Editorial-Opinion February 2025

“The Golden Age of America begins right now.”

Those were the opening words from the mouth of our 47th president a few weeks ago as he began his inauguration address. His second such address, which is not unheard of in American political history, but it is only the second time a second presidential term was not consecutive, immediately following the first term.

Regardless of what political letter defines your team, with objectivity we should agree the past four years have been challenging—and odd—to say the least. A challenging period like we’ve been through can be cause for optimism. Historically, the periods of time most considered Golden Ages followed periods of struggle and despair. Examples are the Gilded Age that followed the Civil War, and the period of unprecedented economic growth and soaring standard of living for Americans that followed the Second World War.

Defining a Golden Age is certainly subjective. For example, if you enjoyed shoplifting in California, that state’s recent referendum approved by 70% of voters making it a crime again probably ended your Golden Age, while the same referendum ushered in a new Golden Age for store owners weary of watching product and merchandise walk out the door with no repercussions for thieves. 

When it comes to hunting and fishing in Georgia, what was our Golden Age? Again, it’s subjective. If you’re a duck hunter in Georgia, the Golden Age was most likely more than two decades ago before duck hunting became so trendy and popular that there’s a group of 18-year-olds camping out and sleeping next to every good public duck hole the night before opening morning.

If you’re a turkey hunter, the Golden Age was likely around the turn of the century when you could go to a public area like the Oconee National Forest and have to choose which gobbler to go after as roosting birds sounded off in multiple directions. 

If you were a young outdoor editor in the early 1990s named Daryl Kirby, you witnessed first-hand a Golden Age of hunting in Georgia. New ideas for wildlife management were taking shape, innovative habitat improvement practices like food plots were being crafted and perfected, and exciting new public tracts of land were being purchased where trophy bucks could be hunted by anyone with a bow or a handful of quota-hunt priority points. And it was also an era when the work of biologists named Kammermeyer, Cooper, Ruckel, Carlock, Holbrook and others carried game species in Georgia to new heights in terms of numbers and quality—while sharing their learned techniques and best practices with sportsmen through regular articles that appeared in the pages of GON. 

A few weeks ago, firm notice was served to the country and the world that the United State of America stands at the threshold of a new era. The old adage “show me, don’t tell me” stands firm and true. In the first few weeks of this new term, the Executive Branch of our federal government is taking action at unprecedented pace. Whether it works or not, “showing not telling” doesn’t seem to be an issue with this bunch. Now, will the Legislative Branch do the necessary work to help usher in a Golden Age? And even more importantly, will the people do what’s needed? 

And then, if we’re successful, will we resist and fight complacency? Good times, especially a Golden Age, can change on a dime. The Roaring 20s were followed by the Great Depression. The Golden Age of turkey hunting in Georgia has been replaced by a lingering malaise of far fewer birds and reduced hunting opportunity.  

We can be encouraged and inspired by a leader who declares, “From this moment on, America’s decline is over.” And we take to heart his statement, “In America the impossible is what we do best.”

Let’s carry that theme to the woods and waters of Georgia, where wild game and fish are a way of life to so many. Let’s also bring it forward through a new Golden Age for GON and the hunters and anglers of Georgia.