National Wild Turkey Federation Chapters Donate
Five local chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) have raised and donated $5,000.00 to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). This donation will be utilized towards the purchase of a tractor and mowing implement that will help maintain habitat along 270 linear miles in the South Cherokee Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Cherokee National Forest.
The South Cherokee WMA covers over 350,000 acres in southeast Tennessee. The area offers an array of fishing and hunting opportunities as well as many other activities. The tractor and implement will help maintain early successional habitat on about 9,000 acres. “This habitat will not only greatly provide for turkeys, but many other species including pollinators, songbirds and bats,” stated David Whitehead, WMA manager.
The five NWTF chapters are adjacent to the South Cherokee WMA and include the Southern Appalachian Chapter in Monroe County, the Cherokee Chapter in Chattanooga, the Hiwassee Chapter in McMinn County, the Tri-State Longbeards Chapter in Copperhill and the White Oak Longbeards Chapter in Cleveland. “We can’t forget our partnership with the Forest
Service. We couldn’t do this without them. We greatly value them and the NWTF,” shared Whitehead.
This donation is part of larger Partners for Wildlife program between the NWTF, TWRA and the Cherokee National Forest. The group works towards improving early successional habitat along linear roadways through the purchase of the tractor and implements, the purchase of native plant seeds for sowing in managed areas and volunteerism.
For more information on this program contact NWTF Regional Director Tim Yates at: (423) 463-4260.
Daniel Greer Memorial Youth Hunt Feb. 11.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is among the partners to host the Seventh Annual Daniel Greer Memorial Youth Waterfowl Hunt. The event will be held Saturday, Feb. 11 at Cheatham Lake Wildlife Management Area.
The event is held in honor of U.S. Marine Corporal Daniel Greer who lost his life in August 2010 while serving in southern Afghanistan. He was an Ashland City firefighter and avid outdoorsman.
The hunt is for youth ages 10-15. In addition to the hunt, participants will gather at the Ashland City Park at 11:30 a.m. There will be lunch served, as well as dog handling and duck calling demonstrations.
The TWRA is partnering with Delta Waterfowl, Safari Club International and the Young Sportsman Foundation to sponsor this year’s event.
Space is limited for the event. For an application or for more information, visit the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org or contact Donald Hosse, TWRA Wildlife Education Coordinator at don.hosse@tn.gov or (615) 781-6541, Don Crawford, Assistant Chief, Information and Education at (615) 781-6542 or don.crawford@tn.gov, or Darren Rider, Chief, TWRA Boating and Law Enforcement, (615) 781-6669 or Darren.rider@tn.gov.
Eighth annual Maury County Youth Small Game and Predator Hunt Feb. 11.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be one of the sponsors for the Eighth Annual Maury County Youth Small Game and Predator Hunt to be held Feb. 11.
The free event is for youth from ages 9-15 who must have a TWRA Hunter Education certification by the hunt date and have all the appropriate licenses and permits. Hunters must also provide their own firearm and ammunition.
Along with the TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Officers Association, Columbia Noon Rotary Club, Sun Drop, Quail Forever, Foxpro, and several other local businesses are sponsoring the event. The Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia is the event’s new headquarters.
The day’s activities will begin at 6 a.m. with breakfast at the center. Young sportsmen and women will be teamed with hunting guides, dog handlers and safety officers to participate as guides who will accompany them to pre-selected property to hunt rabbits, squirrels or predators. Public hunting lands as well as private property will be utilized for the hunt. The hunt will conclude with lunch and prizes.
Parents and/or guardians are welcome to accompany the youngsters on the hunt. There will be safety officers assigned to all hunting parties going rabbit or squirrel hunting.
To register for the hunt, send the youth’s name to Maury County Wildlife Officer Rusty Thompson at Rusty.Thompson@tn.gov. Please include the hunter’s name, age, address, email, phone number, and which species he or she prefers to hunt (rabbits, squirrels, or predators). For more information contact Rusty Thompson by email or at (931) 881-8241.
Permit application now available for Free Light Goose Conservation Season
Sportsmen are reminded that a free permit is required to participate in the 2017 Light Goose Conservation season which will be held Feb. 12-March 10.
The application for the free permit is now available on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website under the waterfowl icon in the migratory birds section of “For Hunters.”
The Light Goose Conservation season is for Blue, Snow and Ross geese. The following provisions apply during the Light Goose Season only which are unplugged shotguns and electronic calls. Shooting is allowed 30 minutes before official sunrise until 30 minutes after official sunset.
There is no daily bag or possession limit during this season except on opening day and the second day of the season. No federal or state waterfowl stamps are required to hunt during the conservation season. Hunters must possess a Light Goose Conservation Season permit and have a valid hunting license, but the hunting license may be from any state.
Feb. commission meeting to last two days
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission’s next meeting will be held Feb. 16-17. The meeting is in Nashville at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Ray Bell Region II Building.
The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16 with committee meetings. The Friday, Feb. 17 regular meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. The February meeting was originally scheduled to be held on one day.
Among its business at the February meeting, the TFWC will set the 2017-18 state waterfowl hunting season and elect its new officers for the coming year. A complete agenda will be announced about a week from the meeting dates.
Free Trapper training camp Feb. 24-26
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Tennessee Fur Harvesters are hosting a free trapper training camp. The camp will be held Feb. 24-26 at the TWRA’s Buffalo Ridge Refuge in Humphreys County.
The 3-day event is for all ages. Classes and instruction will include live trap line, fur handling, trap modification, and set making and snaring. Check-in will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24 with the first classroom session set for 7 p.m. Classes will begin at 8 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Three meals will be provided on Saturday and breakfast will be provided Sunday. Tent camping is available and hotels are located near the refuge.
For more information and reservations, contact John Daniel with the Tennessee Fur Harvesters at (423) 595-0986 or johndanielgc@gmail.com.
Registration underway for 2017 NASP state tournament
The 11th Annual Tennessee National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Championships will be held March 30-31 at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro.
Registration is underway and will run until March 1 at 10 p.m. (CST). The link to register is: http://nasptournaments.org/TournamentDetail.aspx?tid=2199
