Posts by Steve Burch

Thomas Paine sat on Dec. 23, 1776, wrapped in a Pennsylvania winter as cold and white as any could remember, and with these words began his essay, titled “The Crisis”… “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their…

Corn mazes are popular this time of year. They kind of bring together the time of harvest and the fun of Halloween. This fall may be a bit unique for sportsmen across the state, and it could be that we are now walking into deer hunting’s corn maze. It should be an interesting trip. With…

One Million Dollars. It does have a ring to it. That is the amount of money King America Finishing has agreed to spend to make up for killing 38,634 fish in the Ogeechee River in May, according to a consent order entered into between King America, a textile plant, and Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD)…

Sportsmen shouldn’t be sued for doing what is right. Now, they won’t if we band together in a simple program. Sportsmen have always been noted for their generosity, their willingness to share the bounty of the land with others. That willingness is consistent with the sense of fair chase and husbandry that is at the…

The intellectual dishonesty of the Georgia Wildlife Federation (GWF) continues to be impressive. Last month I ended this editorial noting that the GWF — through its wholly owned sportsman’s facade called the Camo Coalition — objected to the legislature’s plan to treat all specialty tags the same. Somehow “fair-is-fair” for all specialty tags is not…

Last month I embarrassed myself. I indicated that I agreed with the position of the Georgia Hunting and Fishing Federation opposing state plans for the low user fees on some WMAs, and that I would vote “Yes” on the ballot on last month’s cover. I should have said I would vote “No” on question 2.…

DNR is celebrating both its 100-year anniversary — when our first game wardens were created — and the appointment of its brand new commissioner — Mark Williams. Commissioner Williams should be the most sportsman-friendly commissioner in some time. Indeed, he has been recognized by the Georgia Hunting and Fishing Federation (GHFF) for his pro-sportsmen work…