Tennessee’s 2009-10 deer hunting seasons will end in all Units with the Young Sportsman Deer Hunt that will be held on January 16-17, 2010, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Bag limits allow for antlerless hunting in all units during this hunt.  In Unit A the antlerless limit is 2 for the hunt while in Unit L the antlerless limit is 3 per day.  In Unit B the bag limit is one antlerless deer.
Remember that antlered deer taken during the Young Sportsman Hunt count toward the statewide antlered deer bag limit.  The antlered bag limit for all 2009-10 seasons combined is one per day up to a total of three antlered deer.  If a youth has already taken three antlered deer this year, they would only be allowed antlerless deer on this hunt.
Only youths, ages 6 through 16 (as long as they have not reached their 17th birthday), may participate, regardless of whether they possess a Junior or Adult license.  Each youth must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 21 years or older, who does not need a license but must also wear 500-square inches of fluorescent orange.
Youth hunters ages 10 – 16 need a hunter education card along with the appropriate license where applicable.  Those, ages 6 – 9, are not required to possess a hunter education card or license (these youths must have their Social Security Number to check in a deer).
For those youth hunters, ages 10 and older, who have not taken the hunter education course, the Apprentice License is available.
The Apprentice License exempts a hunter, age 10 or older who falls within the hunter education requirement, from having to complete the mandatory hunter Education Course for one year.
The Apprentice License (Type 12) may be purchased for $11 at any hunting and fishing license agent.  The license is valid for one year from the date of purchase.  This license may only be purchased once in the lifetime of the hunter.
While hunting, the apprentice hunter must be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 21 years of age, who is hunter education certified or otherwise exempt from the law.  In addition to the apprentice license, the hunter must have other applicable licenses and permits.
For more information about this special hunt, refer to the 2009 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide or go to www.tnwildlife.org.
EAGLE COUNT SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY
A Mid-Winter Eagle Count is scheduled for Tennessee from December 30, 2009 through January 13, 2010, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).  This count is part of a national count coordinated by the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey.
The target date for the national simultaneous count is January 8 – 9, but reported sightings during the entire period of December 31 through January 16 are important.
The primary focus in Tennessee is bald eagles, but golden eagles and ospreys have been reported over the past several years.
Anyone making sightings of bald eagles, golden eagles, or ospreys during December 30 through January 13, 2009, and in particular January 8 – 9 can contact Scott Somershoe (1-615-781-6653) or e-mail scott.somershoe@tn.gov in TWRA’s Nashville Office.  Or in Region IV, contact Sterling Daniels 1-800-332-0900 or e-mail sterling.daniels@tn.gov.
Information requested includes: name and address or telephone number of observer, date, time and place of observation, species observed and for bald eagles and golden eagles, whether the bird was an adult or immature.
Tennessee’s bald eagle population is the highest in winter when birds migrate from the north.  Although Reelfoot Lake and Dale Hollow Reservoir have the greatest concentrations during the winter, eagles may be observed along almost any waterway in the state.
From 1980-2009, 327 young bald eagles were released from seven Tennessee hack sites to enhance recovery of the species. From 1995-2006, 47 young golden eagles were released from the Chickamauga Lake hack site.
Since 1983, TWRA with cooperation from partners has monitored bald eagle nests as they increased from a single occupied nest in 1983 to more than 130 nests in 2009.

… read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.