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Woods & Water: Wildlife commission sets 2005-06 hunting seasons

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By Joey Wray / Sports Columnist

Woods & Water: Wildlife commission sets 2005-06 hunting seasons

Abby Barlow brought home her first-ever turkey on a recent hunt with her dad, Johnny L. Barlow Jr., and her grandpa, Johnny L. Barlow Sr. The bird weighed in at 18 pounds, and sported a 10-inch beard and 7/8-inch spurs. (Photo provided)
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC) set the hunting seasons for 2005-2006 at its May meeting held in Nashville on May 19, 2005.

In addition to the normal fall hunting seasons, the TWRC also set the 2006 Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Seasons. Spring turkey hunting regulations will now be included in the Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Major changes for the 2005-2006 are as follows:

  • Crossbows are now legal for all hunters to use during any hunting season which allows archery equipment, including the archery-only deer season. A Big Game Archery License is required to use a crossbow (except for those that have sportsman licenses).
  • Expanded the definition of a youth hunter. Youth hunters are now defined as young sportsmen 6 -16 years of age for both statewide and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) youth only hunts. Youths still must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 21 years of age or older, who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device.
  • The statewide bag limit for Spring Wild Turkey Season was increased by one bird, to 4 bearded birds per season, only two of which may come from WMA’s. This means a hunter may take all 4 turkeys from private land.
  • Made turkeys taken on spring WMA quota hunts bonus. These will not count toward the statewide limit of 4.
  • Added five new counties to Deer Unit L (Cannon, Lewis, Madison, Trousdale, Wayne)
  • Moved Polk County from Unit A to Unit B.
  • Increased the raccoon bag limit in East Tennessee to 2/person/night.

    The statewide buck bag limits will remain the same as last year (3 antlered deer statewide, no more than 2 of which may come from Unit B). Only 2 antlered deer may be taken during any specific season (archery, muzzleloader, gun) and only one antlered deer may be taken per day.

    These and other changes will be listed in detail in the 2005 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide that will be available in mid-July. The information will be available on the TWRA web page at www.tnwildlife.org .

    TWRA Web Page Has Links To Free Fishing Day Activities
    Finding a place to fish in Tennessee will be easier than ever for this year’s Free Fishing Day set for Saturday, June 11.

    “There has been terrific coordination between TWRA’s Information and Education Division and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation,” noted Dan Hicks of the TWRA. “If you have access to the Internet, you are going to be able to find dozens of events scheduled for Free Fishing Day.”

    Anglers should check events between now and June 11, as more and more fishing rodeos and tournaments are added to the list of Free Fishing Day Activities.

    The website address for TWRA is www.tnwildlife.org. Once the website comes up, click on “fishing” then click the link under “2005 Free Fishing Day Activities.” There are some age limits on certain events, so please review the website information prior to registration.

    DeKalb:
    Pea Ridge Wildlife Management Area Kids Fishing Rodeo
    Place – Pea Ridge
    Date – June 11th
    Time – 9:00am – 12:00 noon
    Age Limits – 15 years of age and younger
    Contact: Tony Cross at 615-597-9625 or [email protected]
    Warren:
    Warren County Free Fishing Day Event
    Place – Hwy 8. on Harrison Ferry Mtn near Van Buren Co. Line. (Look for signs)
    Date – June 11th
    Time – 8:00am – 2:00pm
    Age Limits – 16 years of age and younger
    Contact: Roy Cannon at 931-815-2600
    White:
    Free Fishing Day at Bridgestone/Firestone WMA
    Place – Bridgestone/Firestone WMA
    Date – June 11th
    Time – 4:00pm – 8:00pm
    Age Limits – 16 years of age and younger
    Contact: James Douglas at 931-935-3280 or Jon Ryan at 931-738-9892
    Van Buren:
    Fall Creek Falls Fishing Derby
    Place – Fall Creek Falls State Park
    Date – June 11th
    Time – 7:00am 12:00noon
    Age Limits – 16 years of age and younger
    Contact: Clint Smith at 931-946-3335 or [email protected]

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