Outdoors
Georgia
Septeipber/October 1977 $1.25

George Busbee
Governor
Joe D. Tanner
Commissioner
BOARD OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Donald J. Carter Chairman
Gainesville--9th District Lloyd L. Summer, Jr. Vice Chairman
Rome-- 7th District
Leo T. Barber, Jr. Secretary
Moultrie-- 2nd District Dolan E. Brown
Twin City-- 1st District Alton Draughon
Pinehurst-- 3rd District George P. Dillard
Decatur--4th District Mary Bailey Izard
Atlanta-- 5th District James A. Mankin Griffin-- 6th District J. Wimbric Walker
McRae--8th District Walter W. Eaves
Elberfon-- 10th District
Sam Cofer
St. Simons Island Coastal District Leonard E. Foote
-- Waleska State-at-Large
James D. Cone Decatur-- State-at-Large
A. Leo Lanman, Jr.
-- Roswell State-at-Large
Wade H. Coleman
Valdosta-- 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
Geologic and Water Resources Division Sam M. Pickering, Jr., Director
Office of Information and Education David Cranshaw, Director
Office of Planning and Research David Sherman, Director
Office of Administrative Services James H. Pittman, Director

OutdOOrS \t) Georgia

Volume 7 September/October 1977 Numbers 9/10

FEATURES

Prince of Game Birds

Charles Elliott

2

Legal at Last

Gib Johnston 13

Guns and Loads for Dove

Aaron Pass 16

Special Section: Hunting in Georgia

21

Acres for Wildlife

Terry Johnson 29

Set Your Sights

Aaron Pass 34

Hunter's Forecast

Aaron Pass 38

.... Hemorrhagic Disease

Daniel K. Grahl, Jr. 41

Georgia Hunting Regulations

45

DEPARTMENT

Outdoors in Touch

Susan K. Wood 48

FRONT COVER: Dove painting by Dale K. Cochran. BACK COVER: Georgia's fall color. Photo by Mark Williams.

Phone-656-5660

MAGAZINE STAFF

David Cranshaw Aaron Pass

Editor-in-Chief Editor

Susan K. Wood
Bill Morehead Rebecca N. Marshall
Dick Davis
Bill Hammack
Rhett Millsaps . . .

Managing Editor
Writer Writer Writer Writer
Circulation Manager

Liz Carmichael Jones Michael Nunn Bob Busby Edward Brock Bill Bryant Jim Couch

Art Director Illustrator
Photo Editor Photographer Photographer Photographer

Outdoors in Georgia is the official monthly magazine of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, published at the Department's offices, Room 714, 270 Washington Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. Publication Number 217140. No advertising accepted. Subscriptions are $5 for one year or $9 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. 31,000 copies printed at an approximate cost of $16,500. The Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity employer, and employs without regard to race, color, sex, religion, or national
origin.
Change of address: Please allow 8 weeks for address changes to become effective. Send old address as well as new address (old mailing label is preferred).

New dear's Resolutions -
A Bit Early

By now, you've probably noticed that this issue of OIG is a bit thicker than usual. It con-

tains 16 additional pages this month, or should

we say months. For this is the September/Octo-
ber issue of Outdoors in Georgia. We have com-

bined two issues into this 1977 Fall Hunting

Edition.

This enlarged issue is in many ways a prece-
dent of things to come. We are now trying some

new ideas that we hope will improve an already

-- good product. Improve it in a way that you
the subscribers will approve and enjoy even

more.

Before I enumerate these proposed changes,

let's mention those things that this issue does not

signify. One is that we are not planning to start

a bi-monthly magazine. This is our first bi-

GAME monthly issue since the first days of

&

We FISH in 1966 (it was a quarterly).

intend

to maintain our regular monthly publication,

however, this fall we had to face realities. The

realities of a tight budget, of staff reassignment

and of being late all year finally caught up with

us. It became apparent that there was no way

we could get back on schedule without drastic

measures and we view the combination of two

We issues as that drastic step.

have made it our

-- primary goal to get back on schedule during
1978 sort of an early New Year's resolution.

We may not make it on time every month next

year, but we will do better.
Now for some positive changes. This issue is

our first attempt at an expanded format since

July 1971. This is something we see very defi-

nitely in the future. Admittedly this combined

issue made this expansion possible, but we are

definitely planning more enlarged monthly is-
sues. We are charging you more for the maga-

zine this year; it's only fair that we give you

more.
We also plan to deliver more in the way of

stories and photos. Last year we conducted a

readership survey which gave us a better idea of

what you wanted to see. In 1978 you will begin

to see it. More stories of substance about Geor-

gia, her natural resources and their manage-

ment, more hunting, fishing, and outdoor rec-

reation, more things to do and places to go for

the reader. These plus some other new concepts.

These are not really changes in OIG's direc-

We tion, merely a refinement of it.

are not going

to be different, but we are going to be better.

The differences will not happen all at once but
gradually. We hope you like our direction and
-- we hope you will give us your opinions good
and bad. That is the way we make sure that our

direction and yours is the same.

OiLtrv^. 14^4

Septerpber/October 1977

prince ofGame Birds

By Charles Elliott

IJie picture could not have been more
striking or colorful even in oils by an Old Master. But this was no dead scene to be studied in detail, no tableau of frozen life, but rather a living, breathing drama against a tapestry of golds and greens and azure, and tense with
expectation.
Two immobile pointers, one the color of old
ivory and the other a lemon and white backing a few yards away, stood with heads and tails high, the essence of concentration. Beyond them in the golden sedge we knew that a covey of bobwhite quail crouched against the ground, aware of our approaching footsteps that momentarily would explode them like fragments of a brown bombshell into an unpredictable
pattern.
I licked my lips and gasped for an extra breath of air. The man whose pulse does not
beat a little faster and whose systolic pressure does not jump a point or two under these circumstances is better off playing dominoes in a
monastery".
We walked slowly on, our gun barrels pru-
dently angled skyward, our fingers ready to reach for the safety catch and then the trigger
when the birds' legs and powerful wings catapulted them out of the grass.
The point was perfect; the quail covey left
the earth with a roar. In keeping with the un-
written rules of quail shooting, my partner on
the left concentrated on the covey segment that flew in his direction and I picked out a bob
barreling to my right. Just as I put my line of
sight on him and swung for the proper lead
that would let my shot string engulf him in
flight, he disappeared behind the brown trunk
The following is Chapter One of the 1 93-page book, Prince of
Game Birds: the bobwhite quail published by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. & 1974

Bob Busby
of a tree. I needed a fraction of an instant to pick up another white-throated male and this
one was in the open. My lead was right and my
A second choice folded neatly in flight. clean kill.
The pointer closest to me had seen my bird
go down. At a word, he broke point, raced to where the bobwhite lay belly up on the carpet
of brown grass, picked up my trophy with a
gentle mouth, brought it back, and lifted his head until I could take it out of his mouth. Then
he looked up at me and laughed as only a happy
dog can.
My partner had taken out two birds on his
side and the other dog brought them back with long, bounding strides. With the gun in the crook
of his arm, my companion held up the brace of
bobs and admired them. "I saw generally where the singles went
down," I said. "We've got enough birds out of the covey
for this trip," he replied. "Let's save the rest
Outdoors ip Georgia

for later and try to find another bunch."
He again looked at the quail in his hand. "No doubt about it," he said, "This is the prince of game birds."
The dogs took off again in a rhythm of their own that covered the winter woods as far as we could see ; we followed more leisurely, skirting the far edge of the field and hillside where leafless trees marched down to the rim of a narrow swamp.
"The first bird that I put my gun on ducked
behind a tree and flew straight away," I said. "I'd probably have missed him anyway."
My partner, who had followed the bobwhite
coveys all of his mature life, chuckled.
"Ten to one," he said, "that if we could
prove it, we'd find that he deliberately put that tree trunk between you."
"Do you think," I asked, "that any bird has
got that much sense? Wouldn't it be instinct
instead ? '
Septen?ber/ctober 1977

Bob Busby
He looked at me like he was putting his
sights on the tail feathers of a bobwhite rooster.
"No sir-ree. You writers and technical peo-
ple harp a lot about the instinct of critters, and
to a certain degree you may be right. There's
a very thin line between instinct and intelli-
gence anyway. From more than fifty years of
chasing after quail, I know the bird is smart. I've seen them pull stunts that I couldn't attribute to anything but thinking their way out of a tough spot and you have seen it, too."
I assured him that I had. I remembered that on a plantation where I had hunted often, there was one covey that always flew toward the hunting wagon, horses, and handlers when it blasted off the ground. Somehow the birds had learned that we would not shoot in that direction. The occasional stray that deviated from this pattern was gunned down, but the bulk of the covey knew the direction in which
their safety lay.

It might be instinct that makes a covey lie close against the earth when the dogs are staunch on point, but someone smarter than I will have to decide whether its thought processes are working when the quail runs for a nearby thicket so dense that when it does take to the air, the odds are very much in its favor. I'm sure also that it is more than instinct that
inspires a covey or a single bird to fly almost out of sight, set its wings as if it were going back to earth, then over a little rise, or beyond the cover of trees or brush, pick up again and fly another hundred yards. These are only examples. There are hundreds of others.
Intelligence, however, is only one of the factors that makes the bobwhite quail the beau
ideal of game birds in those states where it is abundant. Another is the generous hunting season, which is longer than for most other game. The Georgia season usually runs from some-
time near Thanksgiving to the end of February. The bobwhite is one of the most popular of
all game species with the wife of the average hunter. After years of living with a man who
stayed out all night after raccoons, opossums,
or foxes, who got up in the wee small hours to make long drives to some distant spot for a dawn hunt for deer, ducks, turkeys or whatever, a friend's wife asked him, "Can't you
guys find something to hunt that doesn't get up in the middle of the night?" She was a bit
more affable when our hunting activities revolved around quail. Although we sometimes made early starts to unfamiliar territory so that we could locate coveys by hearing their dawn calls before they left the roosting site, we ordinarily got away after the breakfast hour, which would put us in the field after the dew or frost had gone and the coveys had moved around and left enough scent for the dogs to find them. The morning and late afternoon hunts were always more productive, but under good field conditions we could find quail throughout the
day.
There is something special about each type of hunting that separates it from all other kinds : this usually centers on features peculiar to the species of game. Deer hunting and camp-
ing may go together, as do boats and blinds and big water for geese and many species of
ducks. With quail it's pointing dogs and brown fields and winter woods.
The prince of game birds has many traits that put it in a class all its own. To say that

speed and strength of wing are among these characteristics is not saying enough, for many birds fly faster and others have greater ma-
neuverability. But the quail's explosive takeoff and ability to get beyond range thru the thickest of tangle leaves even the most expert wingshot breathless.
Perhaps the most distinctive habit that helps to stand the bobwhite at the head of his class as the most popular of upland game birds is that of crouching against the ground and remaining motionless only feet and sometimes inches from the nose of a dog, until a hunter towers Over and almost steps on him. It is true that some of the other game birds as the woodcock, ruffed grouse, and on occasion the ring-
neck pheasant will hold this way to a point, but
such birds usually occur in singles, so that the gunner has only one target on which to concentrate, instead of the quail covey's explosion of bodies.
When danger threatens, the birds in a covey
flatten out and conceal themselves as nearly as possible in whatever cover they happen to be using at the moment. Herbert Stoddard, who
is the most noted authority on quail, told me
long years ago, even before his great book The Bobwhite Quail appeared, that this trait results from the birds' association with the Cooper's hawk, one of the quail's most persistent predators. The scream of a hawk, or the
sight of one, usually freezes the birds into immobility. Their coloration is so blended into the terrain that not even the sharp eyes of the
hawk can spot a bird on the ground. Woe to
the individual bob or hen that panics, for it is likely to end up in the stomach of the raptor.
But the bob's holding to a point is not a hard and fast rule. As every hunter knows, some birds in the same area will hold while others will run instead of crouching, especially where
A the cover is thin. "false point" often means
that the birds have moved on. More than often, if they stay on the ground, a good dog can find them again, and where the cover is dense enough to hide them, they may hold to a point.
I am probably typical of the quail-hunting
clan, especially the older members who have been at it for decades. One of the pleasures in
the hunt is watching good dogs at work, another is enjoying the charm of a Southern winter day, and still another is relishing the fellowship of companions. But the greatest pleasure of all is experienced in that tense moment when
Outdoors ip Georgia

the dogs are on point and I walk in with a

measured tread as though each step were the

My last I'd ever take.

throat is constricted and

I may even be a little uncertain on my feet.

Even after fifty years, that is what walking up

to a pointed quail covey does to me. Most old-

time quail hunters feel the same way. You might

think we'd quit abusing ourselves in this man-

ner and take up some other less nerve jangling

outdoor pursuit. But there is no cure for

bobwhite-itis, once you are infected with the

disease.
There are two reasons why the quail hunter is so tense. One is that he doesn't know exactly
what is going to happen, and the other is that he does know. If the covey hasn't flushed wild

before the hunter comes in sight, or run off from the dogs, he knows that every step he takes should trigger some violent action. It's

like holding a lighted stick of dynamite ; it could go off at any second.

Septen>ber/ctober 1977

The dynamite explodes; although lie knew
it would, tlif hunter is never quite ready for it.
The birds are in the air and the sound of wings
drums against his ears. He must pick one bird
out of the bevy, because aiming in the general direction of the group and pulling the trigger
is a sure way to miss. If the hunter's got a quick, sharp eye, he may be able to select a white-
throated male, or sec two birds crossing at a focal point and try for both with one shell.
There is no fixed pattern to a covey rise. Each one is different from the last. In a thicket, the
bobs and hens may dodge through trees or
flare upward over the topmost branches. In the
open they may fly away in a bunch or scatter
in all directions. At times they've gotten off
the ground and barreled so straight at me that I've had to duck to keep my hat from being
-- knocked off or so I thought.
The covey's gone. If the hunter has kept his equilibrium and poise long enough to get off an effective shot or two, he may have one or a
brace of quail on the ground.
Many nimrods I know prefer single bird
shooting over the covey rises. "It's one against
one then," an old swamper told me, "and I got a better chance than when I take on the
whole bunch." If he is experienced with quail, a sportsman
will get in his blows on the covey rise and then watch the singles down, or if they fly out of sight, he at least knows the direction in which the majority of the covey has gone. The birds
may scatter when the covey erupts, but usually
a large percentage fly in the same direction and go down reasonably close together. There
is no set distance of flight. It may be a hun-
dred yards into a thicket or swamp, or the
birds may fly a quarter of a mile or more
through fairly open territory. Single bird shooting is another of the dis-
tinctions that give quail hunting a flavor all its
own and make it different from almost any other type of wing shooting. If the birds get up out of range or the hunter's shot strings go
astray on the covey rise, he almost always has chance to redeem himself.
Although the hunter marks the location where he has seen the singles scatter out and go to
earth, finding them again may not be quite as simple as it would appear. Some speculate that
the air flowing against a quail in flight washes
much of the body scent out of the feathers and when' he hits the ground he may either run a
Outdoors ip Georgia

short distance to more suitable cover or burrow

into the vegetation on the spot and be com-

pletely hidden. Maybe there is some substance
to the idea because I have often wondered if my

dogs had suddenly lost all sense of smell, when

after much kicking and stomping around I've

been startled by a bobwhite who has flown out
of the grass under my feet from a spot the

dogs had covered half a dozen times.

Another mystery for the experts to solve is

why one day a man can find a dozen or more

coveys of birds on a morning hunt, and a couple

of days later he can't get one point or raise
one bird over the same course. We know that
-- quail are not tourists not to a great extent -- at least but how a hundred birds can simply

vanish in two or three days and then appear

-- again a few days later

when scenting and

-- other conditions have remained the same has

many a hunter pulling at his wig.

Quail shooting is ever and eternally full of

surprises. Even false points by the dogs have

their moments of anticipation. No matter how

keen a nose the four-footed hunter has, or how

much bird sense, there are times when he may

be completely fooled. Several creatures must

carry odors very much like that of the quail ; an

example is one of several species of small

sparrows that live in vegetation close to the

ground. Every hunter has seen his brag bird

dog swing and freeze so suddenly on point that

he might have been looking a bob or hen right

in the eye. Many's the time I've walked up to
such a point with my throat tight and my pulse

pounding, only to flush a wisp of a sparrow

out of the grass. In the parlance of the seatter-

gunner, these are known as "stink birds." The

old pointer or setter thus hoodwinked is ob-

viously embarrassed, and will nose around a

bit more as if to insist, "Well, a quail has been

here sometime", or he'll look up with his eyes

rolled back as if to say, "Sorry, boss. I guess I

goofed. '

I owned an ancient pointer with an excellent

nose. With anything that smelled like a quail

he never took a chance, and sometimes when

he'd get going on the stink birds, you'd think

he had forsaken quail forever. The little stinkies

must have smelled mighty good to him, but

when one would dart away in front of his nose, lie was ham enough to try to laugh it off. He'd

roll out his tongue, look up at me with the most

ludicrous expression, and wait for any invec-

tives he must have thought he deserved. But

Septen?ber/ctber 1977

I'd only shake my head at him and he'd bounce
a couple of times as though it were a brand new ball game and take off in any direction he
-- thought a covey might be or another stink
bird.
A creature that must smell good to a dog is
the terrapin, or "gopher," as he is known in the southern part of the state. Dogs often point one of these and there is some question as to whether they really confuse it with a quail or just like the smell. Occasionally a dog will gal-
lop back to its master or trainer, proudly bearing a terrapin in its mouth as if to say, "Here's something that tastes better than a bobwhite."
But all these are merely little side excitements of the hunting day. The real drama begins when the dogs are down in such a way that they know, and the hunter knows they know, that a covey of bobwhites crouches in front of them, alert and ready to take to the air. If the hunter is a bit slow in getting up to the point, the birds
may have scurried off just far enough to flush wild and make any shot either impossible or
most difficult.
On the other hand the birds may lie so close
that the hunter is in the middle of the covey before it flushes and goes off to all points of
the compass. At such a time it would seem easy to down a bob or hen with each shell in your gun. But the careful shooter must pause long enough to see where the horses or vehicles stand, where all dogs and companions are located, to make sure that the bird is in the clear with
nothing in front of it but trees, brush, or open space. One can usually count on most targets being in a safe spot, but it doesn't pay to take
a chance.
Occasionally a covey is smart enough to flat-
ten out and let a brace of men march right through it and beyond. Then it roars off the ground and flies away behind the party. This is by no means an unusual maneuver.
Another one that no hunter, as far as we know, has ever explained is how completely a mass of single birds can disappear, without leaving a trace. Often the fields and woods are open enough and the visibility good enough to pinpoint the birds when they go down. But as
far as finding even one single is concerned,
those quail may as well have flown into a gopher
hole. The dogs can't smell them and tramping back and forth through the area won't flush even one bird.
If a fellow spends enough days hunting, this

V

li&U

Bob Busby
Outdoors it? Georgia

happens numbers of times in the course of a
season and never fails to leave many a sportsman trying to solve the puzzle. I was hunting
with a friend on his south Georgia plantation
where over many years he has maintained a maximum population of quail. Finding several
coveys around a field or in one strip of woods was not unusual, and once on a covey rise two more groups of birds got up at separate points
and flew with the covey we had flushed. We
stood and watched them go down in an open wooded area about 300 yards away.
"We should get some mighty fine single shooting out of that place," my host declared.
On our way to the spot where the birds had landed, we rode up a fourth covey, which flew
into the same strip of woods. "That head must have a hundred quail in it,'.'
I exulted. "Hope we've got enough shells."
We walked into the woods, our guns ready.
The dogs went ahead of us, casting back and
forth to cover every quarter-acre in that flat.
We spent a good half-hour there, tramping out
every bit of the dense cover, with the dogs ranging around us without getting a point or having the first bird flush anywhere in sight.
Even if the quail had hit the ground running and pulled the old military maneuver known as getting-the-hell-out-of-there, some of them at least should have left enough scent to be trailed. But those four coveys simply vanished without having a grain of powder burned at them.
This is one of the mysteries of quail hunting
that makes it such a fascinating sport. More
often, of course, the singles are there to dish
up a brand of gunning that only a bobwhite in flight can provide.
In a covey, the bird that has always intrigued
me and a lot of other nimrods is the "sleeper." No one has ever been able to tell me whether this is the most stupid member of the family
group, or one of the most intelligent. Often, after the covey rise, with the bang-bang-bang of the shooting, the yelling between hunters, the bounding of dogs to pick up dead birds, and the general tumult in this climatic moment of the hunt, one bird will roar up in the middle
Septerpber/October 1977

of all the confusion and fly away with dogs and hunters looking open-mouthed after it. If anyone ever comes up with the explanation of
the sleeper tactic, all of us old quail hunters would like to hear it.
One of the charms that makes quail shooting special is that it's a "team" sport, whether we're talking about the lone hunter and his dog
or the social ritual of plantation hunting with horses, handlers, and several shooters.
No other type of shooting gives a man such
rare fellowship with his dogs, which are an integral part of the hunting team. It's true that where quail are plentiful, an outdoorsman
versed in the habits of this game bird could walk alone and in the course of a day find a few bobwhites on his own, but this is the most difficult kind of hunting I know; the lone
hunter is lucky if he can stumble on one or two coveys. The pointers, setters, shorthairs, what-
-- ever breed is used the dogs add a whole new
dimension to the rewards of the hunt. The greatest satisfaction any quail hunter
can have is teamwork with a well-disciplined dog that he himself has trained from a puppy.
He knows the animal's personality, its strong
points and faults, just as the dog knows him and will respond to his instructions, whether they are given by whistle, hand signal, or voice. The fellowship with his dog or dogs and watching them work is one of the things any outdoorsman looks forward to as much as pulling the trigger on his gun.
Dogs find birds either by catching scent borne on a wisp of breeze or clinging to the low vegetation through which the quail have fed. Some dogs are considered "winders." They go to a covey with head held high, following the thread of body odor. Other dogs, the "trailers," work more slowly along the scent trail left by the covey on the ground. To watch either type of bird dog cast back and forth and work out the
scent pattern is one of the joys of quail hunting.
One of my dedicated quail-hunting partners,
who is even a few years older than I, thinks that
most hunters these days do not feel as close to their bird dogs, or know them as well as the

---
y-*
older sportsman did a few decades ago. "Then," he said, "it was like having one
of the family around. He had the run of the
place, and there were no sixty-mile-per-hour automobiles to run him down if he ventured into the street. In the evening, around suppertime, he'd come in and lie down by the wood fire on the hearth and act the gentleman in every way.
Two or three times during the season, I'd catch
a train to south Georgia to hunt with a friend. They let the dog ride in the railway coach with
me and when we got there, he stayed in my
hotel room. In those days I was not only better
-- acquainted with my hunting dogs I had the
best I've ever owned."
Some of my younger friends still have almost
the same association with their pointers and setters, except now it is usually necessary to
-- -- keep the dogs for their own safety confined
to kennels or on a chain in the back yard. But in the field a dog is one of the team, as a friend and as a part of the hunting ritual.
As one of my old swamper buddies observed, "A dog is like a people." Each, naturally, has
his own distinct personality, with all the traits or character any human might have, and a bird dog is no exception. One dog will tackle any
kind of a briar thicket if he thinks quail are there and the next explores every route around
it. One animal finds pleasure in gently retrieving a dead bird and the other chews it flat, no matter what the training or admonition. Most bird dogs have a passion for chasing a rabbit; with some it's a mania.
10

Many times I hunted in the southern part
of the state with a friend whose dog was an inveterate cottontail chaser. There seemed to be no breaking him of the habit. The farmer whipped his dog with the dead rabbit, stuffed it half down the animal's throat and almost choked it, and even hung the bunny around the dog's neck until it was putrid. In exasperation
he started shooting at his pointer every time it
jumped a rabbit, but was careful the dog was far enough away so that the No. 8 pellets would do no more than sting its hide.
The pointer didn't give up its rabbit chasing, possibly because it had become an addiction, like smoking or drinking. But after the first few shootings, the dog was smart enough to
stay out of range of that shot string. If he
found a rabbit in the bed, or if one jumped up in front of him, the dog paused only long enough to look back and see how far away his master stood. If he were within shotgun range, the pointer passed up the chase. Out of range, he was gone like a bullet and all we could do was sit down and wait for his return.
A dog's personality, as well as the intelligence
and unpredictability of the birds, adds up to one more reason that quail hunting has a flavor all its own.
Just as it does in most outdoor pursuits, quest of the bobwhite brings out the mettle of any man. If you want to see what sort of fellow a
man is, take him quail hunting. Watch his reactions when he's wading knee-deep in briars, when the dogs false point, when the quail don't fly his way and the hunter or hunters with him seem to get all the shooting, when he misses, and when he hits. Under these emotions he can
no more hide his basic character than he can
hide the color of his eye.
I made one quail hunt with a fellow; just one. I was on the verge of going into a business deal with him. In his home and mine he was a gra-
cious host and guest ; at a luncheon or dinner
he was the epitome of charm. He was a success-
ful businessman and our venture together looked promising. While not a dedicated hunter, he was familiar with a gun and had been in the fields and woods on occasion. I arranged
a hunt with my potential partner at one of my favorite quail-hunting places and he accept-
ed the invitation with great enthusiasm.
It was one of those cerulean days with a touch of frost at dawn and a bite to the wind that
made a fellow want to walk to warm his blood
Outdoors ip Georgia

and breathe deeply to clear his lungs. The dogs were alert and ready for action. They started out as though they intended to find every quail in the country that same morning.
Our first point came in the edge of an old field that ran along a narrow creek swamp. The
dogs held steady and sure. I was ahead of my
companion so I waited for him to catch up, and we waded in. The covey blasted off and I concentrated on that segment of the group that
angled away on my side. I folded one, swung
almost 45 degrees, and got another just before
it reached the swamp thicket.
"I got two," the guy yelled. "Great," I said. "We're off to a good start." Without waiting for the dogs, he raced over and picked up the first bird I'd shot and when
the pointer brought back my second bird, he
took it and said, "That's the other one."
Now a fellow knows when he makes a kill on any bird. He leads it right, pulls the trigger and,
allowing for the split second or so for his shot string to reach its mark, sees his bird go down.
It was conceivable that my gunning partner and
I had shot at the same bird that first fell, but if he had made a try for the second, he'd have
-- blown my hunting cap off or worse. When he
ejected only one spent shell, I knew the answer. "Nice shooting," was about all I could think
of to say.
That was the prophetic beginning of a most disturbing day. This guy, so gracious in the drawing room, seemed to lose all sense of values in the field. If he were nearest the dogs when they pointed, he didn't wait for me, but waded
-- right in and flushed the covey and usually
missed. When we shot together, he claimed the
birds on the ground, though a couple of times
when three went down, he did admit that perhaps I had been lucky enough to bag one of
them.
I really didn't mind all of this too much. I wanted him to enjoy the shoot, but some time after the middle of the morning when the action slowed down and he began to tire, he cussed the briars, the brush, and when he began to take his
feelings out on the dogs, I called it a day. I
didn't know how long it might be before he would start on me. You don't have to guess twice to know that I found an excuse to back out of the deal on which we had planned to work
together.
No doubt about it. Quail hunting brings out
the character of a man.
September/ October 1977

Prince of Game Birds: the bobwhite quail can be purchased through DNR's Office of Information and Education. The price is $5.50. Send check or money
order to Bobwhite Quail, Department of Natural
Resources, Room 719, 270 Washington St., S.W.,
Atlanta 30334.
Certainly not the least of the allurements
which make quail hunting special is the season of the year. With the exception of a few winter days when icy winds scour the countryside and
cold rains beat through leafless trees, Georgia weather is generally bright and cool enough to
be exhilarating and to make any man glad that
he can be outdoors behind a pair of eager hunt-
ing dogs. The green world of summer and the kaleidoscope change that came on its heels have faded to softer hues of brown grass and golden
sedge against an emerald background of pines and darker green live oak clumps in the more
southerly latitudes. To any dedicated quail
hunter this is the finest season of the year.
T. Craig Martin
11

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Outdoors ip Georgia

the compound bow

By Gib Johnston Photography by Bob Busby

As most hunters know, Georgia has become the last

state to legalize the compound bow. It can now be used

wherever bows are legal. Many hunters have hotly de-

bated the wisdom versus stupidity of the state's hesita-

tion on the compound bow, but it doesn't matter now.

HB It's the law. Section 45-503 of

792 as passed by the

1977 General Assembly says:

"Legal Weapons. It shall be unlawful to hunt

wildlife with any weapon except the following:

(a) Long bows and compound bows for hunting

deer are permitted only during the regular hunting

season and during the archery season for deer,

provided such bows have a minimum recognized
" pull

In the numerous requests and demands for the legali-

zation of the compound bow it was said, in most glow-

ing term, that this is the ultimate bow, that it shoots

straighter, harder, further, flatter and better than any
bow ever invented. We heard about how many more

deer would be taken, how fewer would be wounded,

how much easier it is to aim properly, how normally

poor archers would equal Fred Bear's skills, etc., etc. If

all or even some of these claims turn out to be true, then

it is correct; this is the ultimate bow.

However, it seems that the ultimate bow has been

invented before. Let's look back a couple of thousand

years or so.

No one will hazard a guess as to when the bow was

Septenjber/October 1977

invented. Reasonable evidence indicates that man has been hunting with a bow and arrow for more than 8,000 years. More food has been taken with this weapon than
with all firearms.
The ancient armies of the Hittites, the Assyrians, the Medes and the Persians had their archers; the expression "a parting shot" came from the practice of Parthian archers shooting from the rear of chariots as they fled a
battle scene.
Truly the bow was the ultimate weapon. With this bow it was possible to kill an animal (or man) without close contact with him. The distance achieved was much greater than was possible with sling or spear. Some
sages probably envisioned that this strangely curved
weapon would destroy the human race. But man found he was able to protect himself from
man, hence the invention of chain mail, a steel mesh
garment that made the wearer arrow-proof. Bowmen
no longer had the upper hand. Then around the 12th century, the cross bow came onto the scene. Again the "ultimate" weapon was at hand, and mankind was again doomed. The short bolts (arrows) from the cross bow could easily penetrate mail, horseman and horse, with disgusting ease and serious results.
The next evolution in this mad arms race saw the advent of the "knight in shining armor." Armored suits made of plates of solid, but thin, steel again made the mounted warrior the most fearsome warrior of all. The

Equipment and tackle courtesy: Georgia Archery and Sport, Athens, Ga.
and Ben Pearson Archery Company
longbow was his weapon. The cross bow, although
-- powerful, was slow capable of only three shots per
minute as opposed to the 12 plus for a longbow. Sometime before the 14th century, Welsh peasants
developed what was to become known as the English Longbow. It was a powerful bow. It could drive an arrow through a 3Vi inch oak door and would pierce the armored leg of a knight, go through the saddle and blanket and end up somewhere deep on the horse's side.
A good archer was expected to put 12 arrows in a
target 240 yards away in one minute. The ultimate weapon?
So, for centuries one or the other variation of the
bow has been "the perfect weapon." The Turks among others invented a method of laminating bows with horn, making light, yet powerful bows that were capable of
propelling arrows 800 yards upwards. During this period
the bow became useful more as a sporting weapon, since the advent of gunpowder had started the demise of the bow in warfare. Yet in 1964 the Purple Heart was awarded an American soldier for arrow wounds received
in combat.
-- The recurved bow a bow that, when drawn, bends -- the tips away from the archer came about sometime
early in this century. It was also an invention of the
Turks. Several modifications of this recurved bow followed, but nothing really new was developed until the middle of this century when the compound bow was developed. At last (and again), the ultimate bow.
Now hunters are divided in their opinions of the
latest in ultimate weapons. Before this goes any further, and if it hasn't already
become obvious, I am not a fan of the compound bow. They are ugly. They remind me of a fine fly rod with a
power winch. With all the advance geometry and
physics involved, I don't see how anyone can still classify any of them as primitive weapons. Seems to me that
dragging one of those things, with the extra strings and wheels through anything but an open field would be more than I would be up to. It would probably take 20 minutes to clean the limbs and leaves out of the mechanism. Granted, as far as Rube Goldberg devices go, it's
a beauty. But to me real beauty is the graceful lines and subtle geometry of a good recurved bow. The recurved
-- bow just looks like something to hunt with not a thing
with which to impress your friends.
14

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But that's just my opinion. Yours will likely differ
and that's fine, too. In the interest of impartiality, I have spent a good
many hours over several weeks shooting compound
bows. I've used all kinds, from the most complicated
and expensive to the most simple. And you know, those who clamored for the compound bow were right. The
shooting characteristics of these bows are super. This
was not my first time with the compound bow, but it was my first time for some serious shooting wtih the newly legalized weapon. And I finally got so I could get decent groups. The contrast between the two types of bow takes
some getting used to. The flat trajectory and the increased speed are the most noticeable features other than the confusingly soft pull. In short, I like the way these monsters shoot. But I don't like it so much that I'm willing to pay the necessary price for a good compound.
With archery deer season approaching, many long-
time bowhunters will, at last, be legally enjoying using
the compound bow for hunting, and many hunters will be taking up the bow for the first time.

Outdoors it? Georgia

An adjustable eccentric wheel and an Allen wrench
used for adjusting it. These provide for the tinning and turning of compound hows for correct roll-over and a change in the percentage of weight reduction. Note the tinning marks on the wheel.
A bow press is used to hold and compress a compound bow for modifications and adjustments.
September/October 1977

Hopefully these hunters have not been taken in by all the wild claims that have been made about the wonderful attributes of the compound bow. It, like any
other bow or weapon or tool, is no better or worse
than the user. So, practice those spectacular shots
you've been told are possible with the compound. They
are possible, but it's up to you. No matter which type of bow you use, there is absolutely no difference on the
deer end of the shot. The arrow must hit the right spot. There is no guarantee a new compound bow will
A make you a better bow hunter either. study done by
an archery shop in New Jersey and published in Archery World magazine shows that since New Jersey legalized the compound bow three years ago, 67% of the hunters
have gone to the compound, but there are no more deer being killed by archers. Hunter success is about the same; the number of deer taken by first time hunters are about equally divided between recurve and compound shooters.
As for those long shots you're looking forward to making, you might be interested in the new world
record, set last September. In flight competition (for distance only) an arrow was shot 1077 yards, 3 inches.
The bow? It was a hand held, recurved bow. This mark was about 100 yards better than the best distance scored by a compound.
In the competition using hunting broadheads, the
compound was able to better the recurve by a whopping 26 yards. (459 yds. 2 ft. 8 in. to 433 yds. 1 ft. 9 in.) These bows were in the 80 lb. class.
Archery stores and sporting goods shops these days have a myriad of compound bows available. The prices range from a modest $65 to well over $250, so caution
is in order. When you shop for that dream compound bow, or any bow for that matter, find a store with a
bowhunter on the staff, and insist on good, firsthand advice. Ask to shoot the bow. Test drives are always in order. If it's what you like and want, buy it! Don't waste time trying to use your old arrows, get new ones that are matched to the bow. Then go home and practice.
It's only a few weeks till the archery season, so there is precious little time to become familiar with your new bow. Only through hours of shooting can you hope to approach the capabilities of the bow. Only a good
^ archer can be improved by a good bow. Your bow and
arrows are up to the job. Are you?
15

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Loads for Dove

Bv Aaron Pass
--
The mourning dove "mourning" from its mournful, cooing call and dove from the German, meaning dark-
-- colored bird is one of the most popular game birds in
the South. The origins of its name give no clue to the
tremendous attention this "dark-colored bird with the mournful call" attracts each fall with the opening of dove season.
Not only is the dove popular; it is democratic. It is favored not only by the powerful and influential, but also by anyone able to afford a shotgun and a fair number of shells. Thus the traditional opening day of dove season in early September finds bankers and butchers, industrialists and shop keepers, and politicians and plebeians all squatting in a film of sweat, under skimpy shade, being bitten by the same bugs waiting for the chance to shoot at dark-colored birds.
The main reason for this egalitarianism is the difference between the dove and its habitats and the more traditional game birds. Quail exist in comparatively low densities on large tracts of land and successful hunting depends on limited competition, good dogs and access to good habitat. Doves concentrate in feeding areas,
Bob Busby
This line-up should tickle any dove hunter's fancy.
From left to right: Semi autos; Remington model 1100, Browning model 2000, Franchi 520 (also shown
X above), Winchester Super model 1, SKB 300XL,
pumps; Remington model 870, Ithaca model 37, over/under; Browning Citori.
Septerpber/October 1977

dogs are not necessary (a good retriever makes things much more fun) and the more hunters (up to a point)
the better to keep the birds moving. Few people can
afford an exclusive quail lease, but almost anyone can afford the daily rate for a dove shoot.
Also while the brushy "left-out" fields and edge so important to quail are declining in this era of big business agriculture and forestry, doves don't mind the big fields and stands of pine trees. These elements are quite compatible with the doves' needs.
There is little of the traditional mystique and snobbish hoopla associated with the accouterments of dove hunting. There are quail hunts where the absence of a necktie might not lead to expulsion but will raise eyebrows. Dove shooting is not so demanding. About the only way to violate the dress code of a dove field is to show up in white T-shirt, a red football jersey, or some other colorful attire that spooks the birds.
Seldom are the super-light doubles of the quail field seen at dove shoots. Even the affluent shooters show up with workhorse autoloaders or pumps. The reason is pure practicality. Dove fields, when they are good, mean lots of shooting in an afternoon, and the light guns, particularly fixed breech doubles, deliver a lot of punishment backward in the course of 50 or 60 shots. Most popular dove guns are the recoil buffering gas operated autoloaders, and next are the sturdy pumps whose weight is a compensation for recoil. More and more over-unders are seen since the choice of two chokes is sometimes desirable.
The argument over the optimum gauge for dove shooting (and for other wing shooting sports) is an old one and will probably go on and on. The truth is all popular gauges, 12, 16, 20, 28, and even the diminutive .410 will reliably kill doves. It is just that some do it more reliably than others.
There are dove shoots restricted to .410 caliber shotguns only. These are the supreme test of wingshoot-
ing ability, because it is damn difficult to hit anything moving with a .410. Its small shot charge, when forced down the tiny bore, comes out as a long, patchy string
of pellets providing little margin for shooter error. It also has range limitations and most successful shooting
17

This chart shows the relative spreads of the three most
common hunting chokes in this country. Improved-
cylinder offers the greatest area of usable pattern at
some loss of long range efficiency.
is at considerably closer range than that of larger gauges. If one must shoot a .410 at doves, the best place to do it is either alone or at a .410-only dove shoot
where competition from larger gauges does not make a
tough proposition worse.
The 28 gauge is a more efficient shotgun than the .410. It is not often seen because its ammunition is relatively scarce and expensive. Also it throws a light shot charge and is a pretty tough gun to shoot well.
The 12-16-20 gauge class of guns are the meat and potatoes of most field shotgun shooting. Probably about 90 per cent of everything that is shot on the wing falls to one of these gauges. The reason is simple. These are the gauges which throw an ample amount of shot in a reasonably good pattern and with which most shooters can
score a reasonable percentage of hits.
The truth is that gauges do not kill doves nor anything
else. Neither does the height of brass at the shell's base.
What does kill flying game and break clay targets is the swarm of pellets flying in a loosely organized mass which intercepts the target's flight. The hard ballistic fact of life is that the more pellets in the denser mass
provides statistically better chances for a hit or multiple
hits. The multiple hit concept is most important on game, because while one pellet will break a clay target,
18

it usually takes several pellets to effect a clean kill on a game bird.
Doves are small birds, and they are relatively fragile. There is no need for heavy pellets, but there is a need for a dense cloud of small ones. Shot sizes IV2, 8, or 9 are perfectly adequate for all dove shooting.
Every shotgun charge fired has weak spots in its pattern. This is not too important when shooting at a goose
or a pheasant because the size of the target is usually larger than the holes in the pattern. (If your shotgun consistently throws patterns with open spaces a goose could fly through, you might consider trading it before dove season.)
Shotguns in the 12-16-20 gauge class are about right for most of us. The 12 is functionally superior because it throws more shot better than either of the smaller
gauges. The 16 is almost as good, but this gauge is losing popularity because it is sandwiched between the 12 and 20. As shotgun loadings have progressed and more
diversified load combinations are offered, there is less
A difference these days between the gauges. 12 gauge
with a light load or a 20 gauge with a heavy one covers the 16 gauge's traditional niche. If you have a 16 gauge
go ahead and shoot it; the doves don't know that it's not
a 12 or 20.
The 20 gauge is a fast comer these days because modern loadings take it right up to 12's backdoor. 20
Outdoors \t) Georgia

% gauge loadings from up to 1 Va ounces of shot can be
had, although one must go to magnum shells for the
heaviest loads. Still, though, the 20 is ballistically inferior to the 12 because the small bore "strings" the
shot. That is, the same amount of shot going down a smaller tube forms a longer column and out at 30 yards the column is longer still. This stretched out pattern is apt to have more thin spots for targets, or doves, to slip
through. Actually this difference, though real, is pretty mar-
ginal in practical field shooting and a good shot with a 20 will generally top a duffer with a 12. Which goes to show that any shotgun delivering from 1 to 1 Va ounces of IVi or 8 shot can reasonably be called a dove gun.
In 12 gauge shells commonly available the best shells are the 1 Vs or 1 Va ounce loadings. The so-called
"pigeon" loads of 3Va dr. equiv. of powder and Wa
ounces of IV2 or 8 shot are superb dove loads. The high brass or "high power" express shells are really not

Guns and equipment courtesy: Chuck's Firearms, Buckhead The Gunroom, Smyrna
The wise shotgunner will check out his favorite smoothbore vAth a variety of loads to find what combination gives the best efficiency.

Septerpber/October 1977

19

necessary and deliver more recoil for no significant gain

in effectiveness. The so called 1 ounce "dove" loads in

1 2 gauge sold at bargain prices are really not such bag-

gains. They reduce the 12 gauge to the 20 gauge class.

While the patterns are theoretically superior, one might

as well go and shoot a 20 for the snob appeal.

The 16 gauge shells are commonly available in 1 and

1 Vs ounce loadings. Go with 1 Vs ounce if possible.

% Twenty gauge field loads are available in

and 1

ounce loadings. The 2% inch magnum shells give 1 Vs

ounces and the 3 inch magnum delivers 1 Va . It is doubt-

ful that the magnum shells are worth the difference in

cost and recoil.

What choke to use is an extremely variable question;

perhaps the best answer is a variable choke. It seems

that there is an unwritten law in dove shooting which

provides that the doves always fly wrong for the choke

you are using on any given day. If by chance you have

an open choke the doves can be counted on to be leav-

ing vapor trails through the stratosphere. The next time

you show up with a full choke and the birds try to land

in the eight foot tall sumac bush you are using for shade

and a blind. Actually, on some exclusive shoots, one

could move to where the doves are moving at a gener-

ally reasonable altitude for the gun at hand. Moving

about the field is generally frowned on at the many

paid, semi-public shoots these days. You stay where you

draw or are assigned, period. In such instances a vari-

able choke device is really a plus, but if that extraneous

20

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(Top) The variable choke offers the most versatility in

chokes but is a bit ugly. (Bottom) This lineup shows the

-- A differing payloads of, from left: .410 3 oz.,

--% -- 29 ga.

oz., 12 ga. IVs oz.

blob of metal on the end of your gun barrel bothers you,

go with modified. This is probably the best all-around

choke for today's catch-as-catch-can dove shooting.

Taking the average of all this, the seemingly optimum

dove gun would be a gas operated autoloader in 12

gauge with a modified barrel. It would be loaded with

A pigeon loads of 3V4

dr.

equiv.

and

X
\

ounces of #8

shot. This combination would carry on from opening

day through the end of the season. It wouldn't be per-

fect for all situations but would perform reasonably

well in most.

^

Outdoors ip Georgia

Hunting in Georgia

It is a simple thing to ask someone how the
hunting in any state or region is, but generally it is not quite so simple to answer. Just to say
"It's good" or "It's bad" isn't much help, particularly since "good hunting" often carries
different meanings for different people. Basically, what most call "good hunting"
involves an abundance of game animals and enough room to safely enjoy the sport. Like most species, game animals annually produce a surplus of young to insure an adequate breeding stock for the next mating season. It is from this surplus that the hunter takes his harvest ; and on this abundance he must depend
for the quality of his sport.
So he is dependent on a variety of favorable natural conditions : an ample supply of food,
water, cover, and "elbow room" are some of
these. Animals are selective, and they will live and breed to abundance only in an environment which fills their needs. To further complicate things, different animals have different needs, so terrain which offers good hunting for one species is not necessarily productive
for another.
By this definition, Georgia has good hunting for most of the game species native to the
state, for there are plenty of the natural resources that produce an abundant supply for the state's hunters each year. These resources are diverse, so they produce an enviable variety
of game. On the whole, Georgia hunting is good. The question of elbow room often concerns
the sportsman who doesn't own land. Finding a

place to hunt can be a serious problem for
many Georgia hunters, but often this problem
can be solved merely by knowing where to
look for public land.
The largest blocks of public land in the state are the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The 781,700 acres of forest land in these areas is open for public hunting according to state regulations. Nearly 300,000 acres of this
national forest land is included in the AVildlife
Management Area system of the Game and
Fish Division, Department of Natural Resources. There are more than 40 Wildlife Management
Areas under strict supervision by the Game
and Fish Division's biologists and conservation rangers. These areas are managed to produce good conditions for wildlife. The management area system includes more than 1.5 million acres of land which, because of the strict control, produces high quality hunting for the sportsman.
More public hunting is available on military posts, although civilians must get permission from the Post Provost Marshal.
By far the greatest portion of hunting land
in Georgia is owned by private timber
companies : over 3 million acres. Many of these
companies allow hunting on their land, and a few have instituted fee hunting on some areas, using the income to manage wildlife habitat on the lands.
Overall, the prospect for Georgia hunters is
encouraging, both now and in the future.

Edited by Aaron Pass Revised 1977 by Brenda Lauth

Septerpber/October 1977

21

Wildlife Management Areas

Georgia's Wildlife Management Area System is the average hunter's
best opportunity for good sport on public land. Including more than 1.5 million acres in 48 separate areas scattered over the state, this system provides an abundance of public hunting and other outdoor
recreation.
Most areas are supervised by a refuge manager who oversees management operations and enforces wildlife regulations. As a result of these efforts, the Wildlife Management Areas usually produce better
wildlife populations than the surrounding areas.

NORTH GEORGIA Allatoona WMA: 17,000 acres near
Cartersville. Deer, squirrel, quail,
rabbit, dove. Tommy Jenkins. Berry College WMA: 30,000 acres
near Rome. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail. Donnie Bagley.
Blue Ridge WMA: 42,000 acres near
Dahlonega. Deer, squirrel, grouse, raccoon and turkey (spring). H. C. Cruce and W. R.
Sutton.
Chattahoochee WMA: 23,000 acres
near Helen. Deer, squirrel, grouse, raccoon and turkey
(spring). A. C. Abernathy.
Chestatee WMA: 25,000 acres near
Turner's Corner. Deer squirrel, grouse, raccoon. Roosevelt Key.
Cohutta WMA: 95,000 acres near
Chatsworth. Deer, squirrel, grouse, raccoon and turkey (spring). J. G. Dover and Hugh
Greeson.
Coleman River WMA: 1 1,000 acres
near Clayton. Deer, squirrel, grouse, raccoon. Bruce Youngblood.
Cooper's Creek WMA: 34,000 acres
near Dahlonega. Deer, squirrel, grouse, raccoon. Eugene Burn-
ette.
Coosawattee WMA: 30,000 acres
near Ellijay. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, grouse, raccoon. Stanley
Harris.
Dawson Forest WMA: 10,000 acres
near Dawsonville. Deer, squirrel,
rabbit, quail, raccoon and some
grouse. William Thacker. Hart County PHA: 945 acres near

Hartwell. Deer, rabbit, quail, dove.
Johns Mountain WMA: 23,000 acres
near Calhoun. Deer, squirrel, raccoon, turkey (spring). Raiford
Russell.
Lake Burton WMA: 13,000 acres
near Clayton. Deer, squirrel, grouse, raccoon, turkey (spring). Allen Padgett.
Lake Russell WMA: 17,000 acres
near Cornelia. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, raccoon. Harold Waycaster.
Little River WMA: 17,000 acres
near Canton. Deer, rabbit, quail, squirrel. Ted Touchstone.
Pigeon Mountain WMA: 17,500
acres near LaFayette. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon. Lawton Mas-
singill.
Rich Mountain WMA: 45,000 acres
near Ellijay. Deer, squirrel, grouse, raccoon. Randal Hensley.
Swallows Creek WMA: 1 9,000 acres
near Hiawassee. Deer, squirrel, grouse, raccoon. Fred Schuler.
Talking Rock WMA: 20,000 acres
near Jasper. Squirrel, rabbit,
quail, raccoon. Danny Dobson.
Warwoman WMA: 14,000 acres
near Clayton. Deer, squirrel, grouse, raccoon. George Speed.
MIDDLE GEORGIA
Baldwin State Forest: 2,500 acres near Milledgeville. Rabbit, quail, squirrel, dove.
Big Lazer Creek WMA: 2,700 acres
near Talbotton. Deer, squirrel, turkey (spring).

Carroll County PHA: 21,000 acres near Whitesburg. Deer, squirrel,
rabbit, quail.
Cedar Creek WMA: 30,000 acres
near Monticello. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, dove. Joe Bilderback. Central Georgia Branch Station: 12,000 acres near Eatonton. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, dove, turkey (spring). Jerry Crews.
Clark Hill WMA: 15,000 acres near
Thomson. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, dove, turkey (spring). Ronnie Thomaston. Fishing Creek PHA: 2,400 acres near Washington. Deer, rabbit, quail, squirrel, dove, waterfowl.
Oaky Woods WMA: 28,000 acres
near Kathleen. Deer, quail, rabbit, squirrel, dove. Larry Ross.
Ocmulgee WMA: 36,000 acres near
Tarversville. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, dove, turkey (spring).
Bob Watson.
Ogeechee WMA: 24,000 acres near
Warrenton. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, dove, turkey (spring). Joe Smallwood.
Rum Creek WMA: 5,200 acres near
Forsyth. Deer, squirrel, rabbit,
quail.
West Point WMA: 6,200 acres near
LaGrange. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, dove, waterfowl, turkey (spring). James Hackley.
SOUTH GEORGIA
Albany Nursery: 300 acres near Albany. Dove. Bill Wilson.

22

Outdoors in Georgia

Aitamaha Waterfowl Area: Near Darien. Waterfowl, snipe, rabbits, dove. Eugene Love.
Arabia Bay WMA: 45,000 acres
near Homerville. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail. Robert Kilby.
Brunswick Pulp & Paper Area:
60,000 acres near Jesup. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, fox, bobcat, raccoon. Ross Knowlton.
Bullard Creek WMA: 16,000 acres
near Hazlehurst. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, turkey (spring). Wendell Deloach.
Chickasawhatchee WMA: 24,000
acres near Albany. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, dove. Keith O'Mary.

Dixon Memorial Forest: 37,500 acres near Waycross. Deer, quail, rabbit, squirrel. Wallace King.
Grand Bay WMA: 9,000 acres near
Valdosta. Deer, squirrel, quail, rabbit, dove, waterfowl, raccoon, opossum. S. L. Strickland.
Hazzards Neck WMA: 12,000 acres
near Brunswick. Deer rabbit, quail, squirrel. David Edwards.
Horse Creek WMA: 16,000 acres
near Jacksonville. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, waterfowl. Herbert Adams. Lake Seminole PHA: 5,000 acres near Lake Seminole. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, waterfowl.
Bobby Stubbs.

WMA: Little Satilla

15,000 acres

near Patterson. Deer, squirrel,

rabbit, quail. Ross Knowlton.
Muskogean WMA: 19,000 acres

near Jacksonville. Deer, squirrel,

quail, rabbit, waterfowl. Stephen

Belew.
Rayonier WMA: 19,000 acres near

Nahunta. Squirrel, rabbit, quail.

Ross Knowlton.
Sapelo Island WMA: Deer. C. V.

Waters.
Suwannoochee WMA: 23,000 acres

near Valdosta. Deer, squirrel,

quail, rabbit. Jim Coleman.

Tennessee
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Septerpber/October 1977

23

INDUSTRIAL FOREST LAUDS

Finding hunting land is perhaps the major problem facing today's sportsman. Permission to hunt on private lands is difficult to obtain, but perhaps even more difficult is finding the owner of the land to ask permission.
Many of the forest industries in Georgia have vast
acreages which they allow hunters to use if permission is requested. In fact, more than three million acres of industry-owned lands are open by permission in Georgia each year.
As a public service, we provide this list of forest
industries to aid sportsmen in obtaining permission

to hunt. The list was compiled in cooperation with the Southern Forest Institute. Hunters are reminded to respect the owner's property and to abide by any company rules.
The Department of Natural Resources, in publishing this list, does not guarantee that hunting privileges will be granted by any company or on any land. The Department reminds hunters that they must have the permission of any landowner, including forest
industries, before hunting.
No information is available from the Department about the location of this land. Maps may be available
from some of the companies.

To request information and hunting privileges from the various companies, contact:

Armstrong Cork--S. L. Anderson, Manager, Woodlands Division, Armstrong Cork, P.O. Box 4288, Macon, Georgia 31208.
-- Brunswick Pulp Land Company George M. Ference, Forest
Administration Manager, Brunswick Pulp Land Company, P.O. Box 860, Brunswick, Georgia 31521. Container Corporation of America-- Paper Mill Division, North Eighth Street, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034; also John Johnson, Area Forester, Container Corporation of America, Waycross Area Headquarters, Box 1884, Waycross, Georgia 31501; Walt Branyan, Area Forester, Container Corporation of America, McRae Area Headquarters, P.O. Box 237, McRae, Georgia 31055; Ed Pope, Area Forester, Container Corporation of America, Cussetta Area Headquarters, P.O. Box 58, Richland, Georgia 31825.
-- Continental Forest Industries lands leased by private hunting clubs
will be posted and are for members only; land open to the public is marked with white boundary bands and signs with "Continental Can." No prior approval necessary for open company land. If land is closed it will be well marked.
-- Georgia Kraft Company Woodlands Division, P.O. Box 1551, Rome,
Georgia 30161; also District Managers, P. H. Brewster, P.O. Box 103, Coosa, Georgia 30129; C. H. Everett, 500 Spring Street, Suite 205, Gainesville, Georgia 30501; J. H. Colson, 2031 Devenshire Drive, Columbus, Georgia 31904.
Gilman Paper Company-- St. Marys, Georgia 31558; J. G. Fendig, Manager, Timber Division, Gilman Paper Company, St. Marys Kraft
Division, St. Marys, Georgia 31558; Fred Crosby, Gilman Paper Company, St. Marys Kraft Division, St. Marys, Georgia 31558;

Charles Goodowns, Route 15, Box 150, Maxville, Florida 32265; Ray Gore, P.O. Drawer 548, Day, Florida 32013. Great Northern Paper Company--W. W. War, Timberlands Manager, P.O. Box 44, Cedar Springs, Georgia 31732. International Paper Company-- Bill Tomlinson, Wildlife Specialist, Woodlands Division, P.O. Box 518, Georgetown, South Carolina
29440. ITT Rayonier-- P.O. Box 528, Jesup, Georgia 31545; also, Thomas E.
Evans, Area Supervisor, ITT Rayonier, Inc., Eastman, Georgia 31023; Raymond Johnson, Area Supervisor, ITT Rayonier, Inc., Waycross, Georgia 31501; C. B. Smith, Area Supervisor, ITT Rayonier, Inc., Swainsboro, Georgia 30401; Danny House, Area Supervisor,
ITT Rayonier, Inc., Jesup, Georgia 31534.
Langdale Company--Gene Quick, Contract Administrator,
P.O. Box 1088, Valdosta, Georgia 31601.
-- Owens-Illinois Harry Bumgarner, Manager, Southern Woodlands,
Owens-Illinois, Inc., P.O. Box 1048, Valdosta, Georgia 31601.
St. Regis Paper Company--W. J. Robertson, Chattahoochee Forest,
P.O. Box 686, Lumpkin, Georgia 31815; J. C. Biggert, Flint Forest, P.O. Box 38, Warwick, Georgia 31796; E. N. Cooper, Suwannee District, P.O. Box 115, Fargo, Georgia 31631.
-- Union Camp Corporation George Gehrken, Woodlands Division,
P.O. Box 570, Savannah, Georgia 31402.
-- West Vaco Corporation John Wilson, District Forester, Route 3,
Box 26, Winnsboro, South Carolina 39180; A. W. Craig, Route 5, Box 395A, Union, South Carolina 29379.

24

Outdoors in Georgia

COMMERCIAL SHOOTING PRESERVES

The following1 list includes facilities which were verified in 1977 or were listed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation's 1976-77 directory of commercial shooting preserves. . It is not an endorsement of the services offered by any preserve.

The commercial preserve season runs from October 1 through March 31. For hunting on preserves only a special non-resident license may be purchased for
$5.25.

Commercial Shooting Preserve Notchaway Hunting Preserve 1-75 Hunting Preserve Marsh Hunting Preserve Ogeechee Lodge
Ashburn Hill Plantation Quailridge Shooting Preserve Warrior Creek Plantation Little River Farm Edgewood Kennels and Hunting Preserve
The Home Place
Callaway Gardens Hunting
Preserve

Address 205 W. Main Street
Colquitt, GA 31737
2501 Oak Street
Valdosta,GA 31601
Route 3
Statesboro, GA 30458
Route 4, Box 392
Savannah, GA 31405
P.O. Box 128
Moultrie, GA 31768
Box 155
Norman Park, GA 31771
Route 3
Moultrie, GA 31768
75 N. Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30228
P.O. Box 81
Calhoun, GA 30701
Hill City Rural Station
Resaca, GA 30735
Pine Mountain, GA 31822

Marben Farm Hunting Preserve Attaway Farms Redbone Farms Hunting Preserve
Riverview Plantation Sowatchet Plantation

Mansfield, GA 30255
Route 3
Wrightsville, GA 31096
P.O. Box 354
Barnesville, GA 30204
Route 2, Box 225
Camilla, GA 31730
Box 609
Bostwick, GA 30623

Pulaski Hunting Preserve
Hudmar
Tallawahee Plantation Buddy Parrish and Sons
Wayne County Hunting Preserve

Route 3
Hawkinsville, GA 31036

P.O. Box 868

GA Reidsville,

30453

Route 5, Box 204
Dawson, GA31742

Box 38
Pavo, GA 31778

Route 1, Box 62
Jesup, GA 31 545

Contact Person/ Telephone
T. W. Rentz, M.D. (912)758-3313 Converse McKey (912)242-3764 Wendell Marsh (912)587-5727 Jack Douglas (912)925-4459
F. R. Pidcock (912)985-1507
Edwin Norman
(912)769-3201
Gene Reed no phone George Ivey, Jr. no phone Wayne Elsberry (404)629-8154 W. C. Floyd (404)629-7102
Dutch Martin (404)663-2281 Atlanta 688-8542
Columbus 324-2234
B. C. O'Boyle (404)786-3331 Robert Attaway, Jr. (912)864-2318 A. N. Moye, Sr. (404)358-1658 Cader Cox, III (912)294-4904 David Morris (404)342-1574 Atlanta 523-4680
Lonnie E. Slade (912)892-9623 David E. Hudson (912)557-6441 J. E. Bangs (912)995-2265
Buddy Parrish (912)859-2411 H. E. Ogden no phone

Game
Availcible
Quail
Quail
Quail Quail, Boar, Deer, Duck,
Dove
Quail
Quail Pheasant, Quail
Pheasant, Quail Pheasant, Quail
Quail
Pheasant, Quail
Quail Quail, Dove, Deer
Quail Quail, Duck Deer
Pheasant, Quail Pheasant, Quail
Quail
Quail
Quail

County
Location Baker Brooks Bulloch
Chatham
Colquitt Colquitt Colquitt Fulton
Gordon Gordon
Harris
Jasper Johnson
Lamar
Mitchell
Morgan
Pulaski Tattnall Terrell
Thomas Wayne

Septerpber/October 1977

25

GAME SPECIES
DEER
Slim and graceful, the whitetail
deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the classic symbol of eastern hunting

and the most popular big game animal in the state. The fact that more
than 175,000 Georgia hunters seek this elusive quarry each year is one of the brightest success stories in wildlife conservation, for it points out the effectiveness of modern
game management techniques. The whitetail deer was virtually
extinct in Georgia and most of the Southeast at the turn of the cen-
tury. By the Civil War, most of the
state had been cleared for agriculture and except for the mountains and the river bottom swamps there was almost no deer habitat left even these refuges offered little protection from heavy hunting with no control or restriction.

Since World War II much for-
mer cropland has been "let out" to grow back to forest. This return to woodland was augmented by a whitetail deer restoration program and strict game law enforcement by
the Game and Fish Division. Today
deer are numerous in all but the
metropolitan counties of the state.
Much good deer range is open to
public hunting, although middle Georgia probably is the favorite
area.
There is plenty of good deer range open to the public. Deer hunters must secure permission before hunting on private land and should check current hunting regulations for seasons and firearms limitations.

SQUIRREL

The gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and the larger fox squir-
rel (Sciurus niger) are the second
most popular game animals in Georgia. This popularity is due mainly to their statewide abundance and easy accessibility, which encour-
ages the hunter with limited time to seek squirrels. The gray squirrel
is the best known of the two since it is found all over the state. The
fox squirrel is limited to the pine
thickets and farmlands of Central and South Georgia.
The gray squirrel feeds on the fruits and buds of hardwoods and makes his home in hollow trees, so he is a resident of mature hardwood forests. The increase of hardwood

acreage over the state has been good for gray squirrels and the population is increasing. In fact, a special early season has been established in North Georgia to better harvest this abundance. The statewide season usually begins early in October and runs through February.
There are two major differences of opinion regarding squirrel hunting. One is whether to stalk or sit. The stalker moves quietly through the woods seeking his quarry, while the sitter stays put and lets his target come to him.
The second controversy involves the appropriate armament. There are riflemen who insist that the .22 rimfire is the classic choice and the

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RABBIT
The eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) is the main
character in that traditional local
drama which takes place each fall and 'winter. Each hunter probably has his own vision of this event to some it brings memories of an eager beagle pack on a hot trail, while others remember a solitarv

walk from brushpile to brushpile in hopes of a quick shot at a departing bunny.
The cottontail is a creature of the "edge," which means he prefers the brushy areas where forest meets cultivated ground. Brushy fencerows and gullies, abandoned farms, and grown-up fields are all good bets for the rabbit hunter. The bunnies seem to have a special affinity
for brushpiles, since this cover of-
fers them good protection from
natural predators. Many hunters
without dogs concentrate on the
brushpiles.

only sporting one. On the other
hand, shotgunners argue that the limited range of their weapons is a safety factor in settled areas, and that a running squirrel is a tough target, even for a shotgun. Both sides have valid points and, once again, personal preference is the deciding factor.
The dedicated rabbit hunter, however, generally has a pack of beagles, which are rabbit specialists. To him the dog work is as important a part of the hunt as is
the rabbit.
Guns of all types are used for
rabbit hunting, but the preferred
arm is a shotgun, 12 to 20 gauge,
with improved cylinder or modified choke. Since rabbits are not tough,
field loads with #6 or #7V2 shot are quite sufficient. Good boots and
brush-turning pants definitely are
an asset when invading the briar
patches B'rer Rabbit calls home.

26

Outdoors \t) Georgia

TURKEY
The majestic wild turkey (Meleagris gallapavo) is a major test of any sportsman's hunting ability and woodscraft. The turkey's cau-
tion is legend, as is his super-sharp
A sight and hearing. successful tur-
key hunter can be proud of Ins achievement in bagging one of the toughest trophies in North America.
Unfortunately, this wily and elusive game bird lias lost a lot of ground in competition with what
man calls progress. The wild turkey
needs extensive stands of mature forest interspersed with small clear-
ings to supply his needs. He has a very low tolerance for human

neighbors and is among the first
wildlife species to leave an area in the face of development.
There now is new hope for a resurgence of this grand game bird. Much cropland has reverted to forest and is potential turkey habitat. The Game and Fish Division has begun a turkey restoration program
fashioned after the successful deer program.
All turkey hunting in Georgia is done during the spring gobbling season. This allows the harvest of gobblers only and protects the hens for reproduction.
Good camouflage, expert calling, and a centerfire rifle or 12 gauge

shotgun loaded with magnum #4 and #6 shot are necessary to bag
this smart and tough bird.

QUAIL
The beloved bobwhite quail
(Colinus virginianus) is only about 10 inches long, and weighs only about a half pound, but for his diminutive size he has a tremendous impact on Georgia hunting. In a

state known as the "Quail Capitol of the World," where bird hunting means quail hunting. Gentleman Bob reigns supreme.
The name "Bobwhite" comes from the mating whistle of the
male, heard over rural areas of the state each spring, and it is in these farming areas that the quail is most at home. The bobwhite is classified
as farm game because he thrives in
the presence of agriculture. It was,
in fact, the small farm concept in the 1920s and 30s which developed a quail paradise and led to Georgia's fame as a quail hunting
center.
It also is unlikely that the aver-
age hunter will ever hunt in the stvle of the good old davs, when

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DOVE
The speedy mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura) is one of the favorite winged targets in Georgia, ranking right alongside quail in popularity. The dove is the most widely distributed game bird in America and is classified as migratory, although many of the birds harvested each season are produced
locally.
This plentiful, tasty game bird can be hunted with less effort than most other species, and the season
usually opens in early September,
when other small game hunting

still is a long way off. These attri-
butes only partially explain the dove's prominent place in the Georgia hunting picture, however. His
speed and renowned dodging under fire make the dove a real test of
the wingshooter's prowess. Drifting in against an open sky,
the birds appear to be flying slower than their actual 30 to 40 m.p.h. cruising speed. At the first shot the dove can turn on a burst of speed and a series of evasive maneuvers that leaves all but the best shooters with empty guns and equally empty game bags.

men on horseback and mulecart fol-
lowed braces of wide ranging pointers and setters across Georgia plantations. The modern quail hunter seeks his quarry on foot with one or, at most, two dogs. Gone too are the
days when single birds were spurned and shooting was limited to covey rises in the open. Today the hunter follows singles into the swamps and thickets where brush-turning pants are more a necessity than a luxury, and shots must be quick in the dense cover. Most hunters prefer a quick-handling, open-choked gun
for this fast shooting. Light weight
and good handling are more important in a quail gun than gauge, so 12, 16 and 20 gauges are used
effectivelv.
Camouflage or dull colored clothing is best, but there is no need to construct an elaborate blind if there is some ground cover and
the hunter can sit still. Any decent
shotgun from 20 to 12 gauge with
#7 1/> or #8 shot is sufficient. Many
hunters use overly tight chokes for doves: an improved cylinder or modified used at reasonable range is best for the average shot.

SeptenTber/October 1977

27

Besides the "big six" most popu-

lar game species, Georgia hunters are offered many opportunities to

take a variety of other species.

Some of these are found only in cer-

tain areas and others are limited in

unique styles. This precludes wide

general popularity but seems to

build great devotion in the partici-

pants.

Raccoons and opossums are

hunted by a dedicated fraternity of

hound-dog men. These stalwart in-

dividuals take great pleasure in

starry autumn nights, dog music,

and frenzied dashes through pitch

black swamps to where the dogs

have

'

'

' treed.

Slightly less frenetic are the

pleasures of the fox hunter. Since

he is out only for the dog work,

there are no arduous forays to

bayed quarry. Starlight, glowing

embers, Old Blue's chop and tales

retold are the fox hunters' trophies.

Another type of fox hunting is a

bit more adventurous. The predator

hunter uses calls, lights, and guns

and counts fox and bobcat his game.

By mimicking the sounds of a dis-
tressed rabbit, he attracts the nightprowling predators within range.
The wise predator hunter always will get permission from the landowner and explain his plans to the local Conservation Ranger since people with lights and guns in the
night usually are suspect.
Then there are more traditional hunting opportunities whose popularity is limited by geography. Duck hunters find Georgia as a whole to be pretty slim pickin 's. Really good shooting is limited to the coastal area in the vast expanse
of tidal salt marsh. Up country
beaver ponds offer sporadic shooting at migrant flocks.
Another salt marsh occupation is rail shooting. Locally called marsh
-- hens, four species of rails clapper, -- king, Virginia, and sora are sought
on the high fall tides. It is a strenuous occupation, for the shooter's boat must be poled through the marsh grass ; two hunters often alternate between shooting and exercise. The bag limits are generous.

The Wilson's snipe is a shore bird

found on the coast. This fine game

bird seldom is hunted in the South,

but is popular in the North. The

snipe can be a real challenge for

the wingshot, a quarry described

as "... a small bird surrounded by

vast quantities of air."

The woodcock is a cousin of the

snipe and likewise is more popular

in the North than here. This bird

migrates through Georgia in sub-

stantial numbers but seldom is

hunted because most hunters sim-

ply don't know where to look. The

river bottoms of the Piedmont and

upper Coastal Plain are the best

bets until the first hard freeze sends

the birds on south.

The ruffed grouse probably pre-

sents the most physically taxing

hunting opportunity in the state.

This bird has very definite northern

tastes and is found only in the high

mountains, where altitude creates

the proper conditions. In a world of

steep slopes and thick laurel, the

grouse hunter finds much up-hill

going.

^

28

Outdoors it? Georgia

Acres
for
Wildlife
By Terry Johnson
Wildlife Biologist
Photography by Bob Busby

The most serious threat to Georgia's wildlife is habitat destruction. The old abandoned farm that was once home of the covey of quail, indigo bunting and rabbit is now a subdivision. The oak wood near the edge of town, where white-tailed deer and gray squirrels searched for acorns, while migrating warblers stopped to feed on insects slowed by the chill of a crisp autumn morning, has been bulldozed and is now the parking lot for an
industrial complex.
In Georgia, a new program, "Acres for Wildlife," aims to stem this destruction of natural habitat by en-
couraging landowners to set aside property for limited wildlife management practice.
Modeled after successful acres for wildlife programs in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and other states, the fledgling Georgia program hopes to enroll several hundred interested landowners this year, thus securing thousands of
acres for wildlife habitat.
While the loss of the deer or wood duck is tempo-
A rary, it is nevertheless alarming. deer population, you
see, can double itself in just two years, and quail popu-
lations can increase as much as 80 percent in a year's time. But the loss of the old farm and oak wood is permanent and this is the danger to wildlife.
Wild animals, like man, need suitable places in which

Septen?ber/Octber 1977

29

to live. Where an animal lives is called its habitat or
cover. Without such cover, animal populations quickly decline or disappear.
Adequate food, water, cover and protection are essential components of any habitat, but each species of wildlife has slightly different habitat needs. Thus, the habitat requirements of our State Bird, the brown thrasher, are quite different from those of the black bear or bobwhite quail.
Wildlife biologists refer to the number of animals
that a piece of land can support as its carrying capacity. This carrying capacity is determined by the quantity and quality of the food, water and cover found there.
The amount of "edge" is also an important factor in
determining the carrying capacity of a particular area.
Edge refers to the junction between two or more habitat types. For example, edge might be where a field joins a forest, or where a swamp meets a woodland. Usually an abundance of wild foods are found in these locations, so
that such sites usually allow animals to feed without having to venture too far from protective cover. Gener-
ally speaking, the more edge you have, the better is the
habitat.
Whenever wildlife habitat is degraded or destroyed wild creatures may temporarily move into similar habitat adjacent to that which was destroyed. But since each
plot of land has a strictly limited carrying capacity, the excess animals will disappear within a short time and population levels in the area will return to normal.
Each day valuable wildlife habitat is either being degraded or eliminated by man to meet Georgia's rapidly expanding need for food, fiber and energy. Brushy fence rows are being removed to increase production of row crops. Wetlands are drained to provide pastures for cattle. Meandering streams are straightened for floor control. Forest managers are removing dead or hollow trees. Hardwood forests with nut and fruit producing trees are being logged and replaced with fast growing pine trees to meet increased demands for paper and lumber products. Green valleys are inundated to create reservoirs to accommodate our thirst for water and electrical energy. Fields and forests are being cut and bulldozed for new home sites or blanketed with concrete and asphalt for parking lots and highways.
Georgia has been blessed with a multitude of wildlife treasures. However, with the loss of each acre of habitat, increasing numbers of wildlife are irretrievably lost. Often this destruction is needless and stems from an
ignorance of the habitat needs of wild mammals and
birds. In other cases, the carrying capacity of the land could be greatly enhanced for a multitude of wild species if the landowner practiced simple, inexpensive
wildlife management techniques. Habitat can be improved by simply erecting a fence
along a portion of stream bank to prevent its use by cattle and thus promote the growth of brush and trees. Rocky outcrops, spring heads, and steep slopes can be allowed to revert to native vegetation. Shrubs such as bicolor lespedeza can be planted along fence borders or

Continuing development and construction are wiping out large amounts of wildlife producing habitat.

30

Outdoors it? Georgia

(Left) The diversity offered at this juncture of field, field border, and forest produces good habitat for many wildlife species. (Below) Large fields of row
crops offer habitat for most wildlife species only along the edges.
(Left) This clean fencerow looks very neat, but offers nothing for wildlife habitat.
A brushy fencerow like
the one at the beginning of the article is used by both game and song birds.
31

field margins. Fallow fields can be mowed in strips to
create "edge." Small woodlots can be enhanced by encouraging seed
or berry producing trees such as dogwood and oaks. Hollow trees can be left standing for use as nesting and denning sites. Logging roads can be seeded and forest openings mowed or disked. Partridge pea and other
important wildlife foods can be encouraged by control burning woodlands.
Homesites can be made more attractive to wildlife
by providing shrub borders and planting seed and fruit bearing plants. Inadequate numbers of tree cavities can be offset by erecting nesting boxes.
These are but a few of the inexpensive ways in which wildlife habitat can be improved. There is practically no limit to the ways in which innovative people can bring about habitat restoration.
If Georgians are to continue to enjoy the benefits of
healthy, diverse wildlife populations, we must slow the loss of wildlife habitat and better manage that habitat which remains. In short, we must temper Georgia's
growth with environmental responsibility.
Jn an effort to meet this challenge, DNR's Game and
Fish Division has initiated "Georgia Acres for Wildlife" to preserve and enhance wildlife habitat throughout the
state.
Game and Fish Division wildlife biologists are available
to help landowners plan better wildlife management practices on their land. (Below) Controlled burning is
one way to greatly improve wildlife habitat quality
in pine lands.

32

Outdoors xty Georgia

; -*%v V. rt



-XT*-
Through Georgia Acres for Wildlife, all Georgians are given a unique opportunity to make a lasting contribution toward the preservation of our wildlife heritage. Conservation-minded individuals or groups, called cover agents, are being asked to locate privately owned tracts of wildlife habitat. Cover agents persuade the landowners or tenants to set aside plots as wildlife habitat for at least one year. The landowner must also agree to protect the land from any practice, such as spraying of pesticides or herbicides, that might be detrimental to wildlife.
Once an agreement is reached, the cover agent sub-
mits an enrollment application to the Game and Fish
A Division. wildlife biologist will then inspect the land
and determine the best approach to the management of
the tract for wildlife.
Each habitat management prescription will be geared to the habitat requirements of the species desired and the specific biological and physical characteristics of the plot being managed. The landowner is encouraged to carry out the management plan.
If implemented, the plan will benefit more than just those species desired. Nesting boxes erected for wood ducks are also used by great-crested flycatchers and screech owls. Millet planted for doves and quail is utilized by blue grosbeaks, goldfinch and cardinals. Brush piles created for rabbits provide escape for quail and
songbirds.
The only requirements are that the plots be at least one acre in size, privately owned, and not already in
Septenjber/October 1977

This understory growth (above left) is helped by proper burning techniques and is useful to wildlife. The pure pine stand (above right) produces little cover or food
for wildlife.

some form of agricultural retirement or wildlife man-

agement program.
When an individual enrolls his first acre of land, he
receives a certificate of recognition and shoulder patch, identifying him as an Acres for Wildlife Cover Agent. Groups participating in the program will receive one certificate. Patches will be awarded on the basis of one
patch per acre enrolled, with no member receiving more

than one patch. Cover agents will also be provided with

signs that designate the land as being enrolled in the
Georgia Acres for Wildlife program. The signs explain

that the landowner is doing his part to restore wildlife habitat on his land. Both landowners and Wildlife cover agents will periodically receive land management

bulletins.
Whether or not we reach a harmony with the land depends on the personal commitment of all Georgians. The Georgia Acres for Wildlife program provides all Georgians with an opportunity to express this com-

mitment,

te

fe

fe

For more information on how you can participate in
the Georgia Acres for Wildlife program, simply contact your local wildlife biologist, wildlife technician, conservation ranger, or write:
Georgia Acres for Wildlife
Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area
Forsyth, Georgia 31029 Route 3, Box 60-B

33

Set Vour Sights

By Aaron Pass
Photos by the Author
Reprinted from October 1970
Georgia Game & Fish

"There he was, no more than
twenty yards away, standing out in the open," recounts the hunter to the group around the campfire. "I could count every point on his rack, and man, was he a beauty. I put the sights on his shoulder and fired," the hunter continues, as everyone leans forward intently, "and he was gone into the brush."
"Did you find any blood?" someone asks as the fire is prodded back into life. "Not a drop," answers the hunter. "The entrance hole must have been plugged up." There were chuckles around the fire. "Well, the bullet might have hit a twig, and been deflected," our hunter counters
bravely.

"I thought you said he was out in the open," someone unkindly points out. Laughter. "The blasted rifle must be shooting off!" Loud laughter. Miraculously a knife appears, and a shirt-tail is amputated as a red-faced hunter vows that he will check his rifle first thing in the morning. Could be that morning light will show that the rifle is indeed off, but at such times there is very little comfort in being right.
Each year many hunters go into the woods as unprepared to kill any-
thing as if they were carrying an un-
loaded gun. Due simply to the fact
that they failed to sight in their rifles, they cheat themselves out of game,
and may lose the chance at "once in

34

Outdoors h) Georgia

a lifetime trophies. Worse yet, some hunters using poorly sighted weapons manage to wound their quarry and let it escape to die in misery.
Why does anyone hunt with ill pre-
pared equipment? Well, some people are just too lazy to do anymore than the bare essentials, but many others are put off by a lack of understanding and general confusion about how to sight in a rifle.
Actually there's nothing mysterious or difficult about sighting in a rifle. Greatly simplified, it is the process of adjusting the sights so
that they are aligned on the same point where the rifle shoots the bullets. This is done by firing the rifle at a specific point to determine where the bullets are striking. Next the
sights are adjusted so that they are
aligned on the bullet impact area.
Since the sights are now fixed on the same point the rifle groups the bullets, when the sights are realigned on
the bullseye the bullets will also
A strike there. very old, but apt de-

scription of a well sighted rifle is one

which "shoots where she looks."

Understanding the term "bullet

group" is very important to sighting

in a rifle. It is the pattern of bullet
holes made when a rifle is fired sev-

eral times at the same point without

moving the sights. This cluster of

bullet holes, by its distance from the
aiming point, indicates how far the

sights will have to be moved and in

what direction. Its size also tests
how accurate the rifle is. By measur-

ing the widest spread holes from

center to center the rifle's consist-

ency is determined. This consistency

is synonymous with accuracy, so the

smaller the group the more accurate

A the rifle.

rifle which will group

into one inch at 100 yards is ex-

tremely accurate, two to four inches

is average, and four to five inches is

adequate for eastern deer hunting.

Since the group is a test of the rifle

and sights alone, every effort should
be made to minimize the human er-

ror. Using the right equipment is tre-

mendously important in this respect. The most important of this equip-
ment as far as accuracy is concerned is a good solid rest, and some type of
pad to fire the rifle from. It may be a
specialized benchrest and sand bag arrangement designed exclusively for shooting, or just an old table and a rolled up sleeping bag. For all practical purposes the latter serves just as well. Incidentally, when shooting from a rest, it is best to place your hand on the rest to cradle the rifle rather than to lay the forend of the weapon on the pad itself. The rifle might group differently when fired from the direct contact with the rest than it will when fired from the hand
as in hunting.
At this point some observer is sure to ask you if you intend to carry
the table to your deer stand with you. If you feel this deserves any answer at all, just reply that you are making sure of the rifle's ability now, and that you will worry about your
own skill later on. If you were to just pick up the rifle and blaze away
standing up on your hind legs you could never be sure if the misses were being caused by an error in the sights, or an error in the shooter.
As for errors in the shooter, flinching is easily the most common. Flinching is caused by anticipating the gun's blast and recoil and moving just as the gun fires. In its milder
forms it is characterized by blinking the eyelid or slightly tensing the muscles. At its worst the shooter will
jerk the trigger, or even move his whole body. It is the enemy of accurate shooting, and its effects are even
noticeable off a benchrest. Since the
noise and recoil of rifles adequate for deer hunting can affect even veteran shooters, it is wise for anyone firing such a weapon to take steps to counteract the effects of muzzle blast and kick.
The use of earplugs is highly recommended. All centerfire rifles make enough noise to become unpleasant after several shots. The
shooter begins to dread the noise of
the shot and starts to flinch. More
important, however, is the fact that the repeated firing of a large caliber
rifle can damage the sense of hear-

Septerpber/October 1977

35

Dick Kennedy, of the Gunroom, lines up a scope by using a
collimator. This device aligns the
sights with the bore and can save the shooter a good deal of time and
trouble. Once the sights have been
collimated the rifle can usually be sighted in with only a couple of adjustments.
ing. Ear protection in the form of a set of earplugs designed for shooting is cheap insurance.
Another device which will help avoid flinching is some type of recoil
A absorber. piece of foam rubber, a
small sand bag, or even a rolled up towel will work wonders in reducing apparent recoil. Unfortunately this simple expedient has been nick-
named a "sissy bag," and many shy away from its use because of the name. It is wise to remember that while the body furnishes its own re-
coil reduction in the excitement of the hunt, the recoil of even a .30/30
will become very noticeable in the static target shooting situation where several shots may be fired. The best way to cure flinching is to never start, and the best way not to start is to
soften recoil.
Eye protection in the form of
shooting glasses is often overlooked.
They not only allow you to see the
target better, but they offer protection if a pierced primer or a ruptured case ever sends hot gas out
A the breech. man could shoot all
his life and never need shooting glasses, but the one time he does, they are worth their weight in gold.
Now that you have all the equip-
ment, all you need is a place to shoot. This often isn't easy as it sounds, for in this crowded world the number of places where a large caliber rifle can be safely fired are growing increasingly rare. If you
don't have a friend who owns a large
tract of land, your best bet is to con-
tact a local gun club. Many of these
clubs host a "Sighting-In" day each fall as a public service to hunters in
the area.
Having found a place to shoot, and assembled the accessories, you are ready to begin the sighting in procedure itself. The first problem is

known as "getting on the paper." If you are installing a new sight, or if
the present sights are badly off, there is a chance that you will miss the entire target at normal hunting ranges. There are two methods of dealing
with this. One is to do a preliminary
sighting at a very short range, and then fire at hunting range to porrect.
Another method is to use a collimator, an optical device which aligns the sights with the bore of the rifle. This "bore sighting" is no substitute
for actual firing, but it will put the bullets reasonably close to the target. These devices are rather expensive, but most gunshops will bore sight your rifle with one for a nominal fee.
Now all you have to do is put a
target out at the longest range you expect to fire at game; 100 yards is a good distance in the East. Then return to the benchrest and fire three or four rounds with the sights held
exactly where you want to hit. Go
back to the target, and there should be a group of holes somewhere on the target. Measure their distance from the bull both vertically and horizontally, and then adjust your sight accordingly. The rule is to
move the rear sight in the same direction you wish to move the impact
of the bullets.
Today most rifles come from the factory equipped with an open rear sight of the V-notch type. It is a sim-

ple and a sturdy height, but it leaves
much to be desired in both accuracy

and precision of adjustment. Eleva-
tion changes are made by sliding a

sliver of metal with a series of steps

of increasing height under the notch

until the desired elevation is reached.
A windage adjustment to move the

point of impact horizontally is not

usually found on sights of the V-

notch type, but a rough adjustment

can be made by tapping the entire

sight sideways in its slot in the barrel

with a brass hammer. About the best

you can do with this type of sight is

to use the trial and error method until you get near the bull. To get the

best accuracy and to facilitate sight-

ing in the use of a more precise sight

is highly recommended.

The peep sight has long been rec-

ognized as a fine hunting sight in

wooded areas. It is as rugged and

simple as the V-notch type, but is
more easily adjusted and is much

more accurate. This type of sight

costs around $15 and is a wise in-

vestment for anyone wanting to get

the most out of his rifle. The ultimate in accuracy and pre-

cision is a scope. This type of sight

is rapidly gaining popularity among

hunters because of its excellent sight

picture and target magnification

A properties.

low magnification

scope of 2ViX or 3X is generally

considered to be the best bet for

woods hunting. Sighting in a scope

36

Outdoors it) Georgia

is probably the easiest of all because of its inherent accuracy and exact adjustments.
Most modern adjustable sights are graduated in steps of a minute of
A angle, or fractions thereof. minute
of angle represents one inch of linear distance at 100 yards. Therefore, after you fire the first group you will need to measure its distance from the bull both vertically and horizon-
tally and make appropriate calculations to move your sight the same amount. If the sight is marked in Va minute clicks, and the first bullet
group at 100 yards is six inches high
and one inch to the right, move the sight 24 clicks down and 4 clicks to the left to move the impact area to
the bull. It is always best to fire another group to check the zero after such an adjustment to check your math.
If you don't know what graduations your sight is marked in, it's
best to do a preliminary sighting in
job at 25 yards. Assume that it is marked in Va minute graduations and work from there. After you get the group near the bull, move the target out to 100 yards and finish the job. Remember, at 25 yards one
minute of angle only represents V\ inch so it will take 16 one quarter
minute clicks to move the bullet
group one inch. Before he begins the foregoing
sighting-in festivities there are several small details a wise shooter will
attend to. Checking the bore for obstructions or a build-up of grease is
A a very good idea. heavy coating of
grease inside the barrel can boost
pressures dangerously if the weapon is fired. Another item to remember
is to check all the screws with a proper size screwdriver; loose stock
screws are a common cause of a for-
merly good rifle's going "sour." There are other reasons for a rifle
to suddenly change its point of im-
pact. Stocks have been known to warp, or sights get knocked out of
alignment during storage, either of which would alter the rifle's zero.
Even if you sighted in your rifle last year, you should still check it before
this season rolls around.
There are many advantages to be

The aperture or "peep" sight is both sturdy and accurate. Its quick handling properties have established it as a long standing favorite with woods hunters.

The telescopic sight is currently gaining favor with many hunters. It is the most precise and accurate of the hunting sights.

gained by spending the time and effort to check your sights. The most obvious, of course, is having a rifle that truly does "shoot where she
looks." In addition, a sighting-in session, while not target practice in the truest sense, does give the hunter
some very valuable familiarization with his weapon. It is also a good way to check-out the firearm's me-
chanical functioning while there is still time to have any malfunctions corrected before the season starts.
And lastly, there is the feeling of
confidence in the rifle that adds so
much to the enjoyment of the hunt.
Unfortunately, the sighting-in pro-
cedure is to some extent trouble-

some and inconvenient. It is also to

a degree expensive, since it can use

up 15 to 20 rounds of ammunition.

But there is just no known way to

sight in a rifle without actually firing

it, and it is far better to use 15

rounds on the target and only one

to get the game than vice versa.

With the problem of finding a

place to shoot, buying the ammuni-

tion, and the time spent shooting,

many people will undoubtedly find

an excuse not to go to all the trou-

ble. But what good are excuses when

you lose all of your shirttail, a good

deal of your pride, and most impor-

tant, that trophy buck you've waited

so long for.

^

September /October 1977

37

Jim White
Hunters
Forecast

1977
By Aaron Pass

Jim Couch

Right now the major question on every hunter's mind is "What effect will this summer's drought have on wildlife and the upcoming hunting season?" At this point the drought, when viewed on a statewide basis, appears
to have had only minor impact on wildlife. There have been no reports of wildlife losses related
directly to the drought. Other than suffering from the excessive heat, as most humans did, the wildlife species
fared very well. Some species probably even benefited
from the dry weather. Since excessively wet weather is a prime cause of mortality in young poults, rain and young turkeys don't mix. Reports from all over the state indicate good poult production and survival. Doves are poor engineers, and their flimsy nests are often destroyed by summer storms. Georgia had few storms this summer, so the local dove population had excellent
nesting success.
Quail are the only game species which might have suffered direct loss from the drought. Quail eggs require a certain level of humidity and ground moisture. There is concern that the extremely dry conditions in some parts of the state may have affected nesting success. At
this writing it is just too early to say anything definite about quail populations this fall.
Food supplies of wildlife were affected by drought.
Probably the greatest effect will be noticed in areas
where game will be feeding this year. Some mast and
38

fall fruit crops may be stunted or lost by fall. The suc-
culent browse which deer normally feed on until September was probably tough and dry by late July. This will likely have no lasting effect on the deer population
but may affect some of their traditional feeding areas
this fall.
Quail will probably have a tough time if weed and grass seeds fail to mature. In some parts of the state doves will be concentrated where grain crops matured properly. Fields which were cut before grain matured will hold few doves.
Rabbit and squirrels should have suffered no ill effects except where the drought was unusually severe.
The drought conditions were not equally severe over
the entire state. Regional reports indicate different problems and concerns specific to each area.
-- Northwest Georgia Regional Supervisor Bill Collins
covers the counties in Game Zone I. This area contains
three definite habitat types, each with a different level of productivity.
The Ridge and Valley area covering the counties of Floyd, Gordon, Chattooga, Walker and Dade have a good growing deer population.
The Appalachian area counties of Murray, Fannin and Gilmer are also showing a growing deer population.
The northern Piedmont counties of Polk, Haralson, Paulding, Bartow and Cherokee have stable deer popu-
Outdoors it? Georgia

Jim Couch

lations, meaning that the maximum number of deer are now established. Paulding and Cherokee may be de-
clining due to suburban development there. Catoosa, Whitfield and Pickens counties are closed. Either-sex hunting is expanded this year in those
counties with large deer populations and excessive crop damage.
The quail population looks fair this year, with few broods being seen by field personnel. Quail have been declining in this region for several years due to changes
in land use. Rabbit and squirrel look fair to good. Rabbits are
being pressured by the same changes that are affecting
the quail. Squirrel hunting looks good.
-- Grouse looks good this year young birds are already
being seen.
-- Northeast Georgia Regional Supervisor Hubert Handy
covers the counties in Game Zone II. This region has
two major habitat types. The Appalachian Mountain counties show good deer
reproduction; the population seems to be increasing. The Upper Piedmont counties show good populations
with some increase. Quail are never very good in this region. Rabbit seem to be up slightly and seem to be the best
in a long time.
Squirrel look pretty good although a spotty mast crop
September/October 1977

-- may make some areas better than others.
East-Central Georgia Regional Supervisor Dan Mar-
shall covers the counties of Douglas, Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, Newton, Walton, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, Clarke, Oconee, Morgan, Greene, Oglethorpe, Elbert, Taliaferro, Wilkes, Lincoln, Columbia, McDuffie, Warren, Glascock, Jefferson, Burke, Richmond, Emanuel, Jenkins and Screven. This region has two distinct habitat types, Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain.
The deer population has stabilized in many counties
in the Piedmont, and this season should be about like last year in Columbia, Elbert, McDuffie, Lincoln, Warren, Wilkes, Taliaferro, Oglethorpe and Greene. The population is still growing in Madison, Jackson, Barrow, Gwinnett, Oconee and Walton.
Many metro areas and other urban counties such as
Clayton, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton, DeKalb, Rockdale, Clarke and Richmond have deer, but urban growth limits population and hunting opportunity.
The Upper Coastal Plain counties of Burke, Emanuel, Jenkins and Screven have stable deer populations.
Either-sex hunting has been expanded in many coun-
ties in this area where a large deer population or numerous crop damage complaints warrant.
Quail production is questionable due to dry weather.
Fall food problems may also be ahead for the bob-
whites.
-- Rabbits and squirrels look about like last year.
West-Central Georgia Regional Supervisor Dick Whittington covers the counties of Carroll, Heard, Coweta, Fayette, Spalding, Henry, Butts, Jasper, Jones, Putnam, Hancock, Washington, Johnson, Wilkinson, Baldwin, Twiggs, Houston, Peach, Bibb, Crawford, Monroe, Lamar, Upson, Pike, Meriwether and Troup. This region also includes Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain
counties.
Many of the counties in this region also have stabi-
lized deer populations. Henry, Spalding, Butts, Lamar, Jasper, Monroe, Crawford, Jones, Putnam, Baldwin, Hancock, Washington, Johnson and Wilkinson fall into this category. Deer populations continue to grow in Carroll, Heard, Coweta, Fayette, Troup, Meriwether, Pike and Upson.
Bibb is an urban county with development limiting deer population and the availability of hunting land.
Either-sex hunting is being directed at those counties
with large deer populations and where crop damage has been a problem.
39

Quail should be fair to good this year unless egg hatchability proves to be a problem.
Rabbit and squirrel both look good. Dry weather and areas of mast failure may tend to concentrate squirrels
-- where food is available.
Southwest Georgia Regional Supervisor Oscar Dew-
berry covers the counties in Game Zone V.
It looks like a generally good year over all the counties for deer. Crisp County probably has the fewest deer of any county in the region due to land use. Conditions have been dry, but in spite of that, almost all counties seem to be increasing. Expanded either-sex hunting in Stewart, Talbot, Taylor, Webster, Decatur, Early, Terrell, Grady, Randolph, Thomas, Clay, Dooly, Lee, Sumter and Worth counties should help harvest the expanding population and help a growing crop damage problem.
Quail populations have been down for the past two years in this region. Thus far, reports from field personnel show an encouraging number of broods being
sighted. Perhaps this season will be better than last. Rabbits look about the same as in recent years. Squir-
rels should be numerous in hardwood areas.
-- South-Central Georgia Regional Supervisor Frank Par-
rish covers the counties in Game Zone VI.
Deer populations are generally doing well in the

upper Coastal Plain counties of Ben Hill, Jeff Davis, Montgomery, Laurens, Pulaski, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs and Wilcox. These counties have the best deer

habitat in the region and are expected to show con-

tinued growth. Bleckley, Treutlen, Candler, Evans and

Bulloch show some increase but land use limits deer

habitat in these counties.

Deer populations in the Lower Coastal Plain counties

are spotty. They are good in some areas and poor in

others. Atkinson County shows some increase and

Echols shows a decline overall. Dodge County con-

tinues to show disappointing results.

Quail have not shown much so far; right now it's a

"hope for the best" situation.

OK Rabbits are

and squirrel populations look very

-- good in areas where hardwood river bottoms exist.
Coastal Regional Supervisor C. V. Waters covers the
counties in Game Zone VII.

Effingham, Glynn, Camden and Liberty have highest

deer populations and have shown an increase in the past

year. Long, Bryan and Chatham appear to be stable.
Low track counts, indicating declining population, are

reported from Mcintosh.

Quail populations look fair, but there is little quail

habitat in the Coastal Region.
^ Rabbit and squirrel look about the same.

40

Outdoors ii) Georgia

4

I

1

Hemorrhagic



*

Disease

EHD/BT

Death for Deer? ^ ^^FT* *

tV^ft*

3%

,,,r :..w-r.

,

8 By Daniel K. Grahl, Jr.

i

Wildlife Biologist

%8 Jl

It was a warm, humid Saturday in the latter part of September. While many hunters were preparing for scheduled dove hunts that afternoon, Sam had made other plans.
He enjoyed dove hunting, but the
type of hunting that excited him most was stalking white-tailed deer.
He participated in all forms of deer hunting, including bow hunting. So with the opening day of bow season only a few days away, Sam felt he
should get in the woods and scout
for the best area to hunt. Besides,
experience had taught him that proper preparation and scouting proved more rewarding and were,
in fact, a pleasant part of the hunting experience.
Sam did most of his deer hunting in Middle Georgia's Oconee Na-
tional Forest. His favorite section
was made up of mature pine-hardwood timberlands interlaced with a
network of creek drainages. Since
Sam had hunted this area for several years, he knew that deer were abun-
dant. During his scouting expedition, he caught wind of the stench of a dead animal. Following the odor, he found a deer carcass lying adjacent to one of the small creeks. The car-

cass appeared to be approximately a
week to ten days old. Sam passed
this off as one of the accidents that occur naturally to wild animals and continued his scouting. About fifteen minutes later he found another carcass. Becoming a little concerned,
Sam returned to his truck. Enroute to the vehicle he saw three more deer carcasses. As a concerned hunter and sportsman, Sam was determined to find out why these deer
had died.
When he returned home, he re-
ported his findings to the local con-
servation ranger who suggested that
a wildlife biologist should investi-
gate the problem. When the biologist heard the story, he made arrangements to meet Sam and inspect
the area. Discovering a fresh deer carcass, the biologist submitted it to the Southeastern Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia
A School of Veterinary Medicine.
necropsy (animal autopsy) was performed, and a diagnosis of hemor-
rhagic disease was made. Upon re-
ceiving the diagnostic report, the bi-
ologist notified Sam and answered
additional questions for him. This hypothetical story illustrates

a re-occurring cause of deer mortality in Georgia. Similar incidents have occurred in recent years to hunters scouting deer territory for
upcoming bow seasons in Georgia.
Hemorrhagic disease is a serious disease of white-tailed deer caused by two closely related viruses: epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus
(EHD) and bluetongue virus (BT).
In recent years, it has become an
important natural mortality factor in Georgia's white-tailed deer populations. Historical accounts suggest its presence as far back as 1890. These earlier accounts refer to the disease as "blacktongue, hemorrhagic septicemia and Killer X." Major epizootics (large scale dieoffs) have occurred seasonally in the fall of 1949, 1954, and 1955. During the 1955 outbreak, a virolo-
gist named Richard Shope identified
the agent which killed deer in New
Jersey as epizootic hemorrhagic dis-
A ease virus (EHD). few years later,
it was learned that bluetongue virus (BT) of cattle and sheep could produce a disease in white-tailed deer
which was identical to EHD. In the late summer and early fall of 1971,
EHD was found once again in wild

September/October 1977

41

deer populations. At that time, mod-
erate mortality occurred in whitetailed deer populations throughout
much of central and northern Geor-
gia, as well as in Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Investigations into this outbreak revealed that
both EHD and BT viruses were in-
volved. Since the viruses cause iden-
tical symptoms in deer, the problem has simply been termed hemorrhagic disease. Since 1971, hemorrhagic disease has annually been diagnosed as active in white-tailed deer populations in many sections of Georgia.
Hemorrhagic disease viruses are spread by small bloodsucking gnats known as biting midges (Culicoides variipennis). These insects can transfer the virus to their offspring, and therefore, the infectious agent can overwinter in eggs, larvae and pupae of the midge. More important, how-
ever, is the fact that many cattle may
carry the viruses in their bloodstream for long periods without getting sick. Researchers indicate that cattle are a main reservoir for bluecongue virus and probably epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus. Domestic sheep can be infected with bluetongue virus and generally will suf-
fer more than cattle but less than deer. In diseases such as this where
insects transmit the infectious agent, the magnitude of the disease out-
break depends to some extent upon the density of the deer and cattle populations. However, the magnitude also depends upon the density
of the insect population. Since biting
midges are more numerous in late summer and fall, hemorrhagic dis-
ease appears seasonally. Hemorrhagic disease has three
forms in deer: peracute, acute and chronic. In peracute (sudden) cases, the interval from infection to death is usually less than ten days. This period is characterized by an elevation in body temperature by 2 or 3 degrees, appetite failure, decreased water intake and generalized weakness. At times, the nostrils, mouth and ears will appear reddened due to congestion of blood. Generally, the outward appearance of the deer will not vary significantly from one

Reddened ears are a characteristic symptom of an active injection of
EHD or BT in deer.

that is in good health, although these
animals may lack their normal fear
of humans. Necroosv of the deer, however, would reveal massive accumulations of fluid in the pericardial sac (membrane surrounding the heart), lungs and around the head and neck.
Acute cases show many of the same signs but have a greater degree
of tissue disruption and bleeding. Hence, the classic description "hem-
orrhagic disease." Damaged tissues
include tongue, lips, hard palate,
paunch (rumen), true stomach (abomasum), heart and lungs. Bloody fluid often fills the paunch, and ulcerations on the surface of the mouth, tongue and paunch become infected with bacteria. This form may last from one to two weeks and the cause of death usually is at-

tributed to bacterial infection, blood loss, damage to vascular system and damage to other cells by the virus. All acute cases, fortunately, do not result in death, but incomplete recovery from acute cases can result in the chronic (long term) disease. This form is characterized by scars on the inner lining of the paunch and separation of the hooves from the toes. Deer suffering from chronic hemorrhagic disease become very thin and weak.
Many deer recover from hemor-
rhagic disease. These deer will show signs associated with sloughing hooves and possibly will have calluses on the knees and chest where the animal has been crawling on the
ground. Internally, scar tissue will be evident in the digestive tract. Deer that recover from hemorrhagic

42

Outdoors ip Georgia

Septerpber/October 1977

Photos courtesy of Dr. Victor F. Nettles, Southeastern Wildlife Disease Study
The top photo shows a section of the wall of the rumen (paunch) of a deer with an active infection. The
red areas are congested with blood. The projections resembling carpet
fibers are papillae. The bottom photo shows the wall of this rumen shows evidence of a recent recovery from hemorrhagic disease. Red spot is scar tissue where portions of inner lining (papillae) have sloughed.
disease develop an immunity to the particular virus that caused their diseased condition. For example, a deer that recovered from epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus would be
immune to this virus, but it would
still be susceptible to bluetongue virus (or vice versa).
Another question which may come to mind is whether a deer that
has recovered from hemorrhagic dis-
ease is safe for human consumption. Any deer that shows signs of having had the disease is safe for human
consumption as long as it appears to be in healthy condition otherwise.
Some researchers involved in
studying hemorrhagic disease and its role in deer populations indicate that this disease condition is some-
thing we will have to live with from now on. If this is the case, it is pos-
sible that hemorrhagic disease can create problems for deer management. Past experience has shown that adjustments in hunting regulations have not been necessary to preserve the remainder of the deer herd. In most outbreaks, the affected deer populations were too large in number, so the disease was an inevitable regulating mechanism. Geor-
gia's wildlife biologists regularly
monitor the deer herds to make recommendations on the proper methods for managing deer populations.
If anyone suspects that a disease problem exists, he should notify the
Game and Fish Division. Wildlife bi-
ologists are ready and capable of investigating and discussing any such problems. Also, they are happy to provide technical assistance to landowners in the management of any
wildlife species on private lands. ^\
43

GAME ZONES
OF GEORGIA

44

Outdoors it? Georgia

GEORGIA

1977-78

Hunting Regulations

SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

PIIRPOSF

Georgia's hunting regulations, seasons

and bag limits are set by the Board of

Natural Resources, acting on the recom-

mendations of the Department's trained

game management specialists and experi-

enced field personnel. License fees and

general laws are determined by the Geor-

gia General Assembly

.,,,, This book is intended as a popular

guide.

For

the

exact

,.
wording

,
of

,
the

game

laws and regulations, see the Georgia
Game and Fish Code and the current copy

of the Department of Natural Resources,
Game and Fish Division, regulations on fMilre with the SSeeccrreetary ooff SSttaattee.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Hunters 16 years of age or over are

required to have a valid hunting license for all hunting, except when hunting on lands owned by them or their immediate family residing in the same household.

Residents 65 or over must obtain an honorary license as explained under "Hon-

orary Licenses" elsewhere in this booklet. Non-residents must have the appropriate

non-resident licenses as shown below.
Bowhunters must have a valid Bow and Arrow hunting license.
BIG GAME LICENSE: Anyone hunting

deer or turkey in Georgia must have a
valid Big Game License in addition to the regular hunting license or Bow and Arrow

license,

Residents under 16 and over 65 and landowners hunting on their property

must have complimentary deer tags issued by the License Division, Department of Natural Resources, to take deer. Nonresidents must purchase all appropriate

licenses, regardless of age.

NON-RESIDENT LICENSES: All non-

resident individuals can secure their licenses by mail through the License Divi-

sion, Department of Natural Resources. The following information will be needed: name, address, weight, height, color of

eyes and hair. All short term licenses such

as 5-day fishing, 10-day hunting, 10-day archery must state the first day the li-
censes will be used, so that they may be

dated properly.
HONORARY LICENSES: Georgia resi-
dents who are 65 years of age or older or who are veterans and provide the Department with a letter from the Veterans Ad-

ministration stating that resident is totally

disabled are eligible for honorary hunting

A and fishing licenses.

resident who is

totally blind may obtain an honorary fish-

ing license. Honorary licenses may be ob-

tained from Game and Fish offices, state
parks or from the License Division, Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, Georgia.

LICENSE FEES

Resident Licenses

Hunting License

$ 4.25

Hunting and Fishing

Combination

7.25

Bow and Arrow Hunting

Llicense
Big Game License

3>.*2.-5> 3.25

Trapping License

,,

-

..

. ..

M<

ZT ,,"mt*ino T TJlZnnZ, Hunting TLicceenlsee

r.M
P>
...' .'

Afchery Ljcense (1(Way trip)
.... Season Archery License

Bl8 Game (Season)

Public Shooting Preserve

25.00
KX
2255.2255
U5Q
25.25 25.00

Permit .

5.25

Private Shooting Preserve

Permit Trapping License .

12.50 250.00

WILDLIFE TERMS DEFINED

FURBEARING ANIMALS. The follow-

ing ammals are fur bearing animals and

are protected except during specified open

trappi ng se asons: bobcat, fox, mink, opos-

sum> otterj muskrat) racc0on, skunk and

weasel.
GAME ANrMALS. The following are
game animals: be ar, bobcat, deer, fox,

opossum> ra bbit, raccoon, squirrel, sea

turtles and their eggs, cougar (Felis con-

color) ^ and all members of the family
Alligatoridae and Crocodylidae.
^aA*M.ETM BD,IDRDnSc. -Trhue ffoullowi ng are game

birds and are protected except during

*TM f sPec ' fied Pen hu ntlR

seasons: rouse



'

turke y and, a11 migratory game

"' *" 1ALLY

vP RoOnmrmri

cSPpErCrriErs

Those

s Pecies

ofr

,T, r wildlife

r". ,
which

are

f-
totally

Protected and may not be taken or pos-

sessed *} providJ ed

any t ' me ' , include:

e '' cept as s P ec 'n caHy all membLers of the

* amily Alugatondae and Crocodylidae,

TM bea cou ar < Fel,s mol

hawks '

^ ['
ea 8 les

owlfs and sea tturtles and'\tiheir e

s-

'

WILDLIFE. Any vertebrate or mverte-

brate animal life indigenous to this state

^ any species introduced or specified by

the Board of Nat ural Resources including

mammals,

birds,

c
fish,

amphibians,

reptiles,

crustaceans and mollusks or any part

ereot.
-- HUNTING GENERAL

LEGAL HOURS. Except as noted, it is
unlawful to hunt any game bird or game

animal at night between the hours of 30

minutes after sunset and 30 minutes be-

fore sunrise. Exception: Legal hours for migratory bird hunting conform to federal regulations. Raccoons, opossums,
foxes and bobcats may be hunted at night, although no lights may be used, except
that a dry cell light which does not ex-

ceed six (6) volts or a fuel type lantern
may be carried by a hunter and used for

locating these animals.

LEGAL WEAPONS. It is unlawful to

, r
\\\vl\.

.,.,.wildlife

.
except

.
with

..
the

weapons

sett

forth below

_
Deer

Weapons:

_. Firearms

,
for

huntti. ng

deer

Hre

lim ' ted

t0

2

ga '

shotguns

or

^^.^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^ largCr l0aded WUh SlUgS f bUCksh0t ("
buckshot on management areas unless

of 44 cal or i arger) or r ifl es us i ng any center fire cartridge with an expanding

bullett .22 cal. or larger, except that a
2 18 Bee; .22 Hornet; .25-20; .256 Magnum; gun using a .30 cal. Army carbine cartridge; .32-20; .32-40; .357 Magnum; 38 Special; .38-40; and .44-40 may not

be used.

Primitive Weapons: Weapons which may be used during primitive weapon hunts include: long bows, compound

bows, muzzle loading rifles of .44 cal. or larger with iron sights and muzzle loading shotguns of 20 ga. or larger loaded

with sin 8le shot -
Small Game and Non-Game: Firearms

legal for hunting small game and non-

game species are: shotguns with #4 shot
size or smaller shot, .22 rimfire rifles, guns
using .30 cal. Army carbine cartridges;

^.^ .32-20, or any center fire rifle .257 cal. or

small aU

muzz, e 1q

firearms , long bows and compound bows.

^ J it is illegal to hunt coyotes, armadillos feraf hogs except ith the weapons

specified in this paragraph,

Plug Shotguns: For hunting, shotguns mus{ be plugged tQ Hmjt them tQ a maxi.
mum capacity of 3 shells in the magazine
and chamber combined. The plug must be Df one piece, incapable of being removed
through the loading end of the magazine,

Bows/ Archery: Long bows and compound bows for hunting deer and turkey

are legal during the reg ular hunting season and during the archery season for
deer> provide d they have minimum pull of 4fJ lbs at 28 ,, of draw The use of cross bows for hunting wit hin this state is

prohibited.

Firearms on Archery Hunts: It is unlawful to have in possession any firearm while hunting with bow and arrow during
archery season for deer. Bows may be

used during the firearms deer season, but

Septerpber/Cctober 1977

45

hunters must observe firearms bag limits and regulations.
CLOSED AREAS. Counties or parts of
counties not specifically open by law or regulation are closed to hunting.
Counties listed as being open for hunting do not include portions of the county lying within wildlife management areas, except when such management areas are specifically opened.
STATE AND FEDERAL PARKS. Hunt-
ing is prohibited on all state or federal
parks.
TRAINING DOGS. It is unlawful to
have in possession any firearms, axes, climbers or other equipment for taking game while training hunting dogs, except that hand guns with blank or solid ball
ammunition may be used to train hunting
dogs. There is no closed season for training
hunting dogs, except as otherwise provided.
It is unlawful to run deer with dogs, except during the lawful open season for hunting deer with dogs.
It is also unlawful to take game by any means while training hunting dogs, except during the lawful open season for such game.
OTHER GENERAL PROHIBITIONS. It
is unlawful to:
--Hunt while under the influence of
any drugs, intoxicating liquor, beer or wine.
--Use any pitfall, deadfall, snare,
catch, trap, net, salt lick, blind pig,
or baited hook to take game birds, game animals or protected species,
except in legal trapping.
--Bait a field, hunt game, upon, over, around or near a baited field, or hunt game upon, over, around or near
such a field for a period of 10 days
--after the bait has been removed. Hunt wildlife from a public road or discharge a weapon across a public road while hunting.
--Hunt any game bird, game animal or
furbearing animal from a moving motor vehicle or plane or from a boat being propelled by a motor or
--sail. Hunt on the lands of another without permission.
--Use drugs, poisons, chemicals, smoke,
gas, explosives or recorded calls or sounds, or recorded or electronically amplified sounds or imitations -of
calls or sounds to hunt any game bird or game animal.
--Use electronic communications
equipment to facilitate the pursuit of any game species.
--Sell or to purchase any game species. --Disturb, or destroy the dens, holes or
homes of wildlife, to blind wildlife
with lights, or to use explosives, chemicals, electrical or mechanical devices or smokers, in order to drive
them out of their dens, holes or homes.

--Kill or cripple any game bird or ani-
mal without making a reasonable ef-
fort to retrieve it.
--Hold any game species for the pur-
pose of propagation or pets without first obtaining a permit from the Department.
--- Release into the wild or import any
wildlife without a permit from the Department.
--Possess any wildlife or parts thereof
which the person in possession knows, or reasonably should have known, has been taken or possessed
illegally.
--Conceal the taking or possession of
wildlife which a person knows, or reasonably should have known, has been taken or possessed illegally.
DEER. In addition to the general provi-
sions relating to hunting, the following apply specifically to deer:
Required Clothing. Persons hunting deer or accompanying a person hunting deer during the season for firearms hunting (including "Primitive Weapons" hunts on wildlife management areas) must wear outer garments of at least a total of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange. This clothing must be worn above
the waistline and may include a head
covering. Age. It is unlawful for any person un-
der 16 years to hunt deer unless under the direct supervision of an adult.
Maximum Limits. The maximum number of deer which may be killed by any
person during the entire open and managed hunts seasons is two (2), only one (1) of which may be taken on any one managed hunt.
Dogs. It is unlawful to hunt deer with dogs except during seasons and in localities specifically authorized by the Board of Natural Resources.
Still Hunting. Still hunting is permitted in any area at any time during the legal season for hunting deer with dogs.
Lakes, Streams and Ponds. It is unlawful to take a deer by any means while it is in a lake, stream or pond.
Tagging Deer. It is unlawful for any person killing a deer to remove the carcass from the place of killing until the
tag from the Big Game license is at-
tached to the carcass. This tag must be properly filled out and remain on the deer at all times until it has been processed for consumption. It is unlawful for any person to be in possession of a deer not properly tagged. It is also unlawful for a cold storage plant, a processing plant or
common carrier to accept a deer not
properly tagged.
Head of Deer. It is unlawful to remove the head of a deer until it is processed or
surrendered to a storage facility for storage or processing.
Antlers. It is unlawful to kill a deer unless it has antlers (bone), visible above the hair, except during an either-sex or antlerless season or hunt as authorized by the Board of Natural Resources.

Reporting Kill. It is unlawful for any person taking a deer to fail to report that fact within five days after the close of the season. Such reports should be made to
the Game and Fish Division, Survey and
Analysis Section, Route 2, Social Circle,
GA 30279, or to any of the Game and
Fish offices.
TURKEY. The maximum number of tur-
key that may be killed by any person by any means during the entire open season
is two (2) gobblers.

HUNTING SEASONS

DEER SEASONS

Hunters may take only legal bucks

(visible bone antlers above hair) un-
less 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 wild-
life management areas, state or federal

wildlife refuges, and military reservations

do not coincide with general regulations

WMA unless so stated. (See

regulations.)

ARCHERY SEASON
Statewide: Oct. 1-29, Either-Sex. (The archery season closes Oct. 14 in all counties having gun hunts opening Oct. 15. The season closes Oct. 28 in all counties having gun hunts opening Oct. 29.)

FIREARMS SEASON
GAME ZONE I: In all counties except
Catoosa, Pickens and Whitfield. Buck Only: Nov. 5-26 and Dec. 26-Jan.
2.
Either-Sex: Nov. 24-26 (In Floyd, Haralson, Gordon, Paulding, Polk and Walker)
GAME ZONE II: In all counties.
Buck Only: Nov. 5-26 and Dec. 26-Jan.
2.
GAME ZONE III: In all counties except
Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton. Buck Only: Nov. 5-Dec. 3 and Dec. 26-
Jan. 2. Either-Sex:
1. In Barrow, Greene, Jackson and
-- Madison Dec. 3 and Jan. 2.
2. In Butts, Elbert, Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Pike, Spald-
-- ing, Troup and Upson Dec. 1-3 and
Dec. 30-Jan. 2. 3. In Clarke, Carroll, Coweta, Fay-
ette, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Rock-
-- dale and Walton Dec. 2-3 and Dec. 31-
Jan. 2.
GAME ZONE IV: In all counties except
Bibb.
Buck Only: Nov. 5-Dec. 3 and Dec. 26-
-- Jan. 2 (except Johnson Co. Nov. 5-Jan.
2).
Dog Hunting:
1. In Burke, Emanuel, Jenkins, Scre-
-- ven and Washington Oct. 15-Jan. 2.
2. In Johnson Co., east of Ga. 15 Dec. 1-Jan. 2.
Either-Sex: 1. In Columbia, Crawford, Houston,

46

Outdoors it? Georgia

-- Lincoln, McDuffie, Peach, Twiggs, War-
ren, Wilkes and Wilkinson Nov. 24-26 and Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 30-Jan. 2.
2. In Baldwin, Glascock, Hancock, Jasper, Jefferson, Jones, Monroe, Putnam,
-- Richmond and Taliaferro Dec. 1-3 and
Dec. 30-Jan. 2.
3. In Burke, Emanuel, Jenkins, Scre-
-- ven and Washington Jan. 3-4.
GAME ZONE V:
-- Buck Only: Nov. 5-Jan. 2, in all coun-
ties except Crisp Nov. 5-30.
Either-Sex: 1. In Baker, Calhoun, Chattahoochee,
Dougherty, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Schley, Stewart, Talbot, Taylor and
-- Webster Nov. 24-26 and Dec. 1-3 and
Dec. 29-31 and Jan. 5-7.
2. In Clay, Dooly, Lee, Randolph,
-- Sumter, Terrell and Worth Dec. 1-3.
3. In Decatur, Early, Grady and
-- Thomas Jan. 5-7.
Dog Hunting: 1. In Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Dou-
-- gherty, Early and Thomas Nov. 5-Jan.
2.-
1. In Grady, Marion, Mitchell, Semi-
-- nole, Stewart, Terrell and Webster Dec.
10-Jan. 2.
3. Colquitt--Nov. 11-12 and Nov. 1819 and Nov. 25-26.
GAME ZONE VI: Closed Counties: Ba-
con; that portion of Pierce Co. lying west of U.S. 82 and southwest of Pleasant Hill
Church Rd.; that portion of Wayne Co.
lying west of Jesup bounded on the north by Ga. 169 and on the south by U.S. 82; that portion of Ware Co. lying north of U.S. 82; and others as herein provided.
Buck Only: In all counties except as
-- listed above Oct. 29-Jan. 2.
1. Treutlen--Oct. 29-Nov. 15. 2. In Dodge Co., west of Ga. 230 and north of U.S. 280 and south of U.S. 280 and west of Ga. 117 southwest of Rhine,
GA--Oct. 29-Jan. 2.
3. Toombs--Oct. 15-Jan. 2. Dog Hunting:
1. Toombs, south of Ga. 107 and Ga.
56--Oct. 29-Nov. 30.
2. In Clinch, north of Ga. 37 and east of Suwannoochee Creek and southeast of U.S. 221; in Echols, east of U.S. 129 and south of Ga. 187; in Lanier, north of Seaboard Coastline Railroad and east of the Alapaha River and southeast of U.S. 221 --Oct. 29-Jan. 2.
3. In Ware, south of U.S. 82--Oct.
29-Dec. 3 and Dec. 26-Jan. 2.
4. In Atkinson, south of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad and east of U.S. 221; in Berrien, east of U.S. 129 and south of the Alapaha River and north of Ga. 76
-- and west of Ga. 135 Dec. 26-Jan. 2.
5. In Dodge, west of Ga. 230 and north of U.S. 280; and Wilcox east of U.S.
129 and north of U.S. 280--Dec. 30-Jan.
2.
6. In Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Tatt-
nall, Wayne (except closed portion), Pierce

(except closed portion), Brantley and
-- Charlton Oct. 15-Jan. 2.
Either-Sex:
-- 1. Bleckley and Pulaski Dec. 1-3 and
Dec. 30-Jan. 2.

GAME ZONE VII:
Dog Hunting: In all counties, except on state managed wildlife lands east of U.S.
17 in Bryan and Mcintosh Counties
-- where only still hunting is allowed Oct.
15-Jan. 2.
Either-Sex (No dogs): 1. Little St. Simons Is. (private land) --Oct. 15-Feb. 21 (Fallow Deer).
-- 2. Effingham Jan. 3-4.

SMALL GAME

*BOBCAT--Oct. 15-Feb. 28, statewide,

no limit. Night hunting allowed.
-- *FOX No closed season, no limit, state-

wide. Night hunting allowed.

GRO--USE-- limit 3.

Oct. 15-Feb. 28, statewide,

*OPOSSUM--Night hunting allowed, no

limit. Game Zones 1 & II--Oct. 15-Feb.

28. Game Zones III, IV, V, VI, VII--

no closed season.
QUAIL--Nov. 19-Feb. 28, statewide,

limit 12 (possession 36).
RABBIT--Nov. 19-Feb. 28, statewide,

limit 10.
-- *RACCOON night hunting allowed. In

Carroll, Fulton, Gwinnett, Barrow, Clarke,

Oglethorpe, Wilkes, Lincoln and all coun-
-- ties north of these Oct. 15-Feb. 28. Bag -- limit 1. In all other counties no closed
season, no limit.
SQUIRREL--Game Zones I & II--Sept.
15-Feb. 28, bag limit 10. Game Zones III, IV, V, VI, VII--Oct. 15-Feb. 28, bag

limit 10.
ARMADILLOS and COYOTES: May be

taken at any time.

*For trapping these animals refer to trap-

ping seasons.

TRAPPING

SEASON: The trapping season for furbearers is Nov. 20-Feb. 28. Raccoons may
not be trapped in Carroll, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Barrow, Jackson, Madison and Elbert Co. or any county lying north of these counties. There is no closed season for trapping raccoons in any of the counties south of the above listed counties. There is no closed season for trapping fox or beaver in this state.
WILDLIFE: No wildlife except those specified as furbearers may be trapped at any time within this state, except as may
be provided in state law.
RIGHT-OF-WAYS: It is unlawful to trap
any wildlife upon the right-of-way of any public road or highway of this state.
INSPECTION OF TRAPS: It is unlawful
to fail to inspect traps at least once each 24-hour period and remove the wildlife caught in the traps.
STAMPING OF TRAPS: It is unlawful
to trap wildlife except with traps which are legibly stamped with the owner's name.
CHOKE STICKS: It is unlawful to fail to
carry a choke stick or similar device while

tending traps and to use that device to re-

lease domestic animals.

.22 CAL. RIMFIRES: It is unlawful to fail to carry a weapon of .22 cal. rimfire
while tending traps and to use that weap-

toon to dispatch any furbearing animal

to be taken.

PERMISSION: It is unlawful to trap any
wildlife upon the lands or in the waters of any other person except with the writ-

ten consent of the owner, which must be on the person setting or using the traps.

NO. 2 TRAPS: It is unlawful to set on land any trap larger than a #2 trap.
SALE OF DOG OR CAT FUR: It is un-

lawful to sell the fur, hide or pelt of any domestic dog or cat caught by a trap.

WMA's: The use of traps on any wildlife management area or public hunting area

by any person not authorized by the
Game and Fish Division is prohibited.

REPORTS: Within 10 days after the

close of trapping season, all trappers
must report in writing the number of furs, hides or pelts which have been taken

during the open season and the person

to whom sold. Such reports must be made

to: Department of Natural Resources,

Survey and Analysis Section, Route 2,

GA Social Circle,

30279.

EXPORTATION OF FURS, HIDES,

PELTS: At least 3 days prior to shipping,

transporting or otherwise conveying any

furs, hides or pelts outside this state, a
written report of the number and type of

furs, hides or pelts to be exported and
name and address of the person to whom

such furs, hides or pelts are to be shipped
must be filed with the Law Enforcement

Section of the Department. Failure to
submit such a report may result in revo-

cation of license, in addition to criminal
proceedings. Any furs, hides or pelts

shipped outside this state contrary to these

provisions shall be declared contraband

and seized and disposed of as provided

by law.

POSSESSION, SALE OR TRANSPORTATION OF
ALLIGATORS AND THEIR HIDES

It is unlawful to hunt alligators or to buy, sell or possess any untanned hide of families Alligatoridae and Crocodylidae within this state.
No members of the families Alligatoridae or Crocodylidae may be trans-
ported into this state from any place in which the taking of such species is prohibited. The hides or skins of these families are contraband and will be seized.

NON-GAME SPECIES Except as may be otherwise provided,
it is unlawful to hunt or take any nongame species of wildlife except that the
following species may be taken to protect
crops or livestock, to prevent personal injury, to obtain fish bait or to gather food: rats, mice, groundhogs, beaver, freshwater turtles, poisonous snakes, frogs, spring lizards, fiddler crabs, freshwater crayfish and freshwater mussels. ^P

September /October 1977

47

Outdoors Toucl? it?

edited by Susan K. Wood

HUNTER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR COURSES
The Education Section of the Department of Natural Resources is conducting several 15-hour Hunter Safety Instructor classes across the state this fall. Completion of the entire 15 hours work is required for certification.
Anyone interested in becoming a DNR Volunteer Hunter
Safety Instructor should plan to attend any of the following classes:
October 4, 5, 6, 8 Washington Middle School Cairo, Georgia
October 5-8 Edward J. Bartlett High School Savannah, Georgia
October 12-15 Hubert Elementary School Savannah, Georgia
October 19-22 J. P. Carr Middle School Conyers, Georgia
October 24, 25, 27, 29 Moultrie Jr. High School Moultrie, Georgia
October 26-29 Summerville Jr. High School Summerville, Georgia
November 2-5 Calhoun Jr. High School
Calhoun, Georgia
November 9-1 2
Stephens County Jr. High School Eastanolle, Georgia November 1 6-1 9 Hilsman Middle School Athens, Georgia November 30-December 3 Cedartown Jr. High School Cedartown, Georgia December 5-7 & 10 North Clayton Jr. High School College Park, Georgia The classes will be held from 7-10 p.m. on the first three nights of the class and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the final day (Saturday). For information or to register for these classes, contact the Education Section of the Department of Natural Resources at 71 4 Trinity-Washington Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, or call 404/656-3534,

TWO NEW STATE RECORD FISH
July was a successful month for Georgia's coastal anglers judging by the two record saltwater catches hooked during the month.
A new state record Ladyfish, weighing 3 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 2 feet, % inches, was landed by
a Brunswick angler, Danny Drummond, on July 1. He
landed his record fish on a live shrimp in Jointer Creek.
On Sunday, July 1 7, a new state record Tripletail (eddyfish) weighing more than 18 pounds, was caught
by Henry Cate of Brunswick. Fishing at Marker 34 at the mouth of the Cumberland River, Cate hooked the
lunker in 10 feet of water.
"It takes the interest, cooperation and support of
fishermen such as Danny Drummond and Henry Cate to make our record program work," noted Larry Smith,
DNR's Marine Sportfish Program Chief. "I'd like to
remind fishermen that official entry forms may be
obtained from any official weighing station or from
my office here in Brunswick."
PUBLIC HEARINGS ANNOUNCED
State Representative Howard Rainey of Cordele has announced that during October and November, the
House Game and Fish Committee will hold public hear-
ings throughout on the proposed leghold-steel trap
legislation. Rainey, chairman of the Game and Fish
Committee, explained that the legislation passed the Senate in 1977 and awaits action by the House in the 1 978 session.
Meeting times and places will be announced locally in the news media.
In addition to Rainey, committee members include Gene Housley, Marietta; Robert Peters, Ringgold; Ralph Twiggs, Hiawassee; Bob Argo, Athens; Forest Hays, High Point; Jack Ervin, Cornelia; Hayward McCollum, Albany; and Ed Mullinax of LaGrange.

48

Outdoors it? Georgia

2nd Annual
Southeastern Wildlife Art Exhibit
October 21-23, 1977
Perimeter Mall Atlanta, Georgia
Original wildlife paintings, sketches, sculpture
and photography exhibited in the mall. For further information call 656-3530

i**?**?'

'
^~