Letters To The Editor February 2005

EXCELLENT Deer Season

Dear GON,

I will be the first to tell you, I have not seen as many deer in the last couple of years as I have in years past. I did not see as many deer this season as I did last. I did not kill as many deer this season as last, and I did not kill a single buck, but I still rate my deer season as GOOD.

I have always been fortunate that I am allowed to spend more time on the stand than the average hunter. Last year I logged well over 100 hours in a tree. I saw numerous sunrises and sunsets, I breathed fresh, clean and crisp air, which is something foreign to the majority of the population. I experienced mother nature at her finest, and I did see deer along with a vast number of other wildlife. I got to hear and see the excitement of a child who had killed their first deer. I spent countless hours at camp swapping tales.

I got to live and do, and God willing I will get to do again next year, those things which only we as hunters get to. I reaffirmed my love for the outdoors and for hunting itself. I once again rejuvenated my spirit and my already strong passion for the outdoors, all while seeing fewer deer than I used to see. ON second thought, I change my rating. I had an EXCELLENT deer season.

I think we as hunters tend to lose sight of and take for granted these things which we are truly lucky and privileged to have. I think if we are truly conservationists, if we are truly stewards and keepers of the land, then when judging the success of our season afield we should take a deeper look at the experiences of that season than at just the number of deer we have seen or shot. I think the number of deer we have seen should be the last criteria by which it is judged.

Ron Gowan, White

WHAT! 17-DEER?

Dear GON,

I find it appalling that the DNR/WRD is proposing a 17-deer limit for this state. Who in this state could possibly need 17 deer for their personal consumption? I understand that we have the “Hunters for the Hungry” program and have no problem with that, but this just invites unethical people (not hunters) to kill for the sake of killing.

The past two seasons have produced fewer deer sightings for me than prior seasons, and I think the DNR/WRD is attempting to devastate the herd in compliance with the insurance industry and land developers.  We (the hunters of Georgia) and the deer herd in this state are being abandoned by the very agency that is supposed to look out for our interests and well being. Shame on them! We need a (WRD) Director who will stand up for us; not one who will bow to State Farm and others.

James Raughton, Rockmart

Editor’s Note: The 17-deer limit was a recommendation that came from the Steering Committee, the authors of Georgia’s 10-year Deer Management Plan. The Steering Committee consisted of private citizens appointed by WRD.

Memories Sold To State?

Dear GON,

After reading the January issue of GON, in particular the editorial by Steve Burch on page 140, I couldn’t help but respond to the article about the state acquiring more public land.

While I agree with the notion that we need to preserve more land for future use, there is another side to the story.  Specifically, this weekend looks like the last for our hunting club in Glynn County. We lease 6,000 acres from a paper company, who now plans to sell the property to a group, who in turn wants the land to go to the state.

On the surface, this is a good idea because state property will be saved from development and therefore preserved for future generations. However, our hunting club has leased the property for 40 years and hunted the same tract for over 70 years.  There have been five generations of family members to hunt the same property.  We have protected the land from illegal dumping, forest fires and cooperated with DNR to prosecute poachers.

Many of our members have grown up hunting the same tract, and for some it is the only place they have ever hunted. To say this weekend will be somewhat somber is an understatement.

For those who will ultimately benefit from the new land acquisition, I say happy hunting. From those of us who will have to find some place else to hunt next year, I sarcastically say, thanks a lot.

Robert Jones, Brunswick

Stolen Trailer and 4-wheeler

Dear GON,

On Friday morning after Thanksgiving, my son, my grandson and I met on property in Barrow County to deer hunt. We use 4-wheelers to retrieve the deer, if we get one. We each carry our own 4-wheelers.

We arrived at our usual area about 6 a.m. Friday. We parked our trucks side by side. My 4-wheeler was on my truck, my grandson’s was on his trailer, hooked to his truck and locked with a Master Lock.

At 9:45 a.m., my grandson needed to go home. When he got to his truck, his trailer and 4-wheeler were gone. The lock was cut, so the ones who got it, needless to say, came prepared.

If you have information about the following 4-wheeler and trailer, please call the Barrow County Sheriff’s Department at (770) 307-3083.

2002 Red Honda Rancher

Black trailer with chrome wheels

J.C. Waldrop, Conyers

Amen To Mr. Quick

Dear GON,

I just got through reading Mr. Davis Quick’s letter, “September is Too HOT.” I say AMEN! DNR should forget about September and deer hunting altogether. Unbearable temperatures and humidity make for a terrible hunting experience. Extend the season through the end of January. It’s the same amount of weeks.

Over the last 25 years, some of the hottest rutting sign and activity I’ve seen has been after the season closed. Someone told me that the main reason the season closed when it did was the fact that bucks begin shedding their antlers in mid January. I disagree because bucks will stop rutting activity completely after dropping antlers.

Thanks,

Carl Lowell, Americus