Letters To The Editor – September 2021

GON Shines With Its WMA Info Each August

Dear GON,

The article a couple of months ago on quota hunts really helped us. We love dove hunting Di-Lane but can’t go this year, so we did points-only because of that article. You all do a great job. 

Charlie Hendricks, Metter

Don’t Like Daylight WMA Dove Opener For Several Reasons

Dear GON,

For the first time in my hunting career I will not be able to hunt past noon on a WMA dove field on the opening day of dove season. 

I think the worst part about this is that these fields shoot much better during the afternoon. I’d like to know which WMA is going to give hunters a good  chance at a limit before noon. It could maybe happen on a drizzly day, but those are rare days in early September. All of the WMA fields I have been on the shooting has been best in the afternoon, and on many fields, there is hardly a bird in the morning. 

We have been going to the Oconee WMA quota dove hunt, which is a two-hour drive. I can’t imagine having to get up before 4 a.m. to make that drive only to have a few birds fly right at daybreak, and then they are done. Nor can I imagine taking the boys to one of the youth hunts like we used to at Walton, Redlands and Di-Lane and have to get them out there and positioned in a blind in the dark.

Danny Leigh, Marietta

Editor’s Note: The WMA noon cut-off for dove hunting applies on opening day of dove season.

Georgia Snook?

Oh it’s true.

Matthew Bennett, of Lakepark, caught this saltwater snook in Lowndes County in the Withlacoochee River on April 8. He was fishing with buddy Jason Redding and caught the fish on an Alabama Slammer jerkbait. 

GON reached out to WRD, and they confirmed that this is not the only snook to be caught so far up the Withlacoochee from the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a unique catch but not overly rare, they said. 

Matthew released the fish not knowing what to do, but WRD said there is no size limit or creek limit restrictions on them in Georgia, and snook can be kept. 

GON Social

GON Instagram: No scales, but what a beast! Shawn Daniel, of LaFayette, caught the Walker County giant on July 17.

GON Facebook: Kyle Jarrard rolled this big bass at Lake Winfield Scott in August. 

GON Twitter: Brittany Clark @GAhuntingGal tweeted on June 3, “Sometimes when life gives you lemons, you just need to bait a hook and cast a line. #shessogeorgia.”