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PACE 2B
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2008
OUTDOORS WITH SKIPPER
Couple on the hunt for alligators
M atthew Nash and his wife,
Heather, of Clarkesville, are one
great hunting team.
Matthew prefers to hunt deer with a pistol,
A Thompson Contender in 35 Remington.
Heather has used one also. You might find
them headed to Sapelo or Ossabaw for a
hunt.
Their challenge is to take trophy animals
from public hunting areas. Heather has
taken a bear — which has made a great
looking rug in their home — hogs, and of
course deer.
This particular hunt was to be different
though. After four years of applying for a
tag, both of them got a tag to take an alliga
tor this year. Only around 550 tags are given
in Georgia, though some 5,000 apply.
For their Sept. 11 hunt, they choose the
Altamaha River Basin, some 50 miles south
of Savannah. The guide they chose was
“Trapper Jack.”A well-known guide who
has trapped some 3,000 alligators in the past
years.
Arriving on a rainy, windy morning
around 8 a.m., they began their hunt.
Accompanying them was a friend from Ala
bama, Jerry Aldridge. Normally, hunts are
done at night, but this was to be a daylight
one. The only firearm you can take along
on the hunt is a pistol or a bang stick. For
some two and a half hours they stalked an
alligator, estimated around 10 feet, but he
outwitted them. Then they spotted a nine
footer, but once more they just couldn’t
take him either.
The way they go about taking an alliga
tor is to use a snatch hook, with around 200
pound test line . They
snag him, fight him and
then harpoon it.
The gator can be
finished off with the
pistol or bang stick.
Heather was able to get
her seven foot, two inch
gator from the boat, but
Matthew took a differ
ent approach.
Walking on land they
hunted the levees. The
fact that some of the ponds had been drained
didn’t help. They spotted a good gator, but
had to deal with grass some eight feet tall to
get to him. That made it quite interesting.
Finally with the snatch hook, connecting,
Matthew had time for one quick shot from
the pistol. His aim was good, and a seven
foot gator was soon his to claim.
The hunt was over, their freezer now has a
bunch of good white gator “tail meat” in it.
“Tastes just like chicken,” Matthew pro
claimed. Also tacked on a couple of boards
are the hides, which are quite in demand for
leather type goods. A great hunt by a great
husband and wife team. Who knows what
different game they will be after next.
Well, muzzle loader week opens this com
ing Saturday. One of my favorite times to
hunt. Share your success with me.
Skipper Smith is an outdoors columnist
for The Banks County News. His column
appears weekly. Let him know about
your outdoors or hunting adventures at
706-677-1520.
skipper
smith
Softball continued from page IB
The second Lady Panther
run was unearned in the sec
ond inning.
Jordan Rogers pitched well,
Lord said, and kept the Lady
Leopards in the contest until
the offense began to come
alive.
Franklin had a key two-out,
two-run double in the sixth to
tie the game.
Union County regained
the lead in the bottom of the
sixth.
Brittany Cook doubled to
lead off the seventh and was
sacrified over by Free and
driven home on a sacrifice fly
by Rogers.
With two outs in the bot
tom of the seventh, the Lady
Panthers won the game with a
three-run walk off homer.
“We had some baserunners
mistakes and a few errors that
are hard to overcome because
Union is too good of a team to
give extra outs to,” Lord said.
“It was a tough loss although
we battled to the end.”
The Region 8-AA tour
nament is being played at
Veterans Park in Watkinsville
in Oconee County.
Prior to Tuesday's tour
nament action, the Lady
Leopards closed out the regu
lar season with a 10-1 victory
against rival Commerce in six
innings. Rogers earned the
victory recording six strike
outs.
“It ended up working out well
being able to get this make-up
game in at Commerce,” Lord
said. “This way we did not
have to go the whole week
before the region tournament
without playing a game. We
had several players who were
able to contribute.”
Franklin was 3-for-4 at the
plate with two runs scored, a
double and two RBI. Franklin
has played well throughout
2008 as a freshman for the
BCHS team.
Catlyn Free was 2-for-3
with two RBI, a stolen base
and a walk.
Samm Kennedy scored three
runs in the contest while fel
low senior Kathy Davidson
had a single and an RBI.
Thomas, Denton and Baird
also contributed at the plate.
Lady Leopard seniors
LADY LEOPARD SENIOR
Samm Kennedy is one of two seniors for the Banks County High School fast-
pitch softball team this fall. She was recognized in a pregame ceremony re
cently along with her parents, David and Tammy Kennedy.
Photos by Chris Bridges
BCHS SENIOR
Kathy Davidson was recognized during senior day at Banks County High
School recently. Her parents, Randall and Denise Davidson, also attended the
ceremony.
Ready then recycle this newspaper!
The REDD HOUSE Restaurant
CROSS COUNTRY
BCHS runners post quality times
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Even competing on one of the toughest
courses in the area, the Banks County High
School cross country teams continued to enjoy
success last week.
The BCHS Leopards were second overall
finishing just behind East Jackson by two
points. The Lady Leopards were also second
to East Jackson.
The course at BCHS is considered one of the
toughest to run on and always adds time for the
runners. Coach Kelly McDuffie said many of
the Leopards and Lady Leopards still managed
to post their top times for the home course.
“They all did an awesome job at the meet,”
the coach said.
Pacing the BCHS boys were Jorge Diaz
(second overall) and Ivan Diaz (fifth overall).
Keiffer Hellmeister, Avery Chastain, Nathan
Holloway, Viet Pham, Jared Gregory and Doug
Maynor also helped pace the BCHS boys.
For the Lady Leopards, Vanessa Hurtado
was fourth overall followed by Amy Sims
(sixth overall) and Sarah Wolf (eighth over
all). Maggie McCoy, Tiffany Sims, Jessica
Wagoner and Ashley McCoy also helped lead
the BCHS Lady Leopards to a second-place
finish last week.
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TOP LEOPARD
Jorge Diaz led the BCHS boys team
in its home meet last week.
Photo by Justin Poole
QUALITY TIME
Avery Chastain has been a key run
ner for the Leopards this fall.
Photo by Justin Poole
JV football continued from page IB
Kyle Smith had an intercep
tion in the win.
Mayfield was a major force
on special teams delivering
several big plays, the BCHS
coaches said.
All JV Leopards were able
to gain game experience.
Coaches noted other standouts
in the victory included Brad
Anderson, Justin Fincannon,
Cody Evans, Homer Carver,
Brett Bowman, Kenny Log-
gins, Levi Thomas, Chris Ru
therford, Trenton Davis, Barry
Whitfield, Matthew Roper,
Phillip Wood, Jordan Boyle
and Brannon Scales.
The BCHS JV team will
host Towns County today
(Thursday) at 5:30 p.m.
Children’s Menu Available
or Join us on Thursday evenings and
Sunday afternoons for a Country-Style Buffet!
Come see us soon!
Friday, October 10 &
Saturday October 11
SPECIALS!
8 oz. Filet Mignon with grilled or fried Jumbo
Shrimp, Potato & Salad Bar $10.95
And
Fresh Grouper Platter with ail the trimmings.. .$9.95
706-367-4074