Memoirs of an Altamaha River Outdoorsman and Other Drivel

A collection of hunting, fishing and outdoors experiences I have enjoyed both living and telling through the years growing up and living near the Altamaha River in southeast Georgia. This book is a collection of stories, funny events, miscellany and strange things collected a lifetime of hunting fishing, camping and boating all up and down the complete system of the Altamaha River.

The Mighty Altamaha River flows from the confluence of the Ocmulgee River and the Oconee River at the junction of Wheeler, Montgomery and Jeff Davis Counties in South Central Georgia. The Altamaha travels down and is joined by the Ohoopee River in Tattnall County. It is said that The Altamaha River is the second largest watershed east of the Mississippi River with only the Hudson River being larger. It has also been said that if two drops of rain fall in Georgia that one will come down the Altamaha. 

I have spent most of my life hunting, fishing and camping on and around the Altamaha. I have been on every section of the river in a boat. I have also spent quite a bit of time in the tributaries and oxbow lakes that once were part of the main run of the river. The river has always been teeming with fish, abundant with waterfowl and surrounded by the Altamaha Basin which is rich with other game such as whitetail deer, bear, feral hogs and many various small game species. 

The Altamaha is also one of the most beautiful places on earth. My ancestors have lived on and along the Altamaha since the late 1700's. It is without a doubt that they knew it as a source for food and in some cases income. Six of the original ferries on the Altamaha were owned and operated by my ancestors and kin. My family members rafted timber down river to Doctortown and Darien to the sawmills. One of my cousins was the last to raft down the Altamaha and could call out the names of all the places along the river. 

There was a time when paddle wheelers plied their way up and down the river system. My Great-Great-Great Grand Uncle was the captain of the "Governor Troupe" that plied the Altamaha during the War Between the States. I have also fished at Doctortown around the wreck of the "Altamaha Princess" which was the last paddle-wheeler to navigate the waters.

Long ago Native Americans lived along the river, and we still find reminders like arrow heads and pottery which are traces of times past.  

When I am on the river in a boat, I feel such a familiarity with it as this is the third century that my family has had something to do with "Old Muddy". I have a deep respect and love for that place and all that is involved with it. We still own property on the Altamaha, that has been owned by the family since the 1850's, and when I sit on the bluff watching the sun rise or set, it remains awesome to me. When I sit there and watch the world wake up. When I watch the deer and turkeys and squirrels as they move around, when I see a sturgeon making a humongous splash in the river it moves me greatly. Our family tries to protect and preserve it so my great grandchildren can enjoy it as the family down from my great-great-great-great grandfather, who had a trading post on its bank in the 1790's, have done in the past.