Briefly Outdoor News – October 2021

Bass Slam For Cindy

Cindy Otwell, of Mableton, completed her Georgia Bass Slam the weekend of Sept. 11 by catching her largemouth and Bartram’s bass. She had already caught a shoal bass, spotted and redeye bass earlier this year. The Georgia Bass Slam is a recognition program offered by the Fisheries Section of Georgia’s WRD. Cindy is the 17th angler to complete the Slam in 2021.  

“The idea behind the Georgia Bass Slam is to recognize anglers with the knowledge and skill to catch five different species of black bass in a variety of habitats across the state, and to stimulate interest in the conservation and management of black bass and their habitats,” says WRD.

Anglers who catch five of the 10 eligible bass species in a calendar year can submit photos and info via email to [email protected]. For info, visit georgiawildlife.com/fishing/angler-resources/GeorgiaBassSlam. 

4-H Pistol Champs

We accidentally left these guys out of our 4-H coverage in the July issue. Sam Hobby (right) was the individual winner at the 2021 GA 4-H Pistol Championship in the Basic Supported format held May 1 at Rock Eagle, while Remington Smith (left) placed first in the International Standing format. Great shooting guys!

Where’s GON?

Tommy Bartlett, a GON subscriber for years, was in north Georgia with his wife Tammy when they saw the GON decal under the boot tree at Neels Gap at the entry to the Appalachian trail on Blood Mountain.

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

Workshop For Women To Learn About The Outdoors

A Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Workshop is scheduled for Nov. 5-7 at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center. The program provides a practical introduction to a wide variety of outdoor recreational skills and activities.  

“BOW workshops focus on learning outdoor skills in a safe and structured environment, giving women from all backgrounds the chance to learn outdoor skills in a positive, non-competitive atmosphere where they can feel confident and have fun,” said Melissa Paduani, BOW coordinator. “Available class activities will include shooting, fishing, camping, photography, wilderness survival and more.”

BOW is an educational program offering hands-on workshops to women (18 or older) of all physical ability levels and aims to break down barriers to female participation in outdoor activities by providing a safe and supportive learning environment.  

Weekend workshops begin on Friday morning and end on Sunday. Between meals and special presentations and events, participants can choose from about 20 professionally-led classes, ranging from such topics as firearms, outdoor preparedness, fishing, preparing and cooking game, foraging, geocaching, nature photography, medicinal plants and hunting. Sessions range in intensity from leisurely to rugged (strenuous).

“Although classes are designed with beginners and those with little to no experience in mind, more seasoned participants will benefit from the opportunity to hone their existing skills and try out new activities,” says Paduani. “All participants will receive enough instruction to pursue their outdoor interests further when the workshop is complete.”

Registration for BOW is now open. Participants can choose to bring their own tents and gear, stay off-site or stay at the lodge at Charlie Elliott, an area that includes Clybel WMA and Marben Farm PFA. Cost per person, which includes food and programming, ranges from $245 to $290, depending on lodging choice.

For more information, including registration details, online registration and a complete listing of classes, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/BOW or call 770.784.3059.

New Hunting App For Corps Savannah River Properties

Officials at the three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir projects on the Savannah River have introduced a new mobile application to aid hunters. The free app will cover the Thurmond Lake (Clarks Hill), Russell Lake and Hartwell Lake areas.

“The app’s detailed maps provide high-quality imagery and topographical relief,” Evan Brashier, conservation biologist and park ranger at Thurmond Lake said. “In addition, the app includes layers showing state wildlife management areas, Corps management units, no hunting areas and food plots to pinpoint the perfect area to hunt during seasons.”

Additional tools include measuring, drawing, layer list selection, clickable layer information, map sharing, map printing, orientation and base map selection. 

“USACE Hunting Maps” powered by Arc GIS Online will “will assist the avid hunter in digital scouting and ground referencing features of interest,” Brasher said.

Users can find the application link at bit.ly/3zmNJeF.

For more info on hunting at Hartwell, visit bit.ly/3BnnipP or call 1.888.893.0678. For Russell, go to bit.ly/3zp546r or call 800.944.7207. For Clarks Hill, go to bit.ly/3ylRHmp or call 800.533.3478.