Letters To The Editor: December 2022

Phillip Robider,  of Savannah, relocates a timber rattlesnake after finding it near his deer stand.

Timber Rattler Relocation Goes Smoothly, But… 

Dear GON,

While hunting my ladder stand with blackpowder the Friday before gun season, I saw where I could make it a lot more comfortable. So after lunch, my brother Michael and I went back over to the stand and found at the bottom of the ladder one the biggest timber rattlers I have come across (pictures to the right).

After reading the article about the good they do for the environment, we decided to relocate it. Michael caught the snake, and we took it far away from any of our stands and released it. After it was all over, we felt good about what we had done. 

Phillip Robider,  Savannah

Editor’s Note: Phillip, we appreciate you sharing your photo with GON and our readers. Even more so, we applaud your concern for the outdoors. While it’s true that rattlers have a role in the environment, GON does not recommend anyone except a professional snake handler picking up a live, venomous snake. Even though caring hunters and sportsmen have great intentions for the future of our woods, there’s just too many bad things that can go wrong when dealing with Mr. No Shoulders.

The Golden Bass 

Dear GON,

Recently I received an email from GON regarding a gold crappie caught in Missouri. The article stated it was the result of a genetic condition known as Xanthochroism. This got me thinking about a largemouth my son Matt caught while fishing a jonboat tournament at Stone Mountain Park several years ago. We never knew what it was and always referred to it as “The Chernobyl Bass.” Was this an xanthous bass?

Ron Neal, Lawrenceville

This Stone Mountain bass appears to have have a condition called Xanthochroism, which produces a gold color.

GON Social

GON Facebook: Kinsley Pinchen, 5, of Jesup, killed this big sow on the adult/child hunt at Penholoway WMA on Sept. 24. She was super excited about this hunt and to be able to kill a trophy hog made it even better.

GON Instagram: Elijah Dickerson, 18, of Stockbridge, with a solid Ocmuglee River shoal bass.