Grouse hunters make up less than one percent of all hunters in Georgia. But for them, nothing beats spending a fall day hiking the mountain thickets.

RACOONS
Raccoon hunting with hounds is a Southern tradition.

Hardcore houndsmen love their dogs as they do their children, and gladly look forward to spending most of a cold winter night slogging through swamps and briars following their dogs out front, doing what they do best -- tracking and treeing coons.

Raccoon hunting is all about the thrill of the chase. In these days of a well-stocked grocery store just a few miles down the road from everyone, raccoons are not popular table fare. But hearing a pack of dogs chase one through the moonlight sure is fun!

Like bass fishing, coon hunting has developed a competitive aspect, with coon-dog trials held all across the country and national titles awarded for the best of the best.

Raccoons are very versatile mammals and thrive nearly anywhere. As development has spread across the state, raccoons have found garbage cans and backyard gardens to be just as good areas for foraging as are creeks and swamps. Any place is likely to hold a few raccoons. But mixed habitat with mature timber, openings and low ground cover is prime raccoon habitat.

Basic coon hunting strategy is to go to a likely area, turn out the dogs and let them do their thing. When a trail is struck, the music starts and reaches a crescendo when the striped bandit takes refuge high in a tree. The hunters then converge, either to harvest the raccoon or pull the dogs off and start the game all over again.

Approximately 4 percent of all hunters pursued raccoons. But on average, they made 28 nighttime trips into the woods, showing their dedication to their sport.

Some small-game populations may have fallen from their record highs during the heyday of the small family farm and the excellent small-game habitat those provided. But populations are still plenty strong enough to provide good hunting.

Since most hunters overlook small game, even public lands receive very little pressure.

Small-game seasons and bag limits are generous. A call to your local Game Management office should give you the rundown on the best places and times to hunt on public land near you this winter.