Posts by Duncan Dobie
Story of Zeus: A Potential State-Record Buck
By now, many GON readers are familiar with the recent controversy that erupted after Lee Ellis killed a giant buck named “Zeus” on Nov. 16 that could end up being Georgia’s best typical buck ever taken with a bow. Within a few days of killing the big deer in a north Atlanta suburb, a story…
Read MoreSam “The Bird Man” Fite
A worn 1976 Georgia license plate reads “RUFF61,” as a reminder of the previous 1975 ruffed grouse season in the Georgia mountains. It had been his best season ever with 61 birds. Not only is he a seasoned veteran, he’s also a seasoned backwoods philosopher. Seven decades of chasing the “big three” in Georgia has…
Read MoreThe Story Of Arthur Woody And His Deer
Arthur Woody was the most famous forest ranger ever to refuse to wear a uniform. Born in 1884 near Suches, in the heart of Georgia’s “high country,” legend tells us that he witnessed his father kill the last living deer in Fannin County around 1895, when Arthur was 10 years old. In 1912, Arthur was…
Read MoreThe Story Of Georgia’s No. 3 Bass
When George Perry caught his immortal world record 22-lb., 4-oz. largemouth in a backwater slough near Montgomery Lake in Telfair County on June 2, 1932, he unwittingly caused Nickie Rich and a handful of other singular Georgia bass anglers a great disservice. By setting such an imposing and seemingly unbeatable record, many of the exceptional…
Read MoreThe Story of Blue Ridge, The First WMA
The story about how Georgia’s first WMA was created is a rich blend of history, perseverance and vision. Being the first of its kind in the nation in which a partnership was formed between a state agency and the federal government, its creation in 1936 was a historic event and one of the Peach State’s…
Read MoreThe Story Of Arthur Woody And His Trout
Ask just about anyone in the Peach State who is even remotely familiar with the name Arthur Woody (1884-1946) about what this man did during his long career as a forest ranger, and most people will answer, “He’s the man who brought deer back to the mountains.” Although he is best remembered for restoring deer…
Read MoreThe Cherry Wood Gobbler Part 3
“I done tol’ you, Mista Will, that Ad’mral, he ain’t no ordinary turkey bird.” Jonas, Will and Greg were standing in the church parking lot on Sunday afternoon, the day after Will’s extraordinary encounter. Will had contacted Jonas and arranged the meeting, so he could tell about his strange experience. “I agree with you Jonas,…
Read MoreThe Cherry Wood Gobbler Part 2
Will Starr arrived at the cemetery promptly at 4 p.m. the following Wednesday afternoon just as Jonas had requested. Jonas and several other people were raking leaves and picking up small limbs. “Good to see ya’, Mista Will,” Jonas said with a big smile. “Mista Hardy, he got sump’n for you….” He nodded toward the…
Read MoreThe Cherry Wood Gobbler
Will Starr parked his truck on the side of the road next to the small country cemetery and got out. He patted the locked cover on the truck bed as he walked around the rear of the vehicle. Holding a hand-made box call in one hand, he walked over to the back corner of the…
Read More50 Years A Cohutta Mountain Man – The John Roy Brackett Story
The first thing John Roy Brackett will tell you if you’re lucky enough to meet him in person is how very blessed he considers himself to be after having spent the lion’s share of his 91 years pursuing his outdoor passions. “I’ve had a good life,” John Roy will tell you. “Hunting and fishing was…
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