The 2007-2008 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide contain errors relative to the following Wildlife Management Areas (WMA): Clybel WMA, Joe Kurz WMA, Oaky Woods WMA and Redlands WMA, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).

Errors will be corrected on the online version of the Hunting Regulations guide found at www.gohuntgeorgia.com, but all hunters should make note of these errors should they use a printed copy of the 2007-2008 hunting regulations.

Errors include:

- Clybel WMA: Archery season is listed as open during the first adult/child deer quota hunt scheduled for Oct.12-14, when in fact hunting is closed during these dates except to those participating in the quota hunt. The official dates for archery season are: Sept. 8-Oct. 10 and Oct. 15-Oct. 19.

- Joe Kurz WMA: The primitive weapons quota hunt scheduled for Dec. 7-8 is listed as "Antlerless only," when in fact it should be listed as Quality Buck/antlerless.

- Oaky Woods WMA: The open dates listed for small game are incorrect. The correct dates for small game hunting are: Aug. 15-Sept. 7; Oct. 20-Nov. 9; Nov. 17-26; Dec. 2-28; and Jan. 5-Feb. 29.

- Redlands WMA: The archery deer hunt listed for the Watson's Spring Area is incomplete. The official dates are: Sept. 8-Dec. 2, Dec. 26-Jan. 1. The 2007-2008 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations guidebook is available at www.gohuntgeorgia.com, license agents and through WRD Offices. Call the WRD Hunter Services Office at (770) 761-3044 for further information.

Squirrel season starts today

Whether still-hunting , stalk-hunting or squirrel dog hunting is your preference, the beginning of squirrel season is here.

Often revered as a celebrated American fall tradition, squirrel hunting provides the perfect opportunity to introduce a youngster to the sport of hunting. As opposed to some big game hunts, the pursuit of bushy tails often involves more action for energetic youth, providing a greater level of interaction with the outdoors. Beginning August 15 and lasting through February 29, hunters can pursue both gray and fox squirrels. The maximum daily bag limit is 12 per hunter.

"Prior to the successful restoration of white-tailed deer, pursuing squirrels in the fall was a significant cultural tradition in Georgia," said John W. Bowers, Assistant Chief of Game Management. "Squirrel hunting can provide one of our best opportunities to introduce the younger generation to hunting and instill in them our responsibilities to wildlife conservation. Additionally, it's fun, inexpensive and provides constant action."

Squirrel hunting, especially with squirrel dogs such as feists, terriers and curs, is a great way to introduce youth to hunting and the outdoors. In terms of number of hunters and harvest, squirrels are the number two most pursued small game species in Georgia behind doves.

Georgia's Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) offer more than one million acres of hunting opportunity for the price of $19 a year, and squirrel hunting is allowed on WMAs at specified times during the statewide squirrel season. Hunters are advised to check the hunting regulations for specific WMAs and dates.

Both the gray squirrel and the fox squirrel can be found throughout Georgia. The gray squirrel, abundant in both rural and urban areas is the most common species. Though mostly associated with hardwood forests, grays can also be found in mixed pine/hardwood forests. Gray squirrels, predominantly gray, with white under parts, appear more slender-bodied than the fox squirrel, weighing in at anywhere from 12 oz. to 1-½ pounds.

Fox squirrels have several color phases, varying from silver-gray with a predominantly black head, to solid black, to a light buff or brown color tinged with reddish-yellow.

Generally larger than grays, fox squirrels range in weight from one pound to nearly three pounds. Fox squirrels are more closely associated with mature pine and mixed pine/hardwood habitats, and especially in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions.

Though it's entirely possible to squirrel hunt anytime during the season, it is considered much more enjoyable and successful to wait until late fall and winter when the leaves have fallen from the trees.

For more information on the 2007-2008 squirrel hunting season or other small game hunting seasons, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com, contact a local WRD Game Management office or call (770) 918-6416.

Flathead update

Since the completion of the tagging portion of the flathead catfish project in April and as of Aug. 3, biologists and technicians have removed 2,572 flathead catfish from the Satilla River.

That's more than 15,218 pounds of fish removed via electro-fishing methods. The flatheads were illegally introduced into the Satilla in the 1990s and the resulting decline in this historically well-known redbreast fishery is an issue that biologists with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) are continuing to tackle.