Letters To The Editor: September 2022

Wendell Duncan takes aim before busting a full-sized skeet at 60 feet. A few rounds later he would win the Shoot-Out, replacing his old truck.

Prayers Answered At GON’s Outdoor Blast

Dear GON,

In 1985 I attended my first Buckarama at the Atlanta Civic Center close to downtown Atlanta. Everywhere the Buckarama and now the GON Blast have moved I’ve driven friends and family to attend these iconic hunting gatherings. From Atlanta, to Forest Park, to Perry, to Bass Pro Shops, to Macon, to Gwinnett. It doesn’t matter to me where the venue is hosted, it’s the friends and the like-minded people who I enjoy so much. 

Fast forward 37 years to the new Lakepoint facility in Emerson, site of the best outdoors hunting trade show in 2022, and it NEVER grows old! GON once again hit a walk-off homerun and are World Series Champions in my eyes! 

My friend Wendell Duncan shot a 145-inch buck to win the last week of the best deer hunting contest in the country. I saw him Friday, and he said, “Jay my truck is about worn out, and I sure could use a new one.” I told him I would say a prayer for him and be back Sunday to cheer him on and cry with him if he won it! God answered Wendell’s prayer to direct his aim as he stepped up on the platform to shoot an egg at 30 feet after two other weekly winners had just missed it. Yes, he’s now the owner of a beautiful red extended cab 2022 John Megal sponsored Chevrolet truck! 

It’s not cheap with gas prices or convenient to drive through Atlanta to get anywhere, but it’s highly important to me that this event continues for many, many years to come. And I always find great deals on deer feed, ammo and numerous other products that friendly vendors have brought to the show. So I encourage everyone to mark it on their calendar for next year and bring your family and friends and get excited for the upcoming deer season. Best of luck to you all and maybe you’ll get your best buck ever in the 2022-2023 season!

Jay Reed, Ball Ground

Try DIY Bear Puller On Your Next Mountain Hunt

Dear GON,

I enjoyed John Trussell’s “Deer Down! Now What!” article in GON’s August issue. It reminded me of my past mountain hunts. I’m 69 and have hunted a lot since the early 1990s on the Chattahoochee National Forest in Rabun County. Most of my hunts have been solo. In the beginning, I bought a winch and powered it with a chainsaw motor. I named it “bear puller.” I keep it in my truck on all mountain hunts. I’ve been fortunate enough to harvest a 195-lb. bear and a 200-lb. buck up there. Both of them ran down the mountain away from my truck when I shot them. Luckily, my son helped me get the buck out and two friends helped me with the bear. We used the “bear puller” both times.

Ray Hitt, Grovetown

GON Social

GON Facebook: This 8-lb. bass was caught by Cal Fowler in Kathleen.

GON Instagram: Logan Hare with a nice bass in Habersham County.