February 2016

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WWW.TNFHG.COM - Full Color On The Web! MORE FACTS, PHOTOS, AND FUN INSIDE! FREE FREE FISHING & HUNTING GUIDE 1805 Amarillo Ln Knoxville, TN 37922 865-693-7468

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Our E-mail: [email protected] BENTON SHOOTERS SUPPLY Send us your pictures! The Largest Shooters Supply Store In The South! ABOUT THE COVER WWW.BENTONSHOOTERS.COM 423-338-2008 We may be in the grips of winter, but there are Hwy 411, Benton, TN 37307 Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm still good opportunities for sportsmen that want HUNTING & FISHING SUPPLIES - GUNS - AMMO fishing action. This duo ARCHEREY EQUIPMENT - SAFES on the cover this month OUTDOOR CLOTHING FOR MEN/WOMEN/CHILDREN caught these nice wall- eyes below Watts Bar Dam in January. Sauger and crappie fishing also good now, so bundle up, and get out there! Photo courtesy Watts Bar Bait and Tackle, Hwy 68, Decatur, TN 423-334-4286

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4 CORNERS MARKET Intersection of Hwys 58 & 68, Decatur, TN * Gotzza Pizza - Subs - Salad - Wings (Delicious & Best @ Prices) Call In or Carry Out * Hunting & Fishing Licenses * Live Bait & Fishing Supplies * Cigarettes - Beer - Groceries * 100% Ethanol-Free Gas (grades 87 & 93) OPEN 7 DAYS - Big Game Checking Station 423-334-9518

* Groceries * Deli - Take-Out “Got no fish, but got coffee!” * Pizza Photo courtesy The Bait Box. * 100% Gas - no ethanol * Live Bait * Worms 2016 Spring Turkey Quota Hunts Application * Beer * Ice Period Runs Through Feb. 3 * Lottery * Propane NASHVILLE --- The application period for the * Minnows Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 2016 Spring Turkey Quota Hunts runs from Dec. 16 through Feb. 3, 2016. J & S Pawn Shop Applications are available and will be accepted at any TWRA license agent, TWRA regional 1008 River Road, Decatur, TN 37322 office, or online at the TWRA website at www. (423) 334-3468 tnwildlife.org. Applications can be accepted until * New & Used Guns & Ammo 11:59 p.m. (CST) on Feb. 3. Mailed applications * Gun Accessories will not be accepted. * We buy gold and silver * Fishing Supplies & much The areas available for the hunts are listed on more! the instruction sheets. Hunters have up to 12 OPEN: Mon-Sat 9am - 5pm choices, but will be drawn for only one. Appli- cants may not use the same hunt code more than once. There are a total of 14 hunts listed. INRODUCE A KID TO FISHING! (Con’t on p. 4)

NOW! VIEW THIS MAGAZINE IN COLOR ONLINE AT WWW.TNFHG.COM 3 WATTS BAR LAKE (“Turkey Quota Hunts” ... con’t from p. 3) * Fishing Equipment No person may apply more than once. * Tackle A permit fee will not be charged to Annual * Live Bait Sportsman (Type 004), Lifetime Sportsman * Open Mon - Sat (Types 402-405) license holders or Senior Citi- zen Hunters (Type 166) with an Annual Senior 423-365-2266 Citizen Permit (Type 167). For all other license holders, the cost is $12 per permit, plus the 290 Whites Creek Road agent fee. When applying at a license agent, Spring City, TN 37381 hunters must remain at the location while the application is processed. Hunters will receive a receipt with a confirmation number when the application is complete. Hunters with Internet access may apply for a spring turkey quota hunt online by clicking here. Once the Internet site has been accessed, hunters can fol- low the on-screen directions. ---TWRA---

TWRA Requesting Public Input for 2016-17 Hunting Regulations NASHVILLE --- The Tennes- see Wildlife Resources Agency is soliciting comments for its 2016-17 hunting seasons’ regu- lations. This is an opportunity for the public to provide ideas and share concerns about hunting regulations with TWRA staff. The comment period will be open through Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. Public comments will be consid- ered by TWRA’s Wildlife Division staff and may be presented as proposals for regulation chang- es. Comments may be submit- ted by mail to: 2016-17 Hunting Season Comments, TWRA, Wildlife and Forestry Division, P.O. Box 40747, Nashville, TN 37204 or emailed to twra.com- [email protected]. Please include “Hunting Season Comments” on the subject line of emailed sub- Doug Soloman with a 22-inch, 5 lb 4 oz smallmouth bass. missions. ---TWRA--- 4 Photo courtesy The Bait Box. WATTS BAR LAKE

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www.kingstongunsandfirearms.com Good walleye fishing lately on Watts Bar. Photo courtesy Camo Clothing - Reloading Supplies - Ground Blinds Watts Bar Bait & Tackle. Gunsmith Services - Fishing Supplies - Zoom Worms Open: Tu - Fri 9 - 6 Sat 9 - 5 Outdoors More In 2016! Support Our Advertisers Sandhill Crane Festival to Celebrate 25th Anniversary NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival will celebrate its silver anniversary with the 2016 event set for Jan. 16-17 (Saturday-Sunday) at the Hiwassee Refuge. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is the primary sponsor for the festival and many staff members and volunteers will again be contributing their services. For the fifth year, Olin Chlor Al- kali Products is the corporate sponsor for the festival. The festival is a celebration of the thousands of sandhill cranes that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge in Birchwood as well as an opportunity to focus attention on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area. Beginning in the early 1990s, the recovering population of eastern sandhill cranes began stopping (Con’t on page 6) 5 WATTS BAR LAKE

(“Sandhill Crane Festival” ... con’t from p. 5) at the Hiwassee Refuge on their way to and from their wintering grounds in Georgia and Florida. TWRA has been managing this refuge for more than 60 years for waterfowl, and the A nice Watts Bar striper. Photo courtesy Barry’s cranes found a perfect combination of feeding Guide Service. and shallow water roosting habitat. As many as an estimated 12,000 of these birds now spend the entire winter at the confluence of the Hi- wassee and Tennessee rivers. Free bus shuttle service will be available from the Birchwood Community Center to the Hi- wassee Refuge and Me- morial Park each day beginning at 8 a.m. No public parking is available at the refuge. Various vendors will be at the Birchwood Com- munity Center beginning at 8 a.m In addition, breakfast will be available for purchase at the community center each day from 7-8 a.m. and lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Music, special programs, and children’s activi- ties will be ongoing throughout each day. The American Eagle Foundation will be present for its always-popular live raptor show each day with times at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a new presentation this year, “Birding Makes Cents (and Dollars): The Economic Impact of Birding and Bird Festivals which will be held Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. An official welcome and live music will start the programs each day at 11 a.m. TWRA Informa- tion and Education Division Chief Don King, Crappie fishing has been good on Watts Bar this winter. also a Nashville recording artist and friends will Photo courtesy Barry’s Guide Service. perform each day. Traditional heritage music led by Tom Morgan, Lynn Haas with friends will also perform in the morning and afternoon and Support Our Advertisers With (Con’t on page 8) YOUR Business! 6 WATTS BAR LAKE

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Sauger action on Watts Bar. Photo courtesy Watts Bar Bait and Tackle. Pre-Registration, Registration Periods Set for 2016 NASP State Tournament NASHVILLE --- The 10th Annual Tennessee National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Championships will be held March 29-30 at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro. Pre-registration begins Jan 11 and runs through Jan. 29 by 6 p.m. (CST). Normal registration with flight selection will begin at 6 a.m. (CST) on Feb 1 and end 6 p.m. (CST) on March 1. The link to register may be reached by clicking here. The NASP State Championships will return to the Miller Coliseum for the seventh consecutive year. Close to 1,750 students representing more than 90 schools participated in the 2015 event. ---TWRA--- - See more at: http://www.tn.gov/twra/ news/23146#sthash.0FRzH5RG.dpuf Walleye fillets for supper tonite! Photo Watts Bar Bait & Tackle. 7 HIWASSEE / OCOEE RIVERS

(“Sandhill Crane Festival” ... con’t from p. 6) will include a special children’s music appreciation program each morning. The group, South Wind, will perform from noon until 12:45 on Saturday. The nearby Cherokee Removal Memorial will feature Native American folklore specialists. They will present performances, artifacts and objects used in everyday life by Native American inhabitants in the Hiwassee River area. Along with the wildlife viewing at the refuge, wildlife and birding experts will be on hand. They will provide visitors with a unique educational experience by sharing viewing scopes and information. The Hiwassee Refuge comprises about 6,000 acres. The Birchwood Community Center is only three miles from the wildlife-viewing site at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. The Cherokee Removal Memo- rial is found just to the side of the refuge near the . Other Sandhill Crane Festival partners include the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, Tennessee Or- nithological Society, Birchwood Area Society Improvement Council, Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, American Eagle Foundation, Chattanooga Chapter TOS, Meigs County Tourism, and Rhea County Tourism. ---TWRA---

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Quail Management Updates Among Items Covered at Commission’s Final 2015 Meeting

NASHVILLE --- An update on the efforts of the Ten- nessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Bobwhite Quail Plan and recovery efforts was among the topics cov- ered at the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission Big cat below Ft. Loudon Dam - client guided by Capt. Chadwick meeting on Friday. Ferrell (R) of FISH ON! Guided Tours. The TFWC met for the final time in 2015 in a one day Send Us Your Hunting And Fishing meeting at the TWRA Region II Ray Bell Building. Pictures! Our Email: The quail population in Tennessee and other states [email protected] (Con’t on p. 12) ( 11 FORT LOUDON / TELLICO

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Another big winter-time striper - guided by FISH ON! Guided Tours.

(“Quail Mgmt Update” .. con’t from p. 11) Kevin Haynes with 8 pt taken in Ball Play area 12/11/15. has seen a steady decline over the last sev- Photo courtesy Sloan’s Center. eral years. Mark Gudlin, Chief of the Wildlife and Forestry Division, and Roger Applegate, TWRA Quail Coordinator, discussed the prog- ress thus far at the four quail anchor Wildlife Management Areas that include Wolf River, Bark Camp Barrens, Bridgestone-Firestone, and Lick Creek Bottoms. WMA personnel have incorporated timber harvests, prescribed burning, disking, and herbicide applications to restore and improve habitat for bobwhite quail and other wildlife.

Also discussed were cooperative efforts be- tween the TWRA, the U.S. Department of Ag- riculture, Quail Forever and other partners to work with private landowners to improve quail habitat. Approximately 90 percent of lands in A big cold-weather catfish for this youth. Guided by the state are privately owned. 12 FISH ON! Guided Tours. (Con’t on p. 14) FORT LOUDON / TELLICO

Guide Capt. Chadwick Ferrell of FISH ON! Guided Tours with big cat below Ft. Loudon.

Another big winter-time cat - guided by FISH ON! Guided Tours. Photos above: stripers below Ft. Loudon - guided by FISH ON! Guided Tours. This Magazine Provided To You FREE By The Advertisers Thank Them With YOUR Business!

FISH AND HUNT MORE IN 2016! 13 CHEROKEE LAKE

Wendell Bond and Bruce Childress with big Cherokee striper. Photo Gilmore Dock.

Walter Mitchell with two good stripers. Photo courtesy Gilmore Dock. (“Quail Management Update” ... con’t from p. 12)

Applegate introduced TWRA Habitat biologist Clint Borum to the commission and presented him with the Firebird Award from the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative and National Bobwhite Technical Committee. He was honored in recognition for his work to helping improve habitat on private lands and increase the population of quail.

North Cumberland WMA manager Joe Elkins also spoke to the commission about the various habitat improvements for the elk.

Rodney Woodson, a wildlife technician at Old Hickory WMA, was at the meeting to receive the Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers (OWFIM) Innovation Award. OF- WIM is a non-profit organization comprised of fish and wildlife (“Con’t on p. 15) Butch, Kenny, and Wendell with a good striper. 14 Photo courtesy Gilmore Dock. CHEROKEE LAKE

(“Quail Management Update”... con’t from p. 14) information managers to share information technologies, management strategies, and standards. He received the award for developing a technology based system to monitor hog traps via the internet.

John McFadden, Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Environmental Council, gave a report about the 50K Tree Day, an annual event where more than 3,000 volunteers par- ticipated to plant trees. The TWRA is an annual sponsor and more than 47,000 trees were successfully planted in an hour on March 14, primarily along streams, creeks, and rivers. (Con’t on p. 21) All of us here at Gilmore Dock send our condolence to the Earl Rogers family. He will be missed at Gilmore Dock - he loved to fish the Wednesday Night tourna- ments and did so for many years. Earl was 88 years young. RIP OUR FRIEND!!

Kenneth Kilgore (photos above) has been landing some weighty Cherokee stripers. Photos courtesy Gilmore Dock. 15 CHEROKEE LAKE

Kenneth Kilgore (L) knows how to catch the big ones! Dick Brogan with nice catch out of Gilmore. Photo Photo courtesy Gilmore Dock. courtesy Gilmore Dock. Seasonal Happenings - Winter Is Here! The best thing to do in winter (other than stay out of the cold) is to go watch waterfowl, eagles, and Sandhill Cranes! Ducks and geese are in Tennessee, often in good numbers, and can be viewed at a lot of good public viewing areas. Some of the best locations are at (multiple viewing access points) and various boat ramps around the lake. Reelfoot WMA often has flooded fields for waterfowl resting and roosting on the west side of the lake. The Phillippy area north- west of Reelfoot Lake is also a good viewing area. The Reelfoot area often has over 100 Bald Eagles in winter so keep your eyes open! Other excellent places to view waterfowl, eagles, and Sandhill Cranes in winter: Lauderdale Refuge (which has a viewing tower)

Percy Priest Lake has many access points (boat ramps) for viewing waterfowl, loons, and the occasional bald eagle.

Cross Creeks NWR is Dover, TN often has excellent waterfowl habitat in winter, but access is limited.

Paris Landing State Park and the adjacent Tennessee NWR units are some of the best places to view waterfowl in the state. There are also a dozen or more eagle nests in the area, so seeing an eagle or twelve is very possible.

Radnor Lake State Park is an oasis in a sea of concrete, but it is a good place to find a variety of waterfowl in small to moderate numbers. You may find Canvasback or Redheads here.

Hiwassee Refuge near Chattanooga has the largest concentration of wintering Sandhill Cranes in Tennessee. A variety of waterfowl may be seen, in addition to Bald Eagles. 16 DOUGLAS LAKE TWRA Becomes Nation’s First Wildlife Agency to Start Online Streaming Platform NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency has launched TWRA.tv, an online streaming platform to broadcast agency and local independent outdoor video content, including the award-winning series, “Tennessee Uncharted.” The project is col- laboration between the TWRA Extreme Outdoors TV and Horton Group, Inc. 1114 Douglas Dam Rd, Dandridge, TN 37725 Fishing Supplies - Live Bait - Licenses - Groceries - Deli - Take Out The TWRA has become the first wildlife agency in Open 7 Days 6am - 10pm the nation to start its own online streaming platform. Similar to Netflix or YouTube, TWRA.tv will allow the agency to stream agency-produced, new and his- Call In Orders Welcome! torical programming to users across the state and OUR DELI HAS DAILY BREAKFAST & world. DINNER SPECIALS AVAILABLE! Subscribers will be allowed full-access to all plat- form content as well as the ability to upload and share their own video content. In addition, the plat- form will incubate a community for independent pro- ducers to distribute and monetize their own targeted outdoor recreation content. Outdoor recreation in Tennessee generates more than $8 billion in consumer spending each year, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. As of 2015, the TWRA manages more than 1 million ac- tive hunting, fishing and boat registrations through- out the state. In addition, data reports that 78 per- cent of the population now watches online video every week. “All together these trends create a huge opportunity for TWRA to serve a growing online video demand for many different outdoor audiences,” said Don King, TWRA Chief of Information and Education. The TWRA.tv platform is developed and managed by Horton Group, Inc., a Nashville-based web mar- www.bucksnbass.net keting agency, who has developed custom websites and apps for various businesses across the .

“Users will be able to watch certain programming like Tennessee Uncharted for free or become a subscriber to the platform for $4.99 per month,” said Scott Scrip, consultant with Horton Group. “Subscribers will then get full access to over 60 years worth of digitally-remastered agency video. Plus subscribers and producers will be able to upload, stream and even create revenue streams with their own outdoor content.” “Businesses and organizations can also market and brand themselves to outdoor audiences using the platform’s sponsorship-integration functionality,” said Tom Loch, President of Extreme Outdoors TV. “Sponsoring partners of TWRA.tv will be able to benefit from unique exposure opportunities to (Con’t on p. 25) 17 DOUGLAS LAKE INDIAN CREEK MARKET & DELI Photo Contest Underway for 2016-17 Ten- 1811 Indian Creek Road nessee Wildlife Calendar Issue Dandridge, TN 37725 OPEN 7 Days a Week NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife 6:00 am - 9:00 pm Resources Agency is now accepting entries for its 2016-17 photo contest for publication Phone # 865-397-0880 in the Tennessee Wildlife Magazine’s annual calendar issue. Full Menu: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner - Take Out All interested photographers are invited to Ask About our Daily Specials and Desserts! submit their best photos on fishing and wild- Live Bait - Fishing Supplies life species native to Tennessee, and fishing BOAT STORAGE - BOAT REPAIRS and hunting scenes in Tennessee.

Interested photographers must submit their photo entries by the March 14, 2016 deadline. The photos will be reviewed for publication in the annual calendar edition of Tennessee Wildlife Magazine which is the summer issue. If a photo is selected for the calendar edition, the photographer will receive a cash stipend of $60. The format is horizontal digital images on disk. 503 Hwy 25/32 White Pine, TN 37890 Only digital images in JPEG format and of high Fishing Supplies - Live Bait - Licenses - Breakfast resolution (300 dpi) sized as an 8 1/2x11 will be Big Game Checking Station accepted. Open: M-T 6-8, F-S 6-9, Sun 7-6 Each disk submitted must have the name of the photographer stamped or written on it. No prints can be accepted. (Sorry, disks cannot be returned).

Entries can be mailed to: Tennessee Wildlife Magazine Calendar Issue P.O. Box 40747 Nashville, TN 37204

Tennessee Wildlife is the official magazine for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Subscription rates are $10 for one year, $17 for two years and $25 for three years. - TWRA -

Send us your hunting & fishing photos: email to [email protected] 18 NORRIS LAKE Rabbit, Squirrel, Quail, & Grouse SOUTHERN OUTDOORS Hunting Seasons Open Until 2089 Hwy 25 E, Tazewell. TN February 29th (423) 626-7388 Support Our Advertisers Live Bait - Fishing, Hunting, Archery Supplies With YOUR Business! Groceries - Snacks - Ice - Discount Tobacco 100% Ethanol-Free Gas - Diesel Fishing & Hunting Licenses Big Game Checking Station OPEN 7 DAYS

Photos this page: youth hunters with their successes - all photos courtesy Southern Outdoors. 19 NORRIS LAKE

To learn more about “Tennessee Uncharted” visit the Deer hunting in shorts! Photo courtesy Crossroads Grocery. website, http://www.tnuncharted.com

20 A coyote bonus on this hunt. Photo courtesy Crossroads Grocery. NORRIS LAKE (“Quail Management Update”... con’t from p. 15) In another riparian-theme report, Tim Phelps from the Tennes- see Division of Forestry discussed the urban riparian efforts in the Nashville area. There have been a total of 170 projects with more than 30,000 trees planted along streams. He also introduced a new publication, “Tennessee Urban Riparian Buf- fer Handbook.”

The TFWC wrapped up its 2015 meeting schedule. The com- mission will hold its first meeting of 2016 on Jan. 21-22 at Bass Pro Shops in Memphis.

---TWRA---

Jacob Hatmaker celebrates his 1st ‘coon - a 19-pounder! Photo courtesy Judy’s Grocery.

The thrill of the 1st deer - and faith in the future. Support Our Advertisers With Photo courtesy Crossroads Grocery. YOUR Business! 21 NORRIS LAKE

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Phone (865)278-3131 cedargrovemarina.com Conservation Reserve Program Sign-up to Be Held Dec. 1-Feb. 26 NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Re- sources Agency has been informed that U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up will be held Dec. 1, 2015, through Feb. 26, 2016. Through the program’s various targeted continu- ous CRP practices, the general and continuous A big 15-inch wintertime “slab” crappie. Photo courtesy program offerings will provide a much-needed Crossroads Grocery. habitat boost to recovering bobwhite quail along with other upland and wetland wildlife species. Vil- sack also said that eligible existing program participants with contracts that expired Sept. 30, 2015, may be granted an option for a one-year extension. “This is great news for landowners in Tennessee who are looking to improve wildlife habitat on their (Con’t on p. 23) CEDAR GROVE MARINA & CAMPGROUND A Full-Service Marina conveniently located on beautiful Norris Lake off Hwy 33 in New Tazewell, TN

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Three Youth Spring Turkey Quota Hunt Applications Now Being Accepted NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Re- sources Agency is announcing that three Young Sportsman 2016 spring turkey quota hunts will be held via hand draw on Feb. 10. Applications to enter the drawing are now be- ing accepted and can be made by contacting Stacy Saxton in the TWRA Wildlife and For- estry Division at (615) 781-5262. The available youth hunts are Tellico Lake Wildlife Management Area on March 26-27 (5 hunter quota), Tellico Lake WMA (McGhee Car- son Unit), on March 26, (5 hunter quota), and Yuchi WMA on March 18-20 (10 hunter quota). The deadline for entry is Feb. 3. Youths will not gain, use or lose any preference points for this draw. Hunters ages 6-16 are eligible to enter the drawing. All applicants will be notified by mail whether or not they were select- ed. The youth applicants’s TWRA ID number and current address must be available when calling. ---TWRA--- - (“Conservation Reserve Program” ...con’t from p. 22) property while at the same time supplementing income on highly erodible or flood prone areas of the farm,” said Chris Hunter, West Tennessee TWRA Private Lands Biologist. “The general sign-up acres will help keep CRP habitat acreage at its targeted cap of 24 million acres nationwide, which is critical to both wetland and upland wildlife species.” General sign-up applications will be ranked on a competitive basis. The general sign-up will include locations that are in a Conserva- tion Priority Area (CPA) for both Wildlife and Water Quality CPAs. (Con’t on p. 26) Why some Dads hunt. Photo Crossroads Grocery. 23 WATAUGA / SOUTH HOLSTON West Tennessee TWRA Lakes Getting A Dose Of Winter Blues The agency's hatchery workers have been deliver- ing catfish to several of the state lakes in Region I (West Tennessee) in January. While not yet huge (average size about 11 inches), these fish will be waiting for you come spring and even this winter if you want to go ahead and start burning off some of that cabin fever. TWRA lakes stocked so far (and we are just getting started with our warm wa- ter fish) have been: Brown's Creek Lake: 4,172; Garrett Lake: 4,576; Gibson County: 1,664; Glen Springtime Will Come! Springs: 2,996; Herb Parsons: 4,420; Graham: 3,916 The agency will release stocking informa- tion as it happens through the year.

Connie Holloway with big buck. Photo courtesy TNT Outdoors. 24 Jerry Tester with doe. Photo courtesy TNT Outdoors. WATAUGA / SOUTH HOLSTON

Bryson Lynch of Elizabethton with 8 pt 12/19/15. Photo courtesy Dry Hill General Store. (“Online Streaming” .. con’t from p. 17) the highly-valued outdoor recreation consumer.” Another ground-breaking feature of TWRA.tv is that a percentage of all revenue generated on the platform will auto-direct to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation and its continued support of the conservation and media production efforts of the TWRA. Now streaming is the complete “Tennessee Un- charted” Season 1. New episodes from Season 2 are being added weekly after airing on Public TV stations across the state and are available any- time on TWRA.tv. Tennessee Uncharted television show highlights unique locations, local experts, techniques and traditions across Tennessee. Viewers watch as host Erick Baker leads the way through breath- taking beauty, deep-rooted culture and heart- pounding adventure, mined from the outdoors of Tennessee. Nate Shepherd with big 11 pt. Photo courtesy To learn more about “Tennessee Uncharted” visit TNT Outdoors. the website, http://www.tnuncharted.com, or con- tact by email here. Rabbit, Squirrel, Quail, & Grouse Hunting Seasons Open Until ---TWRA--- February 29th 25 WATAUGA / SOUTH HOLSTON (“Conservation Reserve Program” con’t from p.23) Applicants in CPA counties will receive additional bonus points that will make them more competitive in the overall ranking. The following counties shall be included in the Wildlife Priority CPA: Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Haywood, Obion and Weakley in USDA Area 1 and Giles, Lawrence, Lincoln, Montgomery and Robertson in Area 2, Indoor Shooting Range - Keeping You On Target respectively. The following counties shall be in the 118 First Avenue, Hampton, TN 37658 Water Quality CPA: Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gib- Phone: 423-896-7123 son, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Madison, Obion and Open: Mon - Sat 10 - 6 Sun 1 - 6 Weakley in Area 1 and Montgomery, Robertson, WE HAVE LAYAWAY! Stewart and Sumner in Area 2, respectively. For designated habitat practices, a landowner can receive up to 30 Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) bonus points for being in either a Water Quality or Wildlife CPA county and may receive 60 EBI bo- nus points if a county is designated for both. The general sign-up will begin the same month CRP, regarded as the most successful conservation initiative in modern U.S. history, officially celebrates its 30 year anniversary. “On an ongoing basis, there are also continuous CRP practices available year round such as State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE 38E) initiative, CP33 Upland Habitat Buffers initiative and the CP42 Pollinator Habitat initiative which can be compared to the ‘gold standard’ for upland habi- tat quality, while at the same time providing additional incentives for landowners,” said Hunter. (Con’t on page 27) Seventh Annual Maury County Youth Small Game and Predator Hunt Scheduled for January 30

COLUMBIA, Tenn. --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be one of the sponsors for the Seventh Annual Maury County Youth Small Game and Predator Hunt to be held Jan. 30. 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 permits. Hunters must also provide their own firearm and ammunition. Firearms and ammunition will be provided for the clay target range. Along with the TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Officers Association, Columbia Noon Rotary Club, Sun Drop, Quail Unlimited and several other local businesses are sponsoring the event. The Co- lumbia National Guard Armory will serve as the event’s headquarters. The day’s activities will begin at 6 a.m. with breakfast at the armory. 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 hunt- ing lands as well as private property will be utilized for the hunt. The hunt will conclude with lunch, prizes, and clay target shooting at the armory. 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 [email protected]. Please include the hunter’s name, age, address, email, phone num- ber, and which species he or she prefers to hunt (rabbits, squirrels, or predators). For more infor- mation contact Rusty Thompson by email or at (931) 881-8241.

26 ---TWRA--- BOONE LAKE (“Conservation Reserve Program” con’t from p.26) “I encourage all farmers and ranchers to consider the various CRP continuous sign-up initiatives that may help target specific resource concerns,” said Vilsack. “Financial assistance is offered for many practices including conservation buffers and pollinator habitat plantings, and initiatives such as the highly erodible lands, bottomland hardwood tree and longleaf pine, all of which are extremely important initiatives. (Con’t on page 28)

TWRA’s Winter Trout Stocking Resumes NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s winter trout stocking program re- sumes as the new year begins and will continue at selected locations through middle portion of March. The 2015-16 program began Dec. 1 and had 26 stockings at various locations through mid- December. The program provides numerous close to home trout fishing opportunities for anglers during the winter months. These fisheries also provide a great opportunity to introduce children or first-time anglers to fishing. The trout will average about 10 inches in length. The daily creel limit is seven, but there is no size limit. Please note that the dates and locations are subject to change. Updates can be found on TWRA’s website. - See more at: http://www.tn.gov/twra/news/22852#sthash.UPKB8RGL.dpuf

February 2016 11 Thursday Kingston Springs Park Kingston Springs 3 Wednesday Sulphur Fork Creek Springfield 11 Thursday J.D. Buckner Park Dickson 4 Thursday Billy Dunlop Park Clarksville 12 Friday Marrowbone Lake Joelton 4 Thursday Stone Bridge Park Fayetteville 18 Thursday Cowan City Park Cowan 5 Friday Nice Mill Smyrna 19 Friday McCutcheon Creek Spring Hill 10 Wednesday Lake Junior Chattanooga 19 Friday Harpeth River Franklin 11 Thursday Pickett Lake Pickett Lake State 25 Thursday Big Rock Greenway Park Lewisburg Jamestown 26 Friday Percy Priest Tailwaters Nashville 27 DALE HOLLOW LAKE

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- FACILITIES FOR SALE - - Dale Hollow Fishing Report - courtesy Sportsman’s Lodge Motel Fishing is good. Water temperature is 47 degrees and falling. Smallmouth Bass: Several Smallmouth Bass are being caught by float and fly method on bluffs in 25 feet of water. Largemouth Bass: Several Largemouth Bass are being caught on football jigs on drops in 20 feet of water. Crappie: A few Crappie are being caught in the rivers on minnows in 15 feet of water

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(“Conservation Reserve Program” ... con’t from Horse Creek Dock & Resort p. 27) 703 Horse Creek Dock Road, Celina, TN 38551 “For 30 years, the Conservation Reserve Pro- 931-243-2125 gram has supported farmers and ranchers as * COTTAGES they continue to be good stewards of land and water. This initiative has helped farmers and * BOAT RENTALS ranchers prevent more than 8 billion tons of soil * FISHING SUPPLIES from eroding, reduce nitrogen and phosphorous * BAIT runoff by 95 and 85 percent respectively, and * ICE - GROCERIES even sequestering 43 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, equal to taking 8 million cars off the road. This has been one of most successful conservation programs in the history of the Fish More In 2016! (Con’t on page 29)

NOW! VIEW THIS MAGAZINE IN COLOR ONLINE AT WWW.TNFHG.COM Support Our Advertisers With YOUR Business! 28 CENTER HILL LAKE Center Hill Fishing Report: Fishing is good .Water temp is 48 degrees and is falling. Bass: Both largemouth and smallmouth are being caught on football jigs on points in 15 to 25 feet of water. Crappie: A few Crappie are being caught under docks on minnows in 15 feet of water. - TWRA -

TWRA Announces Creation of Web Page with Cougars Information

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has announced that it has created its page on its website with informa- tion on cougars for the public. Recent cougar sightings have been confirmed at four locations in Tennessee and the TWRA is taking a proactive stance in making information available. The cougar has not been seen in Tennessee since the early 20th century until recently. Cougars primarily inhabit the western region of the United States and extend to the east as far as the western edge of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and close to the eastern borders of Colorado and Texas. The information can be viewed on the TWRA website by seeing more at: http://www. tn.gov/twra/news/23553#sthash. c8slfS68.dpuf -TWRA -

(“Conservation Reserve Program” ... con’t from p. 28) country, and today’s announcement keeps that momentum moving forward.” USDA service centers are located across the state of Tennessee. Applicants interested in CRP con- tinuous practices may apply now. Applicants interested in the CRP general sign-up may start apply- ing as early as Dec. 1, 2015. ---TWRA--- 29 OLD HICKORY LAKE

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