I was being taxed? Gee, I didn't know
July 2010
You know, I didn't realize I was being "taxed" when I bought those hunting and fishing licenses at Nichols Store in Rock Hill last year. I thought I was supporting fish and wildlife through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and its programs - and paying for the opportunity to bring some fish and wildlife home to eat.
Renewing a fling with a noble fish
June 2010
I guess at some point in time, we all have our little love affairs with a particular species of fish. Some of them are just spring flings, but some last a lifetime.
The land — it’s all about the land
May 2010
Scarlett O’Hara may have been on to something. So what if her daughter died when that pony threw her? So what if Rhett Butler walked out on her, uttering motion pictures’ first cuss word? So what if the Yankees burned Atlanta and her father died?
Turkey hunting’s long-lasting allure
April 2010
I don’t quite know why it took me better than 30 years to discover turkey hunting. The place I hunted in my teens in the Virginia mountains had plenty of birds, but for some incalculable reason, I never paid attention to them. Back then, there was baseball to be played in the springtime, and everything else took second place to second base.
SCDNR’s money woes are a concern
March 2010
The announcement by John Frampton, executive director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, that his agency is facing the prospect of cutting 50 jobs by July 1 has should send chills up the spines of hunters and fishermen in the Palmetto State.
Will the longleaf make a comeback?
February 2010
Fifty years ago last summer, my father planted a handful of longleaf pines in the front yard of our home in Athens, Ga. Within a year, however, his job moved us first to Raleigh, N.C., then to Washington, D.C.
Will 2010 soften industry’s tumble?
January 2010
I’m sure there will be many interested observers at boat shows this winter — observing how few or how many boats sell.
Will latest success open flood gates?
December 2009
When I first started turkey hunting about 20 years ago, it took me a while to get rid of the big goose egg and wrap my tag around a gobbler’s leg. Quite a few seasons, as I recall.
A tax break that’s easier to live with
November 2009
On the surface, I’m like most members of the middle class: hearing about tax breaks for the wealthy generally gets my blood boiling.
The promise that is October is here
October 2009
Turkey hunters, bass fishermen and crappie fishermen look forward to March and April all the way through the cold, cold winter.
Hunters reap only what they sow
September 2009
I reached the answering machine of one of my fishing buddies the other day when I called. When he phoned back, he seemed awfully out of breath, so I asked him if it had been hot on the lake that afternoon.
My Augusts just aren’t that bad
August 2009
Unlike most sportsmen, I’ve never really held anything against August. I put up with the daily 90-degree temperatures and 90-percent humidity, mostly thanks to the joys of air conditioning. My annual visit to the local swimming pool usually takes place in August, because at some point, cool water will be required for continued breathing.
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