MANNER AND MEANS - Legalize all shotgun sizes for hunting turkey, which includes 28 gauge and .410.
SMALL GAME - Put the pigeon (rock dove/rock pigeon) on the list of unprotected species.
FURBEARER - Expand the river otter hunting and trapping seasons in East Tennessee (Region IV) to be the same as the rest of the state-Friday before thanksgiving to February 15.
BIG GAME -
Deer
Add Cumberland County to Unit A.
Add Decatur, Gibson, Houston, McNairy, and Stewart counties to Unit L.
Add 2 more days of either-sex deer hunting to the first segment of the Unit B muzzleloader season so season will be Nov. 3-7. Nov. 8-9 remains antlered only.
Make hunter quota changes in the special season antlerless deer seasons in units A and B.
Feral Hog
Add Blount and Sevier counties to the Nov. 12-15 and Nov. 29-Dec. 12 hunts (dogs permitted).
Add two hunts, Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 20-21, in Monroe County (dogs permitted).
Black Bear
Expand mid-Nov. bear season in Carter, Cocke (entire county), Monroe, Polk (E. of Hwy 411) counties to be Nov. 12-15. Season in Blount and Sevier counties will also be Nov. 12-15.
Add two hunts, Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 20-21, in Monroe County (dogs permitted).
Add three archery hunts (no dogs) in Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Polk, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties--Sept. 22-Oct. 26, Oct. 29-Nov. 2, and Nov. 10-16.
Wild Turkey
Turkey Season for Fall 2007: Nov. 10-16 and some counties also open Dec. 10-14.
Add Washington County to fall turkey hunting--Nov. 10-16, hunter quota 50.
Lewis County to be open during both hunting seasons.
WMA bag limits clarified and defined for each WMA.
Counties open during the both seasons (i.e., Nov. 10-16 and Dec. 10-14) to have 3 birds, either sex, per permit.
2008 Spring Turkey Season
Bag Limit--One (1) bearded turkey per day, not to exceed four (4) per season. Turkeys taken on all quota hunts and specially designated WMAs are bonus birds. Young Sportsman hunt -- One (1) bearded turkey. Turkey counts toward the statewide bag unless taken on a WMA where turkey is listed as a bonus bird.
Young sportsmen hunt March 22-23, regular season March 29-May11.
Big Game Tagging and Check-out Requirements
All animals harvested must be accompanied by one tagged animal and must be taken together to the nearest big game checking station by the most reasonably direct route within thirty-six (36) hours of last kill where one new temporary kill tag will be issued. Evidence of species and sex must be available for inspection by wildlife officer or Agency designated personnel prior to issuance of permanent game tag.
5. WMA
1. Waterfowl hunting from temporary blinds - no blinds, blind materials, boats, or decoys left overnight unless otherwise specified by rule or proclamation.
2. On all WMAs open to the late duck season, the statewide Youth Waterfowl Season is open, unless exception is noted. On all WMAs, the legal hunting hours during the Youth Waterfowl Season comply with federal regulations for migratory birds (30 minutes before official sunrise to sunset), unless exception is noted.
3. Tellico Unit of the South Cherokee -- Add an additional bear/boar party dog hunt.
4. Tellico and Ocoee units of the South Cherokee -- Make concurrent hunt dates to also correspond to same hunts in the county off the WMA.
5. Chickamauga WMA -- Make a 3:00 p.m. waterfowl hunting closure on the Candies Creek, Rogers Creek, Yellow Creek, and Johnson Bottoms units.
6. Open the Bomprezzi Unit of Eagle Lake Refuge to specified small game and to waterfowl, deer, and turkey hunting. The area is opened to shotgun and archery equipment only.
7. Edgar Evins State Park -- Add deer Safety Zone (Archery Only) hunt, Oct. 9-10. Hunter quota is 200. There will be a hand held-drawing at Park Office at noon on Sept. 12.
8. North Chickamauga Creek -- Dove is same as statewide season. No dove hunters or hunting equipment on field prior to 7:00 a.m. on opening day of the first segment. Waterfowl hunting closes at 3:00 p.m.
9. Oak Ridge WMA -- Reduce bag limit from 3 to 2, and remove the antler restriction (4 points on one side or a 15" outside spread).
10. Bear Hollow Mountain, Williamsport, and Yanahli -- Add special regulations for horseback riding and the prohibition of alcoholic beverages.
The TWRC will vote on the above recommendations at its annual season setting meeting on May 23-24 at the TWRA Region II Office.
TWRA
Region IV HUNTER EDUCATION CLASS SCHEDULE
Tennessee law requires that anyone born on or after January 1, 1969, beginning at age 10 must possess proof of satisfactory completion of an approved hunter education course before hunting any species in Tennessee.
In order to enroll in a hunter education class, the student must be at least 9 years of age. Persons ages 6-9 may participate in Young Sportsman and WMA hunts without hunter education, but they must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age.
Participants need to bring a pencil and their Social Security Number to class.
The following is the current schedule of hunter education classes for the East Tennessee area. Any classes added since last week are in bold.
COUNTY INSTRUCTOR DATE TIME MEETING PLACE
Greene Lisa Fawbush 5/14/07 6:00 pm White Sands Guns& Ammo
Knox Staff 6/11/07 6:00 pm John Sevier Range
Classes MTTF Pre-reg. and confirmation number is required (865) 594-6280
Hamblen Nathan Ripley 8/11/07 8:30 am-4:pm Region IV Office
8/18/07 8:30am-4:pm
Knox Staff 8/13/07 6:00 pm John Sevier Range
Classes MTTF Pre-reg. and confirmation number is required (865) 594-6280
Carter Dennis Ward 9/10/07 6:00 pm Sycamore Shoals State Park
Classes MTTFS
Knox Staff 10/8/07 6:00 pm John Sevier Range
Classes MTTF Pre-reg. and confirmation number is required (865) 594-6280
Knox Staff 12/10/07 6:00 pm John Sevier Range
Classes MTTF Pre-reg. and confirmation number is required (865) 594-6280
CD/ON-LINE Field Days
These field days are only for those who have completed a CD or Online Class. MUST BRING IN FINAL REPORT and each student must make a minimum of "75" on the online test and the final test to pass the class.
Knox Staff 5/26/07 9:00 am John Sevier Range
Knox Staff 7/28/07 9:00 am John Sevier Range
Knox Staff 9/29/07 9:00 am John Sevier Range
Knox Staff 11/24/07 9:00 am John Sevier Range
Washington Stanley Shell 5/5/07 9:00 am Unaka Rod & Gun Club
Call 423/587/7037 to pre-register
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