Truck-Buck, Youth Contest Scoring Event Dates And Details

  If you have a buck entered the GON Truck-Buck Contest or Youth Big-Buck Contest for the 2024-2025 Georgia deer season, there’s still an important step at the end of the season. To compete for weekly prizes and a spot in the grand-prize Shoot-Outs, an entrant’s rack must be officially scored during one of two…

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Another Mountain Monarch For Chestatee WMA Record Holder

Chase Hemphill has a love-hate relationship with Chestatee Wildlife Management Area and deer hunting the mountains of Lumpkin County. The 39-year-old public-land hunter from Blairsville has had remarkable success with two special bucks… but they are bucks killed five years apart that bookend countless unsuccessful hunts.  “I love it when it’s right, hate it when…

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GON December Issue 2024

Vol. 38, No. 12 There’s still a lot of deer hunting to go this season, and still hope for the chance at a big Georgia buck. Photo by Tommy Kirkland   December 2024 Magazine Flipbook Edition   Articles available to paid GON subscribers December Feature Articles No hindsight ip unit displayed. Holiday Season Gut Check…

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Poacher Bullet Misses Kids By 6 Inches!

Editor’s Note: A primary reason we’re publishing this story after 30 years is because it could save a life. If you’ve ever been tempted to shoot a deer after dark or from a road, please re-consider. Resisting that urge could change your life and save another. Apart from the illegality and fair-chase aspect, there is…

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Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – December 2024

The Conservation LE Corner is designed to highlight the efforts of Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division (LED) officers who, among their many duties, protect Georgia’s wildlife, sportsmen and natural resources from game-law violators. Bacon County: On Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, Game Warden Dylan Brady was working a night hunting detail in Alma in reference to…

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Lake Jackson Fishing Report – December 2024

Jackson: Level: 0.2 feet below 528. Temp: High 50s. Clarity: Clear. Bass: Tournament angler Willie McMullen said rising water will spread out fish, but they will be around bait. Use your electronics to find bait, and fish the area with underspins and jerkbaits. Deeper rock banks and docks are good places to start. Brown/green-pumpkin jigs…

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Lake Russell Fishing Report – December 2024

Russell: Level: 0.8 feet below 475. Temp: 64 degrees. Clarity: Clear. Bass: Guide Trad Whaley reports, “The shallow bite is tough, but the spots are starting to set up in their winter patterns. The key, as always, is finding the bait. The birds are just starting to show up. We have been catching a mixture…

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Lake Hartwell Fishing Report – December 2024

Hartwell: Level: 3.5 feet below 660. Temp: Mid 50s to low 60s. Clarity: Clear. Bass & Stripers: Trent Gober, with Fish Hartwell Guide Service, said the bait is moving into the creeks and ditches, and bass and stripers will follow. Look for both back in ditches where the 20 to 25 foot deep water ends.…

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Clarks Hill Lake Fishing Report – December 2024

Clarks Hill: Level: 3.1 feet below 330. Temp: 64-70 degrees. Clarity: Slightly stained to clear. Bass: D.J. Hadden, with Hadden Outdoors, says to “scope, scope, scope.” D.J.’s son, Tanner, wins many tournaments, including the recent Super 6 Championship with his uncle. Tanner also won the Gerald Jones Tournament with partner Caleb Hudson. Tanner is an…

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