Posts by Daryl Kirby
Editorial-Opinion March 2025
There’s a bit of a last-minute re-write to this month’s editorial, and it’s in the wrong direction—or maybe it’s the right direction. Let’s just say the path diverged from how thoughts are normally put to paper around here. The normal path… something shiny gets our attention, and by shiny I mean it is often when…
Read MoreLake Varner Fishing Holding Its Quality
If you like to fish, especially in small lakes, there’s nothing like a warming trend in early February. Add into the recipe a trip to Lake Varner with its history of producing big largemouth bass, and no surprise the snooze button saw no action before I jumped out of bed to start a cup of…
Read MoreWarming Trend Mother Lode Of Bass On Chattahoochee Reservoirs
The warming trend that hit Georgia last week had fishermen across the state itching to be on the water, whether pulling jigs for slab crappie or bass anglers hoping to roll a big one that moved up shallow. It sure paid off for GON content contributor Tyler Morgan, of Phenix City, who had a big…
Read MoreEditorial-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…
Read MoreEditorial-Opinion January 2025
Continuity is key. If not for familiarity and some ‘same-same’ in process, it would never be possible for GON’s crew to produce our monthly magazine along with all the other elements of this community—articles posting daily on the website, our email newsletter, the Outdoor Blast, keeping and compiling deer and fish records, and trying to…
Read MoreThe GON Subscription Drive Contest – Help GON!
We need your help, and in return and as extra incentive, we’re giving away a bunch of great stuff, including a $1,700 Bergara rifle. Through Dec. 31 of this year, for each gift subscription to GON that you buy for a family member or friend, you earn a chance in a drawing for some great…
Read MoreEditorial-Opinion December 2024
That’s a monster buck killed at Piedmont Refuge a few weeks ago. If you didn’t see it, look back at the picture on page 48. It’s not the first time this historic piece of Georgia hunting dirt has thrown out a big buck, and I’m betting it won’t be the last. Like so often when…
Read MoreA.H. Stephens State Park Lake Buncombe Topwater Bass
Back in the day, before internet search engines were around to give anglers instant information, we relied on word of mouth—or we hoped GON might send a writer—when looking for information on small lakes open to public fishing. It’s surprising how many small public lakes there still are where there’s simply no information about the…
Read MoreBest Georgia Counties For Trophy Bucks 2024
A joy and highlight of deer hunting is the anticipation. Each sit, you just never know what might walk under your stand. And yes, while most of us hunt primarily to fill the freezer, even for meat hunters the sight of a big-racked buck ghosting through the woods gets the juices flowing like few things.…
Read MoreHuge Buck Sported Ear Jewelry
A bowhunter’s elation after killing a 15-point buck quickly turned to concern and dismay when he saw small tags in each of the buck’s ears that said “Call Before Consuming” and listed a DNR phone number. “My heart dropped,” said Chandler Bowen. “I thought I had done something wrong.” Chandler lives in Cordele but has…
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