Letters To The Editor October 2011

Show Some Love For Juggers And Hornyhead Chubs   

Dear GON,

I recently have become more involved with freshwater fishing than I have in the past years. I have always been an avid trout fisherman, but as the years pass I am finding that I enjoy angling for other species of freshwater fish. These new adventures have taken me to other surrounding states including North Carolina and Tennessee. What struck me as being odd during my fishing travels is that Georgia does not recognize as many species of fish for the state record books as our neighboring states.

Also noted was that our neighboring states, such as Tennessee, have state fishing records that they award for different methods of catching fish — like jugging and trot lines. I’m serious.

I would have thought with all the coverage of the “Go Fish Georgia Initiative” that we, too, would have more detailed record books as our counterparts. If we want people to really “Go Fish Georgia,” then we need to make it more angler friendly, much like our surrounding neighboring states have already done.

Fishing is exciting to me, and if I catch a whopper hornyhead chub, then why could it not be included for a record? If I had caught it in Tennessee, then it would have been a record. It is a shame to me that we don’t support our anglers for their accomplishments any more than we already do.

Ryan Fowler, Cohutta

Retired and Ready To Hunt — And Cook Venison   

Dear GON,

In the June issue of GON, I happened across the Buck Wrap recipe on page 47. Loved it! I just retired and am now able to really cook. My husband has been an avid hunter for 30-plus years, and we have always had venison in our freezer, but I only did the usual roast, spaghetti, tacos kinds of things.

I would love to get a hold of your cookbook, and I am super excited this fall because I just bought my first Mossberg and will be a hunter as well. It’s different than just sitting in the stand with Lee. He has built me a shooting house, so cool!

Deb Lewis, Conyers

Keep Publishing Kids   

Dear GON,

I was just writing to thank you for including photos of young people in your Georgia’s Outdoor Kids page. It’s encouraging to see so many kids hunting because most of my friends don’t hunt. Hopefully this year I will be able to send you a picture of me with a buck I killed.

Justin Kinninger, Fayetteville

We Reap What We Sow   

Dear GON,

Unfortunately there will not be as much sowing done this fall in south Georgia since baiting is now legal. I overheard some young hunters saying they weren’t going to have to waste time planting food plots this year. All they have to do is pour out some corn and start shooting. The exact quote was that, “It will be like taking candy from a baby.” What a shame.

At that moment, I regretted not being more active politically in opposing that legislation. Apparently this young man won’t be learning the habits of his prey by careful scouting and placing stands accordingly and feeling the sense of satisfaction when those careful plans are successful. He won’t even be planting plots that will benefit many species of wildlife. No, why waste your time on such things? Let’s just cut to the chase and get to what really counts, which for some is shooting deer as easily as possible.

Obviously a lot of people do not agree with this opinion, probably including some of my friends, or this law would not have passed. We are blessed in this state with some great deer hunting and a history of wise game management. But in the opinion of this deer hunter, we have taken a giant step backward. In ways we may not even realize, we will reap what we have sown for years to come.

Timothy B. Brenneman, Tifton

Ignored in North Georgia   

Dear GON,

Can someone please address the issue of baiting deer in the northern zone? Many resident hunters would like DNR to provide an explanation as to why baiting is allowed in the southern zone only. What was the rationale behind the legislature’s decision and their deliberate act of disenfranchising hunters in the northern part of the state? It seems discriminatory and a downright unfair treatment to those of us who are legal, licensed hunters who paid the same amount of money to access our states’ resources as our brethren to the south.

Brian Taylor, Milledgeville