Interest In Outdoors A Bright Side

Look on the bright side… hearing that can be annoying at times, especially when there is lots not to like about the current state of affairs.  You don’t need me to tell you that inflation is a serious issue. It’s affecting all of us, some of us profoundly. But for the hunting industry, and for…

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Mindful Of Who Leads Us Through The Next Emergency

One thing we learned during the craziness of COVID is how quickly everything can go to hell in a bucket.  The two top stories in the news on April 3, 2020, was no toilet paper in the stores and an absolute meltdown of outrage because the Georgia governor said it was OK to take a…

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Six Degrees Of Truck-Buck

Deer season is here. For GON, that means another year of the Truck-Buck contest. We love Truck-Buck entries because we get to see so many great Georgia bucks and so many familiar faces. Week 17 last season was extra special. As the entries rolled in, there were some familiar names.  There was Ritchie Sharian, who…

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Different Breed Of Magazine

Who is your favorite outdoor writer? My favorite changes depending on whether I’m diving into some classic from my bookshelf or reading something in a current issue of GON. Think about your favorite outdoor writer whose name doesn’t appear in GON, and insert them in this question… “Why doesn’t ‘so-and-so’ write articles for GON?”  Spend…

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A Proud “Prepper”

If someone called you a prepper, would you take offense? I do believe the intent was derogatory, so when I responded with a simple “Thank You,” I got a curious look. I wasn’t offended. Preppers are getting ready for something. The ones on the TV shows are flat-out preparing for the worst. We’re talking nuclear…

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State Weighs In On Flint River Access Controversy

A conflict has brewed for more than 40 years between landowners of riverfront property on the Flint at Yellow Jacket Shoals and anglers who wade the beautiful area to fish for shoal bass.  In the 1980s, a No Fishing sign was erected at the shoals, but it was not an edict ever enforced by DNR…

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The Hunting And Fishing Legacy In Georgia Records

There’s quite a bit to be proud of at GON—at least I think so—but our record-keeping legacy has to be near the top. Most of us will never kill a buck or catch a fish that has any record-book potential, but we all hunt deer in a county and have our favorite lake or river. …

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GON, Never Forgotten

Take any two-lane highway out of any small town in this great state, and in about 20 minutes you will roll up on another small town. At the stop sign or traffic light, you will probably have to turn right because there’s a town square. I love small towns. If I’m traveling, I will go…

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Complacency Leads To Bad Decisions

This month our opinion column is a bit of a ramble, so apologies up front. If you want to read something about a particular topic—and get some good laughs while you’re at it—go ahead and turn to the next column and read “On The Back Page” by my other brother Daryl. Too late for many…

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Wildlife Managers Changing Gears On Turkey And Deer

Those who drive our wildlife management bus in Georgia are shifting the gears a bit. It’s been a while since I’ve driven a manual transmission, but it wasn’t so long ago that I don’t remember how obvious it was when it was time to shift. If the engine is stalling out or you’re revving the…

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