Briefly October 2020

First Oconee County Deer Hunt

The very first day of deer hunting in Oconee County when a season re-opened in 1971 worked out fantastic for Mac Hayes, of Watkinsville. Here’s a photo of Mac with a 10-pointer and a huge 8-pointer from that 1971 inaugural hunt. Thank you to GON member David Hayes for sending this great vintage photo!

Don’t Forget About VPA Hunting Tracts

Lack of a hunting lease or hunting club shouldn’t keep you out of the woods and filling the freezer this fall.

In addition to all the public areas you’re probably familiar with—like WMAs, corps land and National Wildlife Refuges—there’s also a program call Voluntary Public Access (VPA) that’s been running since 2014.

There are 15 VPA properties available for public hunting this year in Georgia that range from tracts that are less than 100 acres (often for dove and small game), to the 1,627-acre Camp Thunder tract in Upson County that offers deer, turkey and small game hunting during state seasons.

The VPA program is funded by a federal grant administered by the USDA through the Farm Bill.

For information on where these VPA tracts are located and what hunting they offer, along with directions and special regulations, visit georgiawildlife.com/VPA-HIP.

Segars Hunting Contest To Benefit Officer Injured In Accident

A statewide big-buck contest has been organized to raise money to help a Banks County Sheriff’s Deputy who in July was injured in a motorcycle wreck.

Jonathan Segars, of Maysville, was off duty and participating in a benefit ride when he was critically injured in an accident. Jonathan was life-flighted with severe head injuries. He is recovering, but expenses and burdens on the family are extensive.

For the Segars Hunting Contest, enter by email to [email protected], and include hunter’s name, phone number, mailing address and email address. Also include which of three divisions the hunter would compete in—Adult Men, Ladies or Youth. Pay the $100 entry fee by mailing a check to Segars Hunting Contest, 304 Crawford Circle, Toccoa, GA 30577, or Venmo to @SegarsHunting Contest.

Winners in each division will get a mount by Antler Creations Taxidermy in Toccoa and a rifle or bow. The contest runs statewide through Georgia’s firearms season, Oct. 17 to Jan. 10.

Georgia ClayBusters Fundraiser Shoot

Here’s a great opportunity to burn through some shotgun shells and bust some clay targets with a group of friends, while also helping raise some money to benefit a good cause that promotes youth shooting activities.

The Georgia ClayBusters Sporting Clays Fundraiser Shoot will take place Oct. 3 at the Elbert County Gun Club on Ruckersville Road in Elberton.

The ClayBusters are part of the largest clay target program for youth in the United States, the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP).

SCTP provides kids from age 8 through high school with the opportunity to participate in the fun and challenging sports of Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays.

At the Oct. 3 shoot, in addition to a great sporting clays round, the all-ages event includes lunch and door prizes. The entry fee is $75. Sponsor opportunities are available.

For more information, please contact [email protected], call 770.540.0485, or visit the website at georgiaclaybusters.com.

WHERE’S GON

For a school assignment, kids at a Leesburg school were asked to bring their favorite book and dress up like a character. Archer Tomlinson, 6, brought his GON and wore his camo! (We blurred out his classmates and teacher). You can also see Archer on page 62 in the big-buck contest coverage with his crossbow buck from Lee County.

When you see the GON logo in an interesting location, please e-mail a photo and the details to [email protected], or mail to GON, 4331 Seven Islands Road, Madison, GA 30650.