Advertisement

Hunting

New Union County Gun Range A Gem

The Union County Gun Range opened to the public on June 27, 2024. This high-quality range is a testament to the ability of citizens and elected officials—with the will—to accomplish an amazing goal despite many obstacles. Located about 15 minutes from Blairsville, this new gun range sits in a natural bowl on federal land that’s…

Teen’s Bear One Of Georgia’s Heaviest Ever

A 16-year-old hunter killed one of the biggest bears ever taken Georgia—the second heaviest ever from north Georgia and the fifth heaviest overall. On Oct. 22, Grayson Collins, of Blairsville, managed to take down the bear of a lifetime. The behemoth weighed 620 pounds on certified scales. Grayson was hunting a few miles from Ball…

New Shooting Range Opens In Union County

A new Union County Gun Range celebrated its grand opening and is ready for visitors. This range is one of more than 45 public archery and shooting ranges currently available in Georgia that is either operated or funded by the DNR Wildlife Resources Division. “In Georgia, target shooting activities have an annual economic impact of…

Native Turkeys Of The North Georgia Mountains

Ten years ago I wrote a book titled Native Turkeys. Since then, I have been asked many times, “Were those original mountain turkeys you wrote about a different wild turkey than the ones either pen-raised or live-trapped and restocked in many parts of Georgia?” To answer that question, I will only express what I have…

Legendary Union County Bucks

The mountain counties of northern Georgia are not generally recognized as trophy-buck counties when compared to other areas of the state. The areas south of the mountains produce generally larger deer in both body size and antlers. This being said though, there have been some mighty impressive bucks killed in the mountains in years gone…

Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – September 2021

The Conservation LE Corner is designed to highlight the efforts of Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division (LED) officers who, among their many duties, protect Georgia’s wildlife, sportsmen and natural resources from game-law violators.  With hunting deer over feeders and scattered corn being legalized statewide several years ago, some hunters who harvest other species, particularly bear…

The Slaughter Mountain Mystery Buck

Jesse Payne, a 33-year U.S. Forest Service employee and veteran deer hunter, couldn’t believe what had just happened. Jesse had climbed almost to the top of Slaughter Mountain and had just shot at and missed the biggest buck he had ever seen. Jesse was slowly making his way to the top of the mountain when…

Critical Chance For Wildlife Management In National Forests

Sportsmen have until this Friday, Jan. 10, to comment on a project characterized by a wildlife researcher and biologist as, “The most significant opportunity to improve wildlife habitat, restore active forest management, and enhance fishing and hunting opportunities on the Chattahoochee National Forest in the last 30 years.”   Wildlife and forest management of the Chattahoochee National Forest…

Georgia Trout Stocking For 2019

Last year, more than one million trout were stocked in Georgia. This year, that number should increase. The 2019 trout stocking effort is already underway, thanks to trout hatchery staff with the Georgia DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “This is the second year of our initiative to stock larger trout in Georgia,…

Arthur Woody’s Native Turkeys

Arthur Woody had a lifelong passion for his mountain turkeys. Next to his beloved deer and trout, wild turkeys were the most important game animal in Ranger Woody’s life. He hunted them as a boy, and during the 1920s and ’30s, at the height of his restoration program with deer, he worked hard to try…

Become a GON subscriber and enjoy full access to ALL of our content.

New monthly payment option available!

Advertisement