the first zone season, followed by concentration of hunters in South Georgia during the () As has been the custom for many doves over a much greater area, pro- second zone season, resulting in a much years, the State Game and Fish Com- ducing a general decline in the quality greater kill of birds, than the present mission again selected the option of a of shooting from the "good old days" figure of more than three million birds shorter season beginning earlier in Sep- when good dove fields were less com- a year. However, this is only a the- tember with a longer second half of the mon, concentrating the birds more ory, not a proven scientific fact. "split season" beginning later in December. Under the existing restrictions placed on the states by the federal government, tills pattern has been judged to be the best possible arrangement by Georgia's wildlife agen- than is the case today even though just as many doves may be present now as then, if not more. Then, too, doves are an unpredictable lot, inclined to ignore ample food on one field and concentrate on another that is identical a The Bureau says that if Georgians are concerned about killing young birds in South Georgia early in the split season and hunting doves in North Georgia late in the second season when , cy. But is this arrangement satisfactory mile away, for no apparent reason. they are scarce, then the state should with a majority of hunters? If you think So, the North Georgian quite likely be zoned by state regulations. so, then read the comments again with will complain about the season opening For example, during the early first which we began this story. These com- too late. half of the season this year, from sep- 4 tember 9 through October 8, South creased if zoning were allowed with 70 Georgia could have been closed for days of hunting in each section. Geor- hunting by State regulation. Then, dur- gia's game biologists contend that few ing the second half of the split season, hunters would travel great distances to from December 6 through January 14, the other end of Georgia if they had a North Georgia could be closed by satisfactory season close at home. They state regulation, if desired. point out that South Georgians could However, the net effect of this plan never find better shooting in North would be that South Georgians would Georgia than what they would have at lose approximately 30 of their 70 half- home under a later 70 half-day season days of shooting, and North Georgians of their own, and that both North would lose approximately 40 of their Georgians and South Georgians would 70 half-days. It is doubtful if Georgians be diverted from dove shooting by would be willing to sacrifice hunting other hunting seasons that are open in days in an already short season, merely to satisfy esthetic considerations about killing young birds. Such a situation well might produce many more com- November, such as quail, squirrel, rabbit, and deer hunting. As a result, they feel that only a small number of North Georgians would drive 200 miles or Game biologist Jim Scharnagel records the band number on one of 4 ,000 doves banded by plaints than are now heard. more to hunt doves in South Georgia the State so far this year. Biologists also point out some birds are still on the nest during the September season, especially in South Georgia, but these birds are seldom for only half-a-day on the weekend, assuming that Sunday hunting is not allowed. In addition, since dove shooting is normally found only on private land, This information will help in justifying any changes in the present federal regulations. killed on a field . Normally, they are few North Georgians would have good still tending the nest and will not come landowner contacts in the southern to a harvested field, although some part of the state. Most landowners may be shot at an occasional water- only invite their families, close friends , hole. This is also one reason why birds and neighbors to dove shoots. are still scattered with poorer shooting There is plenty of ammunition on in South Georgia during September. both sides. At present, only Texas is So, there are some good arguments allowed a zoned dove season, due to on the side of the federal government its great size. But, Georgians point out, for leaving the regulations as they Georgia is the largest state east of the Dove shooting in North presently are, without zoning. But Georgia's game biologists and many dove hunters believe that the discussion Mississippi River. So far, the Bureau has held fast in its position. But even if zoning never becomes a Georgia depends to a great extent on the date when grain crops such as milo ripen and are harvested, doesn't end there. For one thing, there reality in Georgia, it is sure to be a especially by mechanical is considerable disagreement over the- red-hot issue with Georgia hunters for methods. lf the season ories of whether or not dove hunting as long as they still hunt "the grey opens after this period pressure would be significantly m- ghost of the cornfields" doves will be hard to find. 5 By James T. Hicks BUSHY TAILS ARE FOR BOYS Shotguns are most commonly used for squirrel hunting, but many hunters prefer .22 rifles. 6 adjacent to a field of corn. Gray squirrels prefer the hardwood forests of the valleys while the fox squirrel will be found in timbered areas with many openings especially in pecan orchards. There are several methods of hunting Mr. Bushytail that may be used successfully. To still hunt, the bunter must locate a tree or group of trees that is being used for a feeding area or as a den. He must then conceal himself and ) remain very still until the squirrels appear. Several squirrels may be taken from one tree or one area if the hunter will wait until he feels that the action is all over before picking up his kill. Stalk hunting is probably the sportiest method of all to use. Stalking may be done in a heavily wooded area and around the edges of fields or clearings. By advancing quietly, two or three steps at a time and then stopping to survey the trees in the area, the stalking hunter may effectively cover a larger territory than the still hunter. For any measure of success to be attain~d in this type hunting, the bunter must move very slowly, quietly, and observantly. A popular method of hunting in many areas is with a dog. A larger amount of territory may be covered with this style of hunting than either still hunting or stalking. The common mixed breed mongrel dog seems to be most efficient in squirrel bunting. than an y oth er gam e species in Georgia. The best time of day for hunting squirrels is early and late. Still, clear, frosty mornings and warm fall afternoons are ideal. Almost without exception , bunting is much better when the wind is not blowing. Damp leaves due to a rain or heavy dew are desirable because they lessen the noise made by the hunter's feet. Fall is for bushytails, and for boys to go to the squirrel woods, and for grown men to pretend for a while that their youth has returned as they too go hunting Mr. Squirrel. Regrettably, most present day forest management does not provide the practices that are most beneficial to the squirrel. Mast producing hardwoods such as oak and hickory are the key to an abundance of bushytails. Hollow trees, when present, serve as veritable squirrel factories. All too often neither the mast producing hardwoods nor the hollow trees are spared on areas of intensely managed forestlands. The territory for good squirrel hunting bas thus become limited. The best areas for hunting are patches of hardwoods that may be used by squirrels for feeding stations, den trees, and nesting sites. Fence rows are excellent if a stand of mature timber lies The .22 caliber rifle and all the various gauges of shotguns are used for squirrel hunting. The .22 rifle is regarded by many hunters as the more sporting weapon to use. The use of a scope mounted .22 will provide a maximum of sport as well as a full bag if the hunter is skillful. Practically all of the shotguns are adequate with field loads of no . 6 shot. Drab colored or camouflage type clothing makes the hunter much less noticeable when in the woods. Waterproof boots will add greatly to the comfort of the hunter if wet weather is prevailing. One of the great values of squirrel hunting is the opportunity it presents to be afield and observe the beauty of nature. Do you remember when you went squirrel hunting as a boy and your Dad would shake a bush so that you could have a chance for a shot? Take your boy squirrel bunting, and remember to shake a bush for him. by Dean Wohlgemuth Ray Plaster, area manager of the new Oaky Woods Management Area near Perry, gets a birds-eye view of the area under his charge from atop a fire tower located near the heart of his domain. Oal