Thank you for your information and support!!! We will publish the results at a later date.

After reading about the father and two sons that died this weekend on a hiking trip, the DRD Team would like to remind everyone of the importance of outdoor safety. While hiking in the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri, the hikers never made it back to the cabin. The weather conditions changed rapidly and the cause of death was hypothermia. All three were experienced hikers that made several unfortunate mistakes.

It is extremely important to watch the weather conditions while participating in outdoor activities. With experience you can identify changing conditions, but with today’s technology, there is rarely a need to guess. Phones, computers, and weather radios all are useful tools to protect yourself. It is important to check the hourly forecast before heading out, but don’t rely on this information. Go prepared. Your pack should always include an area map, compass, water, snacks, flashlight, water-proof case of matches, and warm dry clothing.

Also, trust your instincts. Mother Nature will give us plenty of signals before the weather turns if you learn to watch for them. Trust what you see and hear and react accordingly.

If you have spent any significant time in the outdoors, you have been lost at some point even if only for a short time. Having a map and compass and knowing how to use them can prevent tragedies like this. Day trips often are the more dangerous for even experienced outdoor adventures. They often go under-prepared and feel they have more than enough daylight to complete the trip. It doesn’t matter whether you are going on a day trip or week-long adventure, it is important to go prepared and let someone know your plans. This applies for ALL outdoor activities: hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and any others.

Take time to learn the proper way to conduct outdoor adventures and when you do learn, teach others. Tragedies like this can be avoided but are a real part of outdoor life. Protect yourself and those around you while spending time outdoors.

The Northern Zone of Georgia’s deer season ended with a rain filled day. Although the Southern Zone still has two weeks remaining, the results of this deer season has been disappointing for many hunters across the state. Deer numbers seems to be down in many areas of the state. Frustration amongst hunters across the state blame to two main elements. One is the increase in the coyote population across the state. Coyotes are blamed for killing young deer populations and also have been witnessed in packs to take down even mid-sized deer. The increase in coyote population has long been blamed for the decline of other game species across the country and seem to be peaking in Georgia.

The other element that many hunters are blaming on the decreased deer population is the liberal hunting season and limits. Many of the successful whitetail herds across the country are managed much different than Georgia’s herd. Gun season lasting over two full months and a 12 deer limit seem to have seriously reduced the herd. Other successful states have a two to three-week gun season followed by archery season until the end of the year. This reduces the number of does killed late in the season.

Meetings are taking place across the state over the next two weeks to discuss the Georgia hunting seasons with state officials. These are the times to discuss your thoughts and concerns about all of Georgia’s seasons. To get a list of locations and dates email us at dirtroaddispatch@ymail.com or visit http://www.gohuntgeorgia.com.

Happy New Year 2013 from your friends at Dirt Road Dispatch!!! We hope that you and your families take the opportunities to enjoy the outdoors this year. Get outdoors and camp, hike, fish or hunt. We look forward to hearing your stories and sharing ours.

Although the weather for the National 1st Day Hike is not looking promising for much of the country, don’t forget that all these areas have great trails to hike throughout the year. If you don’t make it out on the 1st, no reason to wait too long. Check your state’s state parks website for more information on where to go. We will continue to review areas in Georgia and check back often to read about these areas.

We are looking forward to a great 2013 and wish the best for everyone!!!

Merry Christmas from your friends at Dirt Road Dispatch!!!

We hope that you had a wonderful day with family, friends, and starting or continuing traditions!!!

The first migrating Sandhill Cranes of the season have been spotted in Georgia.  Last night, right before dark, two small groups were spotted in central Georgia.  Sandhill cranes are often the early migrants of each year.  Once the Sandhills pass through and the weather cooperates (hunter style), you will begin to see more varieties of ducks and geese.

Reports out of Kentucky today stated that large flocks of Sandhills were migrating throughout the day.  This is great news for the Mississippi Flyway hunters.  Some of the best duck and goose seasons in recent history has been in years that large numbers of Sandhills migrate from November 15th – December 15th.  This is a little later than most hunters would want to see them, but the duck season runs later than in year’s past, so the timing is still very good.

Sandhill hunting is extremely limited and restrictive.  Most hunters have little, if any, interest in hunting Sandhill Cranes.  We use them more as a measurement of migratory birds and enjoy the awkward show that they put on.  Sandhill Cranes seem to get lost fairly often.  They will be flying along and then the flock will spin in circles, fly a little further and do it again.  If you ever get to witness large flocks moving south (or north), take time to watch them.  It is quite comical to see and hear.

*Photo courtesy of www.ducks.org