Newspaper Page Text
March 23, 2022
Page 4B
1 Reporter
MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
Turkey hunting season is almost here
The statewide turkey season opens a week later than last year, and the season bag limit
has been reduced to two gobblers. (Photo courtesy of National Wild Turkey Federation)
I don’t know how long
it takes for an event to
qualify as a tradition.
However, over the
past several decades or so,
spring turkey hunting has
become such
an increasingly
popular event, if
it is not consid
ered a tradition,
it should be.
This year the
statewide turkey
season opens
April 2 and
closes May 15.
However, prior
to opening day
a Special Opportunity
Turkey Hunt is scheduled
for March 26-27.
According to the Georgia
Wildlife Resources Divi
sion the only individuals
that hunt during the special
two-day hunting event are,
. .youth 16 years of age or
younger, or hunters that
are mobility impaired (i.e.
confined to a wheelchair,
hemiplegia, monoplegia,
paraplegia, or single-leg
amputation above the
knee).” Hunts must take
place on private lands. In
addition, an adult (18 years
or older) must accom
pany each youth hunter.
Although they can call
turkeys up for their young
companions, adults cannot
actually shoot a turkey.
You have probably no
ticed the statewide turkey
season opens a week later
than it did in 2021. In addi
tion, the season for Volun
tary Public Access Lands
(VPAs), National Forests
outside state wildlife man
agement areas (WMAs)
was pushed back two weeks
in 2022. This year hunting
on these areas
does not begin
until April 9.
Changes have
also been made
in the turkey
bag limits. The
season bag limit
has been reduced
to two gob
blers per
season. The
daily bag limit
for turkeys taken on private
lands in 2022 is one gob
bler. In addition, the bag
limit for turkeys harvested
on WMAs, VPAs, and
National Forest holdings is
one gobbler per area.
If you are a devoted ar
cher looking for places you
can pursue wild turkeys
without having to compete
with firearm hunters, there
are two areas within easy
driving distance of your
Monroe County home.
One destination is the
Rum Creek WMA-Berry
Creek Archery Only Area.
This 161-acre tract is open
for archery turkey hunting
April 9-May 15.
Archery-only turkey
hunting is also offered on
Camp Thunder VPA. This
1,527-acre property is situ
ated in Upson County.
Once again turkey hunt
ing on the Piedmont and
Bond Swamp National
Wildlife Refuges is lim
ited to hunters chosen in
random drawings staged
earlier this year.
Hunters will, however,
be permitted to hunt those
portions of the Oconee
National Forest outside of
wildlife management areas
April 9-15. Details regard
ing turkey hunting on the
forest lands are available by
calling 706-485-1770.
Additionally, the general
turkey hunts slated for the
Rum Creek WMA are also
quota hunts. However, a
Specialty Turkey Hunt will
be staged here May 7-13.
According to the WRD,
Specialty Hunts par
ticipation is limited to
.. women, youth (age
16 years and younger),
Disability License holders,
returning Georgia veterans,
Honorary License holders,
and hunters over age 65.”
There are also six WMAs,
located within an hour
drive of Forsyth where
you can hunt turkeys this
season without having to
be selected in a computer
drawing.
Four of the WMAs are
situated near Eatonton. The
B.F. Grant WMA (11,400
acres) will hold a Specialty
Hunt April 9-14. The Ce
dar Creek WMA (40,000
acres) is open for turkey
hunting April 9-May 15.
The Cedar Creek-Little
River Area (1,505 acres)
offers turkey hunting April
9-May 15.
If you would like more
information concerning
turkey hunting on the Rum
Creek WMA, Rum Creek-
Berry Creek Area, B.F.
Grant WMA and Cedar
Creek WMA call 706-595-
4222.
Two of the other nearby
WMAs providing turkey
hunting this year are near
Thomaston. The dates
of the hunts for Sprewell
Bluff-East (1,330 acres) and
Sprewell Bluff-West (5,200
acres) are April 9-May
15. For more information
regarding turkey hunting
on these WMAs call 706-
295-6041.
I strongly urge that you
become familiar with
the rules and regulations
regarding turkey hunting
before donning your cam
ouflaged hunting clothes
and striking out to the
woods. If you are going to
hunt public lands, take note
of the fact that the rules
regarding public lands are
sometimes different from
statewide regulations. The
best source of information
on turkey hunting, as well
as directions to all of the
areas mentioned in this col
umn, is the 2021-2022 edi
tion of the Georgia Hunt
ing Regulations Guide. This
publication can be picked
up at your local license
dealer. This free publication
can also be viewed on line
at www.GoOutdoorsGeor-
gia.com.
Terry Johnson is retired
Program Manager of the
Georgia Nongame-Endan
gered Wildlife Program. He
has written the informative
column Monroe Outdoors’
for the Reporter for many
years. His book, “A Journey
to Discovery,” is available at
The Reporter. Email him at
tjwoodduck@bellsouth. net.
TERRY W. JOHNSON
Caroline Buffington
Monroe County’s Chambless
leads Georgia State in tourney
HUMBLE, Texas - Monroe Countys
Will Chambless shot an opening round 73
to highlight a day of tough
conditions to lead the Geor
gia State Panthers at the
All-American Intercollegiate
at the Golf Club of Houston
on Monday.
Chambless opened play
with a 1-over par round
before shooting a 77 in the
afternoon and stands in a tie
for 39th place at 6-over par.
Georgia State followed an
opening round 305 with an CHAMB1ESS
afternoon 308 and are in
15th place at 37-over par with 18 holes to
play on Tuesday.
No. 33 Florida State leads
the field after 36 holes by 17
strokes. The Seminoles are
currently the only team un
der par (-7). Sam Houston’s
Bret Gray and Florida State’s
Frederik Kjettrup are tied
for first place at 3-under par.
Chambless graduated from
Stratford Academy.
The tournament conclud
ed on Tuesday with the final
18 holes.
Lady Dogs return
to region play
The Mary Persons girls
soccer team is now 8-3-
1, 3-1 in region after ty
ing Alexander (6-7-l)in
Douglasville on Friday,
March 18.
Reagan Benson scored
both girls for the Lady
Dogs and Karsen Win-
get and Karlie Dell each
had an assist in the tie
against a non-region foe.
The Lady Dogs have
two big region games
this week with a chance
to secure a top 4 spot in
Region 2-AAA, which
would guarantee a play
off spot. The Lady Dogs
hosted Sumter County
(2-4) on Tuesday (results
not available at press
time) and play at Jackson
(13-2-1, 5-0 region) on
Thursday. Then the Lady
Dogs will host non-re
gion Union Grove (5-4-1
2-1 region) on Tuesday
March 29 before hosting
their home finale April 1
against Upson Lee.
Public Hearing Notice
The City of Forsyth is considering applying to the Georgia Department of
Community Affairs for a Community Development Block Grant of up to
$1,00,000. These funds must be used to primarily benefit low- and moder
ate-income persons.
The activities for which these funds may be used are in the areas of
housing, public facilities, and economic development. More specific details
regarding eligible activities, plans to assist displaced persons (if any), disclo
sure of a possible conflict of interest pertaining to elected officials living in the
project’s target area, fair housing laws and the City of Forsyth’s commitment
to further fair housing, the estimated amount of funds proposed to be used
for activities to benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and the rating
system will be provided at a public hearing, which will be held at Forsyth City
Hall, 23 E. Main St, Forsyth, GA 31029, Monday, April 4, 2022 at 6:00 pm.
The purpose of this hearing will be to obtain citizen input into the devel
opment of the application. The City of Forsyth is committed to providing all
persons with equal access to its services, programs, activities, education,
and employment regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
familial status, disability, or age. Persons with special needs relating to hand
icapped accessibility or foreign language should contact Janice Hall, City
Manager at (478) 994-7747 prior to April 4, 2022, at Forsyth City Hall, 23 E.
Main St, Forsyth, GA 31029, between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm,
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons with hearing disabilities
can contact us at our TDD number 1-800-255-0056 or (Voice)
1-800-255-0135.
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EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY