Outdoors in Georgia [Dec. 1975]

\

George Busbee
Governor
Joe D. Tanner
Commissioner
George T. Bagby
Deputy Commissioner
BOARD OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Leonard E. Foote Chairman
Waleska-- State-at-Large Wade H. Coleman Vice Chairman
Valdosta--State-at-Large
Leo T. Barber, Jr. Secretary
Moultrie-- 2nd District
James F. Darby Vidalia-- 1st District
Dr. Robert A. Collins, Jr.
-- Americus 3rd District
George P. Dillard
-- Decatur 4th District
Mary Bailey Izard Atlanta-- 5th District
James A. Mankin Griffin--6th District
Lloyd L. Summer, Jr.
Rome--7th District
J. Wimbrie Walker
McRae--8th District
Donald J. Carter Gainesville-- 9fh District
Leonard Bassford Augusta-- 10th District
Sam Cofer
St. Simons Island Coastal District James D. Cone Decatu r-- State-at-Large
A. Calhoun Todd, Jr.
Macon--State-at-Large
DIVISION DIRECTORS
Parks and Historic Sites Division Henry D. Struble, Director
Game and Fish Division
Jack Crockford, Director
Environmental Protection Division J. Leonard Ledbetter, Director Earth and Water Division
Sam M. Pickering, Jr., Director Office of Planning and Research
Office of Administrative Services James H. Pittman, Director
Public Relations and Information David Cranshaw, Director

OatdOOrS ii> Georgia

Volume 4

December 1975

Number 12

FEATURES

Wood Ducks
Fort McAllister
A Far Place A Sound of Beagles
The Invaders
Yesterday's Blocks,
A Photographic Feature
Rum Creek WMA

Jim Odom 3
Rebecca N. Marshall 7
Bill Morehead 10
Joe Cullens 14 Gib Johnston 18
Bob Busby 23 Dick Davis 28

DEPARTMENTS

Outdoorsman's Quiz Book Reviews Sportsman's Calendar
Letters

Lt. V. J. Garrison 22 27 30 32

FRONT COVER: The glow of an open fire warms both body and spirit. Photo by Bob Busby.
BACK COVER: In the fading evening light, the wood duck hunter waits. Photo by Jim
Couch.

MAGAZINE STAFF Phone--656-5660

David Cranshaw

Bill Morehead Aaron Pass Rebecca N. Marshall Dick Davis Jingle Davis Priscilla C. Powell .

Editor
Managing Editor
.... Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
. Circulation Manager

, . . Publisher

.... Liz Carmichael Jones

Art Director

Jose Vinos

Artist

Bob Busby

Photo Editor

.... Edward Brock

Staff Photographer

Cathy Cardarelli . . . Staff Photographer

Jim Couch

Staff Photographer

Outdoors in Georgia is the official monthly magazine of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, published at the Department's offices. Room 713, 270 Washington Street, Atlanta,
Georgia 30334. No advertising accepted. Subscriptions are $3 for one year or $6 for three years. Printed by Williams Printing Company, Atlanta, Georgia. Articles and photographs may be reprinted when proper credit 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. 35,000 copies printed at an approxi-
mate cost of $14,500. The Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity employer, and employs without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, or national origin.

Art by Bob Connell Outdoors ir> Georgia

Georgia's native waterfowl
WOOD DUCKS
by Jim Odotn

Reigning undisputed as one of the most beautiful birds in the world, the
wood duck, Aix sponsa, also referred to as the summer duck, is a
favorite of hunters, photographers,
naturalists, and artists. Whatever the reason he is sought, this bird pro-
vides no easy opportunities for man to come close to him. His habitat,
consisting of woodland swamps, puts
him out of the way of most human activities. In fact, most wood duck
sightings are the result of predawn wading through swampy areas or an
entirely accidental encounter.
Several methods of finding new wood duck habitat can be used. To
find a likely area, a topographic
map is a handy tool. Marked on the map are roads, creeks, and swampy areas. (Maps can be ordered by
writing the Washington Distribution Section, U. S. Geological Survey, 1200 South Eads Street, Arlington, Va. 22202. Ask for a quadrangle
map order form and an index to topographic maps for Georgia.)

Local residents are usually happy
to point out swampy areas. Since wood duck habitat is not under cul-
tivation, farmers often consider it useless land, and frequently grant the sportsman permission to hunt there.
Another method of finding wood
ducks involves locating railroad tracks which run through the area under consideration. Railroad tracks
are often built through swampy
places, across creeks and rivers, and
through lowlands. Walking down the tracks may provide entry to wood duck habitat that is otherwise very
remote.
To start, the sportsman has to locate some tracks. Again the topo-
graphical map, local residents, or just plain scouting around are good
methods. When using railroad tracks,
however, the hunter should be con-
stantly alert for trains. And since many of the suitable hunting spots
are near trestles, he should be es-
pecially careful when crossing them. Anyone who uses the topographic

map will save himself many miles
of unproductive walking once a
good track is located. He should
begin the trek with a foreknowledge of some marshy areas along the
track. However, much walking will
still be required; but this effort is
many times easier than covering the same distance through the woods.
Anything should be expected when walking down the tracks. Seasonally wet areas not shown on the map will sometimes be found. As any likely looking duck habitat appears, it is wise to move slowly and carefully. If wood ducks are present, they are capable of detecting movements and sounds some distance away. It's a good bet that if ducks are using the place when it is scouted, they
will be using it later.
Once an ideal spot is located, permission to use it must be secured from the property owner. If the
area is within the railroad right-ofway, the local offices of the railroad
company must be contacted. Even

Decerpber 1975

if the hunting is to be done off the right-of-way, permission is still needed to cross it.
The owner of the adjoining property also must be contacted for permission to hunt on his land. Finding him can sometimes be a problem, but several methods are available to do this. First, identifying marks of the landowner should be sought. For example, the paper companies usually mark their boundaries with signs, tree paint, and concrete monuments. Georgia Kraft and St. Regis often grant hunting permission from
their regional offices.
Finally, if no indication of ownership is located, a trip to the county
courthouse may bring results. If the
hunter can determine where the land is located on the county plats, the clerk can look up the property
A owner. courtesy call on the owner
may result in permission to hunt
there.
Once the preliminaries of finding a location and securing permission
to hunt are completed, the hunter needs to visit the area during the same time of day he will be hunting.
A predawn trip will give him valu-
able insight into exactly where the ducks come in, their flight paths, and
the best location for a blind.
An initial place of concealment might have been selected when the
hunter first encountered the place. Using this cover on the return trip
will help insure that some ducks are seen. Care must be exercised in selecting the location for a perma-
nent blind. Tt should be constructed with no trees or other interference in the front. Finally, the blind must be within range of where the ducks will likely land or pass. Also, it should be kept in mind that any radical change in the landscape might spook the ducks, causing them to veer off and avoid the blind entirely. Therefore, the materials for the blind should be natural ones, selected from
the area.
A duck blind need not be an elab-
orate construction, but it should thoroughly hide the hunter on all sides, especially from the top. Reeds and bushes stuck in the ground

in front, some camouflage netting and camouflage makeup like bow-
hunters use will enable a hunter to conceal himself adequately. Possibly more important than complete concealment is the ability to remain per-
fectly motionless as the ducks come within range. The more active and fidgety the hunter, the more concealment he needs.
Much has been written on blind construction. Good books on the

Photo by Jim Couch
subject should be available in any public library.
On opening day of the season,
enter the blind fully prepared and
equipped for the job. To bring down wood ducks in such a situation, sev-
eral loads and gauges of shotgun can be used. The shooting is fairly close range so a modified choke is
preferable to a full.
It is said that wood ducks do not decoy readily. While this may or

Outdoors ip Georgia

may not be true, decoys really are
not necessary for this type of shoot-
ing. The ducks are going to be coming in anyway, looking for a place to lay up for the day. However, retrieving downed ducks might require some special preparation.
If the pond is completely wadable. chest waders will aid the hunter in retrieving the ducks he knocks down. However, wood duck ponds can be boggy in places, and require great care in negotiating them by foot. In addition, a crippled duck can be very elusive among the reeds or other foliage. For the sake of preserving more game, a retrieving dog is a good hunting partner. The Labrador
retriever is a willing friend, ready to plunge into the iciest water to cap-
ture a downed duck. The thrill afforded a hunter by watching his welltrained dog work is worth the time, trouble, and money it takes to ac-

quire such a dog. The dog should be responsive enough to remain still and
alert in the blind.
For the hunter especially, with his bag limits on certain species of ducks, the positive identification of ducks is essential. Sometimes other species of waterfowl will use the
-- same area as the wood duck mal-
lards, widgeons, and teal, for example. Therefore, the hunter must pay attention to the mixed-bag limits, which can be a bonus.
To help in identifying, the pam-
phlet, "Ducks at a Distance," can be ordered from the Fish and Wildlife Service. The price list is free and can be obtained by writing the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. In addition, other helpful duck identification guides can be bought at bookstores or checked out from the library.

The wood duck especially is easily

recognized in the wild. His distinc-

tive large head, short neck, and

slicked-back crest along with his

colorful markings make him stand

out among waterfowl. His startling

call, once heard, is rarely forgotten

by the sportsman. Often the call will
be heard before the wood duck

comes into sight.

Of the many types of sportsmen

that pursue this resplendent

fowl, each can take home his own

A treasure.

brace of wood ducks

A will grace any table.

taxidermist

can turn the skin into a work of art.

Exciting photographs can bring back

pleasant memories and be a source

of pride to the photographer, and

wildlife paintings are increasingly

popular in Georgia homes and of-

fices. Whatever the purpose of hunt-

ing the wood duck, this bird offers ad-

venture, satisfaction, and excitement.

Photo by Aaron Pass

Decerpber 1975

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Henry Ford, well known as an auto magnate, isn't usually associated with the Civil War. But because of
his interest in this period of history, one of Georgia's finest examples of earthwork fortifications was preserved.
Fort McAllister, about 26 miles south of Savannah, had been almost forgotten by the time Ford purchased it. Weeds and grass blanketed its parapets, and trees were entrenched on its bombproofs. Like the proverbial old soldier, the fort was fading away, until Ford took
charge of its restoration. He rebuilt the walls of marsh mud and sand, renovated the hospital area, and restored
the hot shot oven (where soldiers heated the shot to be fired at wooden boats). Today Fort McAllister looks almost exactly as it did in the 1860s.
The fort, overlooking the Ogeechee River, was one of several built to guard the four waterways that led into
A 10-inch Columbiad stands between
earthworks at the restored fort. This type of
cannon was common to coastal
fortifications during the Civil War.
Decerpber 1975

Savannah. Fort McAllister also protected rice and cotton plantations bordering the river, as well as the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad bridge that lay four miles above
the fortifications.
But its importance didn't lie in what it defended. Although Savannah had been strategic at the beginning
-- of the war the city was one of the greatest cotton ports -- in the South its value lessened considerably after the
1862 capture of Fort Pulaski. This fort had protected Savannah's port, and once the port was blocked from the sea, the city was no longer a southern supply center.
Fort McAllister's value lay in its construction. It was
built of the very cheapest materials: timber, sand, earth,
and mud. And it couldn't even begin to compete, in
beauty or in cost, with grandiose brick or rock forts like
Pulaski.
Pulaski cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and it was designed for beauty as well as defense. The North-
ern engineers who built it thought it was impregnable,
-- and indeed it was against the cannon of its time. The
spherical shot fired from smoothbore guns was easily
deflected by the masonry walls. As the Civil War

Above, forerunners of bunkers used in modern warfare, the earthen bombproofs absorbed high velocity shells without sustaining significant damage.
Right, underground passages now house
a projectile display, while a diorama depicts the successful Union assault on
the fort.
Far right, outnumbered by elements of Sherman's Union forces, Ft. McAllister's Confederate garrison fought in vain. The fort was overrun and fell after 15 minutes of hand-to-hand fighting on
the earthworks.
Outdoors ip Georgia

progressed, projectiles designed for newer rifled cannon traveled faster and farther, and gave greater penetration on their target. These could not be deflected as easily, and the brick was too brittle to offer proper
resistance.
So Fort Pulaski fell after only 30 hours of bombardment. Fort McAllister, on the other hand, was attacked nine different times and each time successfully withstood the assault. The secret of its success lay in its lowly
construction. The marsh mud and sand walls absorbed
the impact of the shells; resistance was by absorption
instead of attempted deflection. And any damage could
be repaired quickly: the soldiers had only to shovel the earth back into place and remount the guns.
Ironically, Fort McAllister helped the North as much
as the South, because it provided their troops with a
testing ground for new ironclad vessels. The well-known battle of the Monitor and the Merrimac had demonstrated the value of these ships, and the Northern army began building more of them. The first one completed was the USS Montauk, whose revolving turret housed an 11 -inch Dahlgrcn gun and a 15-inch gun. The Montauk attacked Fort McAllister in January of 1863 but did little damage to the fortifications. The ship itself also was only slightly damaged; fifteen direct hits scored

by Confederate gunners barely dented its armor.

In March three more ironclads participated in an

attack on the fort, with the same results.

Even though the ships sustained little damage, one

serious problem was discovered during the fighting. The

bolts that held the plating were of poor quality metal,

and the impact of shots striking the outside of the turret

caused part of the bolts to fly off and ricochet from wall

to wall. This flying metal presented a much greater

danger to the crew than did the Confederate shelling.

Fort McAllister was well prepared to withstand naval

attacks, but it hadn't been built to fend off land ad-

vances. Most of its heavy weapons faced the river, and

its soldiers were experienced in shelling ships, not in

hand-to-hand combat. When General William Sher-

man's forces attacked the fort in 1 864, there was little
its defenders could do. And their problems multiplied

when Sherman's troops captured a Confederate picket

who revealed the location of mines that had been placed

in the woods surrounding the fort.

The fall of Fort McAllister marked the end of Sher-

man's "March to the Sea," and the end of his campaign

in Georgia. The fort and its troops had done their part

to defend the state, but the Confederacy had lost its last

stronghold on Georgia's coast.

()

Decerpber 1975

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Far

by Bill Morehead Photography by Bob Busby

10

Outdoors it? Georgia

Place

I like a fire. I like the searching warmth of a glowing ancient
fireplace. I like the pungent odors of a hunter's fire, set carefully on some lane in backcountry Georgia, with its smoke disappearing into a black November night and reaching unseen for the full moon.
-- I like a fire in my fireplace at home. It can keep you company
can even help keep you sane on those nights when your sins come around to call, one by one.
Civilization in all its wonder has never devised a better way to greet
-- the dawn than by making a fire it's one of the most human
rituals we have. When the time comes for me to add it all up, I'll
probably be a candidate for that "big fireplace in the sky (or wherever)." But I hope it'll be after an outside breakfast cooked on glowing coals in the face of a chilly morn.
I like fireplaces, too. When you think about it, most of our
environmental troubles in this country began at about the time
houses started being built without fireplaces. Alienation of modern man
from his environment, for me, is underlined by houses all over the country with their fireplaces cemented over, replaced by
central heating or ugly boxes that reek of not-so-natural gas. The culmination of it all has come recently with phoney fireplaces holding phoney logs giving off phoney warmth for plastic people in
no-deposit-no-return homes. No wonder some whole families grow
up without the slightest idea of what real life can be like.
I'd like to help those people by telling them a real fireplace is a
different matter. No theater, no TV, no circus and no magician can
-- hope to have the same effect on a small child or the whole -- family as does a fireplace.
A fireplace is for roasting chestnuts (Chinese now, American
yesterday), popping popcorn, drying boots and listening to tales of
A days gone by. fireplace is for those deliciously special nights when
snowflakes scatter themselves on the Southern countryside.
A fireplace is for turning out the lights and pretending you are
Abraham Lincoln reading by firelight. With poker in hand, a fireplace
*WHERE I GREW UP THE FIREPLACE WAS CALLED THE "FAR" PLACE. I LIKE TO THINK IT WAS CALLED THAT BECAUSE IT COULD EASILY CARRY YOU TO THAT DREAMY FAR PLACE YOU WANTED TO GO.

Decerpber 1975

1

12

Outdoors \t) Georgia

is for conducting a miniature fireworks display by jabbing
at black gum logs to produce purple sparks ( red oak gives blue
sparks, hickory red ones, and so on).
A fireplace is company. Not for company but company.
-- It is a truth that a person, bereft of other humans, can with a fire -- in a fireplace never be quite alone. Maybe it has to do with

something buried in the mists of our early history.
A fireplace can bring you peace. It can lead you down the

pathways in the back of your mind to the green valley. Watching the flames weave themselves around shadows you can never quite make

out, you find yourself transformed for a minute into the

person you should be.
A house heated only with fireplaces is what educators call a

"learning experience." Each morning the house tells you that if you

don't hit the floor and make a fire, you're going to be colder than a well-digger's bucket. The wood pile tells you that if you don't cut wood you're going to suffer.

-- -- These lessons are taught and re-taught every day, and pretty
soon the learner begins to understand that he and only he is

responsible for his comfort. It also tells him that he can do the job. I
-- think these lessons learned in the city or in a rural farm -- house just naturally developed people who were independent and took

care of themselves.

Maybe there is a better place to end a hard day's hunt than a rosy
-- warm fireplace but I haven't found it. They say that, with the

energy crisis, those of us lucky enough to have fireplaces in our homes
-- may have to rely on them for heat as well as company. It wouldn't
be too hard to take it would renew my acquaintance with my upbringing.

There's a poem I read in Gene Hill's book, A Hunter's Fireside

Book, that just about sums up the way some feel about

fires, firewood and fireplaces:

Beechwood fires are bright and clear

If the logs are kept a year.

Chestnut's only good, they say,

If for long it's laid away.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast,

Blaze up bright and do not last.
Elm wood burns like a churchyard mold;

Even the very flames are cold.

Poplar gives off a bitter smoke,

Fills your eyes and makes you choke.

Apple wood will scent your room

With an incense like perfume.
Oak and maple, if dry and old,

Keep away the winter cold. But ash wood wet and ash wood dry
A king shall warm his slippers by.

If we have to go back to warming our homes with firewood, that poem will come in handy. And so will our axes, saws, pickup

trucks and our memories of Christmases past.

<)

Decerpber 1975

Sound
*
Beagles ^v -s^\

By Joe Cullens
Photography by
Bob Busby and Jim Couch

The cutting chill of a wintry morning has ebbed to
the dull ache of sub-freezing cold as a waiting storm etches the sky with grey, icy tracks. But the stillness that grips the broomsaged landscape like the
iron grasp of a feeding hawk suddenly is broken by the shuffling of a dozen pairs of stubby paws
and the snuffling of six well-tuned black noses searching for an elusive cottontail.
Anxious beagles criss-cross the brushy field in ambling, circular fashion till one of them picks up a trace of that tell-tale odor rabbit! With a baleful yelp signaling the others in the pack, he's quickly surrounded by the other dogs as the pace quickens and the yelps increase in number and pitch.
A few yards ahead, the sage is scattered by
a rabbit on the run. Catching a glimpse of the fleeing cottontail, a rabbit hunter begins to coax the dogs in the right direction with a series of high-pitched calls which ring across the field and attract the other hunters in the group.

14

Outdoors ii? Georgia

After setting the dogs "on trail," the hunters relax and listen while the dogs do their work. "They've turned him" brings the group to attention, and they begin to separate and ready themselves. The rabbit still has the advantage, though, for he streaks past a hunter in bounding, zig-zag evasion and disappears into the thick brush near the head of the field.
The dogs are puzzled by the rabbit's typical trick
A of doubling back on his own trail. few more
maniacal yelps and they are on the scent again. This time it's to no avail, though, for the rabbit has found a hole and disappeared. The aimless barking of the defeated hounds is little consolation to the
hunters, who vow soon to return to that lair
and flush its resident for another chase. The chase is really what rabbit hunting is all about:
the air of excitement pervading a rabbit hunt can be equalled by no other dog-hunting experience.
Sure, there is that heart-stopping excitement when

Decerpber 1975

15

the air explodes with a flushed quail covey, or in the "treed" howl from a good coon hound. But these can little compare to the urgent desire to solve the mystery in the wily cottontail's whereabouts.
After all, when a bird dog is on point, or a coon dog hollers "treed," you know the game is right in front of him, either up a tree or a few yards ahead in the grass or brush. With rabbits it's a bit different.
A rabbit can jump just about anywhere, and usually
does, in full flight from that bunch of sniffing noses and discordant yelps. Though the cottontail is fairly easy
-- game a reasonably accurate shot will score a -- clean kill he has the element of surprise in his favor
and seems to be uncannily adept at taking advantage of the confusion of the moment.
Rabbits are noted for their tactics of evasion.
As in Joel Chandler Harris' stories of Brer Rabbit, briar patches often become their "laughing place." The rabbit's ability to head out in one direction and wind up back in the same place a few minutes later has been the bane of the beagle's existence since the whole thing began sometime in the fourteenth century.
For hundreds of years hunting was primarily a pastime for the nobility, and the forerunner of modern-day rabbit hunting was hare hunting in Europe. The hare hunts of those days were a far cry from the free-running outings of today.
The European hare can be compared best to the American jack rabbit. Hares are generally larger, with much longer ears and hind legs, than
rabbits. Biologically, hares belong to the genus Lepus, while the cottontail belongs to Sylvilagus. Hares tend to range wider than rabbits and are considerably
A faster. rabbit will usually seek a hiding place,
while a hare may continue the chase for a
considerable distance.
Beagles are the hunting dogs most commonly
associated with rabbit hunting, and are generally used in packs of four- or more. The origin of the breed is uncertain, though they probably are descendants
of the larger harrier hounds, common in the
hare hunts of the fourteenth century. Beagles were quite popular in England during
Elizabethan times, though the literature of that period indicates that they were used strictly for hare hunting. Their small stature and keen nosing ability almost dictates such a restriction, since beagles must essentially work close to the ground.
16

Outdoors ip Georgia

The little dogs never cease to be a source of

amazement with their almost precognitive sense of

smell. Unlike other hunting breeds who sniff

the ground intermittently, the beagle keeps his nose

to the ground almost constantly, only lifting his

head occasionally to sound a call for rabbit "found."
Rabbit hunters? Now that's a different story

entirely. There are still the classic hare hunts

on horseback, but American rabbit hunting has

developed into a sport all its own. There is a

dedicated air of disorganization, at times bordering on

chaos, with dogs barking and howling and hunters

doing the same.

The cottontail is a truly different quarry, and

a worthy one at that. Bounding out of a separate

exit hole, "ol' fuzzy tail" turns a hunter's eyes toward

a marshy branch, and the hollering, whooping bunch of
madmen on the loose sets the dogs to nosing again. Down the branch, an excited yip turns to

a jubilant wail as the dogs once again are on track.

This time they'll not be fooled by the rabbit's

quick moves. The hunters space themselves as the dogs
A turn the prey. jump, a turn, a twist, and a snap

of brush keys a hunter to direction, and moments

later a shot fractures the air. The chase is ended, yet

there is a sense of togetherness pervading the hunt that

must be felt to be appreciated. Hunters regroup
and unite with the dogs in common purpose to find

yet another chase to enjoy.

()

Decerpber 1975

17

The
Invaders
Our Unwanted
Wildlife

By Gib Johnston Art by Liz Carmichael Jones

Starlings are almost universally
despised because of the damage they do to buildings, statues, and
because of their greedy domination of bird feeders.

Consider for a moment the most
prolific wild birds in Georgia, the starling, the pigeon, the English
-- sparrow, and the cattle egret. They
have one thing in common they are
all introduced species (commonly called exotics). One was introduced naturally, one by accident, and two as the result of well meaning but
poorly planned experiments. Most of the "experiments" which
introduced these pest species can hardly be called experiments at all, for there was none of the objectivity necessary for good scientific control.
The desired results were decided on, and action taken, with no thought of
consequences.

Experiment, by definition, is "to try," and most introductions of exotic species fall under this mean-
A ing. deeper meaning is "an opera-
tion carried out under carefully controlled conditions to establish or
prove a hypothesis." From the consequences of some "planned" intro-
ductions, it is obvious that there
should be more control and less of the "let's try it and see if it works" attitude. Most problem ^plants and animals in Georgia are introduced
species.
Over the years experimental importation and stocking of wildlife species have been carried out for various reasons by a variety of in-

18

Outdoors ii? Georgia

terested people: misguided bird
lovers, upland game hunters, people who always think that "if it's foreign, it's better", and alas, by conservation officials. Luckily, most of these attempts met failure, but some did succeed. History shows that 44 non-
native species of birds have been intentionally released in the United
States, and who knows how many
caged birds escaped or were liber-
ated by individuals who kept no
records.
The most "successful" introductions that have grown into the "monster" class are starlings, house (English) sparrows, and pigeons.
The starling, Sturnus vulgaris, was
introduced in New York City in
1890-1891 by a wealthy bird lover
who thought America needed all
species of birds mentioned in the plays of Shakespeare. Although 5
previous attempts to introduce the starling had failed, the 80 pairs of birds released in Central Park began
a flock that 60 years later was breeding from coast to coast.
-- The "English" sparrow properly
the House sparrow Passer domesti-

cus, was released in Brooklyn and Portland in 1853-1854. It was so
successful that it became common
in the Mississippi River valley in only 30 years, and today is found in all parts of the nation.
Columba livia, the common pi-
geon, was brought to America from Europe as a domestic fowl, along
with chickens, geese, ducks, etc. Pigeon houses were part of every
settlement, and squab was and is a delicious treat. Pigeons usually weren't caged, so small groups and individuals easily became wild and used buildings for nesting sites (not unlike the cliffs and shallow caves in their native Syria). These birds now crowd towns and farmyards nation-
wide.
Think back to aircraft accidents caused by birds in the propellers or jet engines. Such birds are seldom identified but are usually starlings which congregate near the runways of our airports. They become monsters that pull planes from the sky.
House sparrows and pigeons have been identified as carriers of viral encephalitis, a killer of horses and

people. And pigeons, through the
filth of their nesting sites, can infect
humans with histoplasmosis and
blastomycosis, killer fungus diseases that are difficult to combat. These two introduced monsters can strike
people down without the slightest
physical contact.
The communal nesting and roost-
ing habits of these three birds cause millions of dollars of destruction to stored grains (by fecal contamination); deface public and private buildings; and are extremely irritat-
ing to the driver who parks beneath the wrong tree.
Another bird that might be included in the group is the cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis, except that introduction to North America was made without man's help, and they present no known filth or disease problems. These birds were first seen in Florida in 1942 and were seen in
Georgia in 1950. By 1961 this Afri-
can egret outnumbered our native
egrets.
Game birds have received atten-
tion in experimental stocking at-
tempts since colonial days. More

House Sparrow or English Sparrowwas imported to control insects but now has become a very
common pest.

Decerpber 1975

19

than 30 non-native species have been freed, but as with non-game birds, only 3 have been more than mildly successful, and none benefit the average Georgia sportsman. Those that have been successful occupied ecological niches different from those of similar native species. The Chinese ringneck pheasant, the Hungarian grey partridge, and the Chukar partridge abound in northern and western areas of our country.
But what of Georgia? What has
been tried? Records of attempts are sketchy, as unsuccessful experiments
have a way of being much less easy to recall than successful ones. Of the game birds introduced to Georgia in
the last 100 years, only one, the
Chachalaca, is now established; it is
represented by a very small colony on one of our coastal islands.
Some other stocking attempts in-
clude :
1. The Hungarian partridge, Per-
dix perdix; this bird did not sur-
vive.
2. The Ringneck pheasant, Phasianus colchicus; attempts by the

state prior to World War I proved
fruitless. Additional attempts in recent years resulted in stocking only for temporary hunting. 3. Migratory quail, Coturnix coturnix; these birds were imported
from Italy in 1875-1881. Some
shipments were of good, healthy birds. They bred with limited success for a few years, but due to migratory habits, most vanished southeastward over the sea.
4. Guinea fowl, Numida galeata;
approximately 40-50 were introduced on Jekyll Island about 1890, "apparently without permanent results." 5. Curassow, Crax rubra; this species was an attempt by the U.S. Biological Survey in 1923 on Sapelo Island with nine birds from Mexico. They seemed to withstand the colder Georgia winters fairly well, but only two remained by 1926, and these birds probably
did not survive much longer. 6. Oce Hated turkey, Agriocharis ocellata; five Guatemalan birds were released on Sapelo Island

and died within two weeks due to the weather. 7. Tinamou, Tinamus robustus; these 15 Guatemalan birds were introduced on Sapelo Island in 1923. None of these birds bred
or survived past 1926. Two other
species of Tinamou from Argentina were investigated in 1966, but
never released. 8. Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula; in 1923 the U.S. Biological Survey introduced 42 Chachalacas from the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico.
They nested in 1924 and soon scattered over Sapelo Island and neighboring Blackbeard Island. These birds now are definitely established on Sapelo but for some reason did not persist on Black-
beard Island. 9. Chukar, Alectoris graeca; this species was possibly introduced, but climatic conditions in Georgia were against the survival of this desert species. 10. Jungle fowl, Gallus gallus; released in 1963-1965, these birds
were more successful and some

A
Pigeon or Rock Dove was
imported as domestic fowl by the
early settlers. Flocks seen now
are descendants of those birds.

<-

20

Outdoors \ty Georgia

Cattle Egret: This common egret
from Africa is an example of natural introduction. First seen in the
mid-forties this is now one of the most common egrets.
still survive, though not in hunt-
able numbers. Hope exists that
this bird, which looks like a bantam chicken, will one day provide sport for middle and south Geor-
gia hunters.
Laws prevent introduction or im-
portation of exotic species without a permit from the Department of
Natural Resources. Many exotics
are already around and might be casually released by the unknowing.
December 1975

If you have heard about some

exotic "wonder bird" that you feel

would be an asset for your farm,

consider these questions:
What does it eat? What are its

nesting/breeding habits? Will it

cross breed with any native species?

Will it have detrimental effects on

man's crops or livestock? Will it in-

troduce diseases to native or domes-

tic species? Will it become a pest?

Will it compete adversely with native species? What biological niche
will it occupy? What native species occupies that niche now? Will it have

natural enemies or become a preda-

tor of native species?
Georgia now has bobwhite quail,

ruffed grouse, turkey, mourning

dove, woodcock and marsh hens,

among the finest game species to be found. No introduced species can

offer the quality of sport or the

esthetic beauty exceeding that avail-

able in our native wildlife.

(e)

21

Outdoorsman's

by Lt. V. J. Garrison

Quiz

All non-residents must have a license to hunt with-
in the state, unless . . .
a. They are under 16 years of age and hunting small game.
b. They are over 65 years of age. c. They are hunting on lands owned by them or a
member of their immediate family.
Shooting hours for migratory waterfowl during the open season are from . . . a. Sunrise to sunset.
b. One hour before sunrise until dark. c. One half hour before sunrise until sunset.
d. 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Hunters less than 16 years of age, when hunting
waterfowl . . .
a. Do not need a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp
(duck stamp).
b. Need an honorary duck stamp issued by the
state.
c. Must be accompanied by an adult. d. None of the above.
4. Persons hunting waterfowl on their own prop-
erty . . .
a. Must have a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp, but no state license is required.
b. Must have all appropriate licenses and stamps. c. Must have an honorary state hunting license and
a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp.
d. None of the above.
Ducks may not be hunted over . . .
a. Flooded standing crops.
b. Bait.
c. Public road right-of-ways.
d. B and C only.
The bag limit for wood duck is . . .
a. 2. b. 3. c. 5. d. 15.
22

7. Migratory waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway may
not be hunted with a shotgun . . .
a. Of less than full choke.
b. Larger than 10 gauge. c. Larger than 1 2 gauge. d. With a barrel shorter than 26 inches.
8. Game animals, including deer, may be hunted from
a boat, providing . . . a. It is anchored.
b. It is not moving under mechanical power (including sail power).
c. There are no more than two hunters per boat. d. The boat is under 16 ft. in length. 9. Ducks may not be hunted with . . .
a. Live decoys. b. Electronic calls.
c. Rifles.
d. All of the above.
10. Rabbits may be trapped, during the open season, with rabbit boxes on a person's own property . . . a. If the boxes are tagged with the owner's name
and address. b. If the person has a trapper's license. c. Only if he has officially reported crop damage. d. If not more than 5 traps (boxes) are used.

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Outdoors U) Georgia

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BcoH Reviews

JOHN MUIR'S LONGEST WALK
by John Earl, Doublcday & Co., 123

pp., $30.00.
When John Earl walked in my office the other day and handed me
a copy of his new book, I was taken

-- aback. First, authors don't usually
walk in our office we usually get
-- our review books by mail and sec-
ond, I didn't know we had a homegrown photographer of this caliber

around. I don't mean to slight our

state or its talent, but looking

through Earl's book 1 saw photo-

graphs which would do justice to

any photographer of anytime and

anywhere.

I had known John Muir had

walked from Kentucky to Florida,

and had written a book about it,
A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf. But I didn't know that Earl had re-

traced Muir's steps and captured

with his camera the pristine beauty

that still is wild Georgia.

As I have said, John Earl is a

A Georgia boy.

professional musi-

cian for twenty years, Earl became

involved in environmental issues. In
1969, he made a courageous decision. He changed careers, became a

full-time photographer, and concen-

trated his work on nature and con-

servation. In talking with John, 1 found he was an artist, using the camera as his medium. "I don't
know much about the technology of

photography, nor do I want to. All I know is that there are scenes and moods in nature that I try to cap-

ture."

Muir was a scientist, and his walk through the southeast was that of a scientist. The eloquence of his writ-

ing is often caught between sen-

tences, and not within them. It is

important that an artist retraced his

steps, capturing the impressions of

the spirit of nature that Muir had

described.

photo by James Earl

Earl's book is outsized, and I like

to think it is that way because of the

grandeur of the photographs and

not because it is the normal treat-

ment of a "photographic/art book."

The photographs are interspersed

between passages of Muir's writings,

and the interplay between the pho-

tographs of the artist and the writ-

ings of the scientist brings one closer

to a real impression of the southern

landscape than any other treatment

I can think of.
Make no mistake about it, this

book will grace any table anywhere.

Muir"s writings need no defense, and

John Earl's photographs have al-

ready been mentioned. What is

equally important is that the printing

and the color reproduction of the

volume are equal to the input of Earl

and Muir.

The book costs $30.00, which is

my expensive, but

feeling is that it

will become a classic. It is a superb

gift for special friends and loved

ones. After all, you would lay out that much money for a mediocre

kitchen gadget. This book will be

around for many, many years to come . . . and there is a return on

your investment each time it is

opened.
RM

FROGS AND TOADS OF THE WORLD
by Hilda Simon, J. B. Lippincott Company, 124 pp., $6.95 (hardbound).
The same thing can be said about this book that was said about Mrs. Simon's recent work on orchids: it may not be the final word on the
subject, but it is a basic, fundamental introduction to it.
Hilda Simon answers some of the questions about frogs and toads that most people probably were never interested enough to ask. She points out, for example, that there is ample distinction between frogs and toads; that warts don't sprout on the hands of those who hold the creatures; and that these amphibians
can help the gardener control planteating pests and help nature control disease-carrying insects.

One of the most interesting parts of this book deals with the author's
description of the creatures' unusual breeding habits. In most cases, frogs and toads lay an inordinately large
number of eggs (one species lays over 30,000 a year). While predators have a field day with them, a sufficient number survive to con-
tinue the species.
With others, however, a rather sophisticated system of brood care exists. Some adult toads, for example, carry eggs on their backs until they hatch. Others carry the eggs in their mouths until complete metamorphosis occurs; and others use pouches on their backs.
A highlight of the book is the
author's colorful illustrations. These
lend much to the descriptions, which
of themselves are quite vivid.
DC
POCKET ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CACTI
by Edgar and Brian Lamb, Macmil-
lan Publishing Company, Inc., New
York. 217 "pages, $5.95 (hardbound).
It seems rather strange to be reading a book about a rare plant form (for Georgia) written by a couple of Englishmen, but for those of us
who are interested in plants, this is
a very complete and concise reference on growing and caring for cacti and succulents.
Designed for the novice, this book contains good clear instructions on every phase of cultivation. There are chapters on soils, watering, fertilizing, propagation and grafting, diseases, and an excellent calendar indicating what to do and when for
the entire year, for the cactus grower.
The small notation on the dust
cover of this book, "Cacti in color," will probably rank high in the understatements of the year, for there are 326 of the most spectacular color photographs of cacti in bloom that you will ever see. If the photographic skill of the authors is an indication of their expertise in horticulture,
many people will be growing cacti with this excellent book close at
hand for guidance.
JGJ

Decerpber 1975

27

Rum Creek
Wildlife
Management
Area
FORSYTH

By Dick Davis
A new hunting area has been
opened in the heart of middle Geor-
gia's famed deer county. The Rum
Creek Wildlife Management Area has been established in Monroe
County by the Game and Fish Divi-
sion in cooperation with the Georgia
Power Company. The 4,000-acre area, including
two parcels of land under longterm lease from Georgia Power, is
now open for hunting of game during legal seasons. The management area

is adjoined by a power company construction site, and hunting is
prohibited here.
One portion of the Rum Creek
Wildlife Management Area borders U.S. Highway 23/Ga. Highway 87 on the east and Ga. Highway 1 8 on
the south.
The other portion is located along both sides of Holly Grove Road and is bordered on the east by Colvin Road and on the west by Ebenezer Road.
Rum Creek traverses both por-
tions of the wildlife management
area.

28

Outdoors it? Georgia

---'7
HUNTING AREA
Cr JB!M5/

Rd
**\ f'"^'\ ..^
L

HUNTING AREA

18N

^v.
"S.

Some wildlife species which are
found on the Rum Creek Manage-
ment Area include deer, quail, rabbit, squirrel, fox, raccoon, opossum, bobcat, mink, muskrat, woodcock, dove, and skunk.
All boundaries of both areas in which hunting is permitted are
marked with Wildlife Management
Area signs of the Game and Fish
Division. Privately-owned land borders both portions of the manage-
ment area, and hunters should make
sure that they are on land included in the management area.
From Forsyth, one portion of the

Rum Creek Wildlife Management
Area can be reached by proceeding east on Ga. Highway 1 8 to within a few miles of its junction with Ga. 87. The other portion can be reached from Forsyth by Juliette Road; go north approximately 4 miles to the junction with Holly Grove Road and
turn east.
From Macon the larger portion of
the area can be reached by proceeding north on U.S. 23/Ga. 87 and turning west on Ga. 1 8.
No area permit is required for hunting on the Rum Creek Wildlife
Management Area and no check-in

or check-out is required, but appropriate state hunting licenses are
necessary. Jack Crockford, Director of the
Game and Fish Division, said, "We
are pleased to be able to cooperate
with the Georgia Power Company in establishing and operating this new
hunting area in the middle of what are often some of the most productive game areas in the state. This is another example of industry and state government working together to provide increased recreation and sports opportunities for the people
of Georgia."

December 1975

29

Sportsrpaij's Calendar

T

E

NN

30

GAME ZONES
OF GEORGIA

DEER SEASONS
Hunters may take only legal bucks (visible antlers above hairline) unless otherwise specified; maximum limit will be two deer per hunter per year.
Hunting deer with dogs is illegal unless otherwise specified.
Hunting seasons on lands within wildlife management areas, state or federal wildlife refuges, and military reservations do not coincide with general regulations unless so stated. (See special regulations.)
STATEWIDE ARCHERY
Either-Sex, Sept. 27-Oct. 25. Theseason
closes Oct. 14 in Game Zone VI.
FIREARMS
GAME ZONE I
Buck Only, Nov. 1-22, and Dec. 26Jan. 1. Closed counties: Catoosa, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Murray Co. west of U.S. 411, Pickens and Whitfield.
GAME ZONE II
Buck Only, Nov. 1-29, and Dec. Jan 1.
Either-Sex, Nov. 20-22, and Dec. 30Jan. 1 in the following counties: Baldwin, Butts, Columbia. Crawford, Glascock, Hancock, Harris, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lincoln, Macon, Monroe, McDuffie, Newton, Peach, Putnam, Schley, Spalding, Talbot, Taliaferro, Taylor, Twiggs, Upson, Warren, Wilkes, Wilkin-
son.
Either-Sex, Nov. 22 and Jan. 1 in the following counties: Bleckley, Clarke, Coweta, Elbert, Greene, Heard, Houston, Meriwether, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Pike, Rockdale, Troup, and Walton.
Closed Counties: Bibb and Clayton
GAME ZONE III
Buck Only, Nov. 1-Jan. 1 Dog hunting, Nov. 1-Jan. 1, only in Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, and Thomas counties. Dog hunting, Dec. 13-Jan. 1, in Mitchell, Seminole, and Terrell counties. Dog hunting, Dec. 8-Jan. 1, only in Marion, Stewart, and Webster counties. Either-Sex, Nov. 8-19, in Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, and Thomas counties. Dogs may be used in all these counties.
Outdoors ip Georgia

Eithcr-Sex, Dec.
No dogs permitted.
Either-Sex, Jan.
No dogs permitted.

1-6, in Stewart Co. 2-3, in Early Co.,

GAME ZONE IV
Buck Only, Nov. 1-29, and Dec. 26Jan. 1, (except Johnson, Treutlen and Dodge Co.)
Buck Only, Nov. 1-1 1, in Truetlen Co. Buck Only, Nov. 1-29, in Johnson Co. Buck Only, Nov. 1-29, in that portion of Dodge Co. lying west of Ga. 230 and north of U.S. 280, and that portion lying south of U. S. 280 and west of Ga. 117 southwest of Rhine, Ga. Closed counties: Crisp Dog Hunting, Dec. 1-Jan. 1 in that portion of Johnson Co. lying east of Hwy. 15. Still hunting is also allowed during this period.
Dog hunting, Nov. 27-29 in that portion of Dodge Co. lying west of Ga. 230
and north of U.S. 280.
GAME ZONE V
Buck Only, First season, Nov. 1-29, and second season, Dec. 26-Jan 1. (Exceptions to second season: Worth and Colquitt and those counties and portions of counties whose normal season closes
Jan. 1).
Dog hunting, Nov. 1-Jan. 1 only in
the following counties: Clinch (except that
portion lying west of the DuPond-Haylow Co. Rd. and south of U.S. 84, and ex-
cept that portion lying northwest of U.S. 221); Echols Co. eas.t of U.S. 129 and
south of Hwy. 187; Lanier Co. north of Seaboard Coastline Railroad and east of the Alapaha River and southeast of U.S. 221. Hunting without dogs is also allowed.
Dog hunting, Nov. 22-29, in that por-
tion of Atkinson Co. lying south of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad and east of U.S. 221; and that portion of Berrien Co. lying east of U.S. 129, and south of Alapaha River, and north of Ga. 76, and west of Ga. 135. Hunting without dogs is also allowed.
Dog hunting, Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 28-
29, in Colquitt Co. Ware County, Nov. 1-29, and Dec.
26-Jan 1, Except that portion lying north of U.S. 82. Bag limit 2 bucks. Hunting with dogs allowed.
Either-Sex, Nov. 28-29, in Worth Co. Dogs are not permitted.
Closed counties: Bacon.

GAME ZONE VI
Dog hunting, Oct. 15-Jan. 1, in all counties except on Little St. Simons Island and portions of Pierce and Wayne.
Dog hunting, Nov. 1-29, only in that portion of Toombs Co. lying south of
Ga. 107 and Ga. 56.
Either-Sex, Jan. 2-3 in Burke, Effingham, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Scre-

ven, and Washington Co. Dogs not per-
mitted.
Either-Sex, Oct. 15-Feb. 21 on Little St. Simons Island. Fallow deer of either sex may be taken. Dogs not permitted.
Closed counties: that portion of Pierce lying west of U.S. 82 and southwest of Pleasant Hill Church Rd.; and that
portion of Wayne Co. lying west of Jesup
bounded on the north by Ga. 169 and the south bv U.S. 82.
SMALL GAME FOX-- No closed season, statewide; No
bag limit. Electronic calls may not be used. BOBCAT-Sept. 15-Feb. 28, statewide; No bag limit. Electronic calls may not be
used.
GROLSE-Oct. 18-Feb. 28 statewide; bag
limit 3 daily.
OPOSSUM -Oct. 18-Fcb. 28, in Game Zones I & IA, no bag limit. No closed
season in Game Zones II, III, IV, V,
and VI, no bag limit.
QUAIL-Nov.20-Feb. 28, statewide; daily
bag limit 12, (Possession 36)
RABBIT-Nov. 20-Feb. 28, statewide;
daily bag limit 10.
RACCOON-Oct. 18-Feb. 28 in Game Zones I and IA; daily bag limit 1. No closed season in Game Zones II, III,
IV, V and VI, no bag limit.
SQUIRREL-Sept. 15-Feb. 28 in Game
Zones I and IA; bag limit 10. Oct. 15-
Feb. 28 in Game Zones II, III, IV, V
and VI, bag limit 10.
TURKEY-Nov. 20-Jan. 1, in Decatur,
Baker, Thomas, and Grady Co. bag limit 2 gobblers (maximum limit per person
per year).

COOTS: Nov. 19 through Dec. 3, 1975

Dec. 17, 1975, through Jan. 20, 1976

15 daily: 30 in possession

GALLINULES: Nov. 19 through Jan. 20,

1976

15 daily: 30 in possession

MERGANSERS: Nov. 19 through Dec.

3, 1975

Dec. 17 through Jan. 20, 1976

-- 5 daily: 10 in possession
Except Hooded Merganser

1 daily; 2

in possession

SEA DUCKS: (Scoters, Eiders, Old

Squaws)

Nov. 19 through Jan. 20, 1976

7 daily; 14 in possession

Singly or in the aggregate

SNOW GEESE: (Includinc Blue Geese)

Dec. 22 through Jan. 20, 1976

2 daily; 4 in possession

ATLANTIC BRANT: Dec. 22 through

Jan. 20, 1976

4 daily: 8 in possession
Shooting hours on Nov. 19 and Dec. 17,

1975, for all ducks, coots, mergansers and

gallinules shall be from 12 noon until

sunset, local time. All other shooting

hours shall be from Vi hour before sun-

rise to sunset daily.

MIGRATORY BIRDS
RAILS: (Marsh Hen) Sept. 6 through Nov. 14, 1975 King and Clapper 15 daily; 30 in posses-
sion
Sora and Virginia 25 daily: 25 in posses-
sion
SNIPE: Nov. 20 through Jan. 23, 1976
8 daily: 16 in possession
WOODCOCK: Nov. 20 - Jan. 23, 1976
5 daily; 10 in possession

WATERFOWL SEASON
DUCKS: Nov. 19 through Dec. 3, 1975
Dec. 17, 1975, through Jan. 20, 1976 Shooting hours begin at noon, Nov. 19
-- and Dec. 17, respectively. All other days
during the season Vi hour before sun-
rise to sunset. 5 daily: 10 in possession
-- Wood ducks 2 daily, 4 in possession -- Black ducks I daily, 2 in possession
Season closed on Canvasbacks, Redheads and Canada Geese
EXTRA SCAUP LIMIT: In addition to
regular duck bag, an extra 2 daily and 4
in possession may be taken throughout
the season east (seaward) of Intracoastal
Waterway in Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, Mcintosh. Glynn and Camden Counties.
EXTRA BLUE-WINGED TEAL LIMIT:
For nine (9) consecutive days, Nov. 19 through Nov. 27, 1975, 2 daily and 4 in possession in addition to the regular duck
bag.

December 1975

31

Letters
to tlje Editor
Someone out there is reading. . . I would like to take this oppor-
tunity to write to you for a twofold
purpose. First to express my com-
pliments and satisfaction for an excellent magazine, Outdoors in Georgia. It is one of the finest sporting
magazines I receive at my home and
I get great joy and satisfaction in
reading it. You are to be compli-
mented on your format which has something for all types of sportsmen. I have no suggestions for improvement. Please keep up the good
work. My children do not read very
much, but they certainly enjoy the fine photography, especially when they can see places they have visited while camping or traveling around
the state.
Secondly, I would like to take
this opportunity to commend Sgt. Farrell Barton of the Law Enforcement Division and Mr. Ron Little of the Game Management Division
for the most excellent program they presented recently at Berry College. The program was entitled "Deer Lore" and it was enjoyed by every-
one in attendance. To be such a
rainy and terrible night, I feel the turnout was not disappointing. The
program made us forget the weather. Anyone who feels that "the men in
green" are always out to get you should have been at that program. It was not designed to tell us sports-
men what we were going to be "in
trouble" about, but to inform us
how we could be better sportsmen and get more game. I never really
completely understood until that
night what game management was all about and why controlled hunting was desired and needed. These two men, Sgt. Barton and Mr. Lit-
tle, should be heard by every
sportsman in this state. Again, my
compliments to them. The love that I have for the great
outdoors is something that no one can take away from me. and to be able to enjoy the great outdoors is one of the few remaining true free-

doms that we have. I want to thank
your department for the efforts
which have been made to preserve
this freedom and this joy. Kenneth E. Conner
Rome, GA
butterflies . . .
Thank you very much for the copy of Outdoors in Georgia maga-
zine with the excellent article on butterflies. I feel that articles, such as you have written, are a significant contribution to our efforts in the conservation of endangered and threatened species. Thank you very much.
Paul A. Opler U.S. Dept. of the Interior Office of Endangered Species and International Activities
old guns . . .
Your perceptive treatment of the reasons for blackpowder hunting was
only outdone by the excellent pho-
tographs by Bob Busby. I'm preju-
diced in favor of the pictures be-
cause I recognize in them the beautiful craftsmanship (and person) of
Jack Crockford, a man I much ad-
mire. Perhaps someday your staff could put the spotlight a little more
directly on him. In my opinion, he
is one of our State's most valuable
natural resources.
Jim Gilbert
GA St. Simons Island,
and Just a Dog was much more . . .
My husband and I are true Dawson County sportsmen. We have
both read many sportsmen books, but as we are in our mid-20s we
had never read the letter you pub-
lished in OIG (October 1975, Vol.
4, No. 10) about "Just a Dog." I have a Brittany Spaniel female, 9
years old; she is as much our fam-
ily as anyone could be. Like Mr. Ford says, "We've hunted a lot of thickets together." The dog in the sketch has eyes like our Spankie, so this beautiful, true love and hurt for the setter lost to Mr. Ford has
moved us to the point that second and third looks will be made before
my husband or I put a sight on
anything, bird, squirrel, deer, or even snake.
We would like to know more
about Mr. Corey Ford and his writ-

ing. Since we will always remember the eyes that have the brown of
October in them, in our dog, as well
as his.
Thank you for giving us a second
thought about extreme caution. I hope it will give the same to others.
Mr. and Mrs. John Dockery
GA Dawsonville,
This is in regard to the article
"Just a Dog" in the October edition of Outdoors in Georgia. This article
was of interest to me because my
husband and I are particularly sensitive and humane people and because our last name is Coggins.
My complaint is this: when Mr.
Ford wrote this letter to Mr. Sher-
wood Coggins it should have been
personal and sent directly to him. I can understand the hurt and anger Mr. Ford must have felt against Mr. Coggins for shooting on his property without permission and for shooting his setter. But when this letter was published, the name and address of Mr. Coggins should have been either changed or deleted because it reflects on others whose name is Coggins.
My husband and I are very hu-
mane persons and hope to raise our
children as such. We do not know
this Sherwood Coggins who lives or
lived in Georgia 34 years ago nor whether he was/is a humane person.
My husband and I are offended that
our name was reflected in such a story and hope that 34 years from now our children's name is not reflected in this manner of inhumanity.
Lucy Coggins R. Allen Coggins
By way of correction, please note
that all actions described in this story took place in or around Freedom,
New Hampshire, not in Georgia. We did not intend to defame all
persons named Coggins, all deer
hunters, or even those unfortunate
individuals who have been involved in hunting accidents. We republished "Just a Dog" by Corey Ford for two
purposes: to advocate safe hunting,
and to present an eloquent and moving statement by one of America's
most gifted outdoor writers. We
think "Just a Dog" accomplished
both.

32

Outdoors it? Georgia

Corpip Next Motjtlj...
A Under the Gold. historical review of Georgia's state capitol building.
Netmakers of the Coast. Jingle Davis takes a look at an ancient craft
which has been practiced since man began harvesting the bounty of the
sea.
Oasis. In all the years of black history in America there has been but one
repository of this rich cultural heritage, the church. Bob Lee takes a look
at a part of that culture and the institution that has held it in trust.
To Have More Quail. Ron Simpson, wildlife biologist, makes some
specific recommendations to land owners for increasing their quail populations. January is not too early to implement some of these
suggestions.
Season s (greetings to you and your family from (< Jutdoors in K^eorgia. VUhy
not give our wonderful world to some of your friends? LLse our convenient mailer today. JLet the gift of (Outdoors in K^eorgia be your way of saying lllerry i^hnstmas this year.

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