Tennessee Wildcast

The #Elk Hunt Raffle deadline is August 2nd! Don't miss the opportunity to get your name in the hat for the grand prize hunt package and other awesome prizes. To purchase tickets visit www.twrf.net. This week on #TennesseeWildCast we visit with Elk Program Leader, Brad Miller, at the #HatfieldKnob Viewing Tower. We will cover the details of the raffle, the prizes, and how to enter. Brad will also give us an update on the elk herd and hard work happening on North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area that benefits all wildlife. To learn more about Elk in Tennessee or view the live elk cam visit: https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/wildlife/mammals/large/elk.html #tnwildlife

As summer fades, folks are preparing for the 2019-2020 hunting seasons. This week we visit with Jamie Feddersen, Waterfowl Program Leader, to discuss changes to the duck blind drawing procedure. We will cover draw locations, procedures and touch on other opportunities including the sandhill crane draw. The 2019-20 season dates can be found on our website at http://www.eregulations.com/tennessee/hunting/duck-sandhill-crane-seasons-bag-limits/. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

15-year-old Jack Ladd is a “Jack of all trades.” At the young age of 15, he has been involved in collecting & selling coins, making jewelry from recycled bullets and cartridges, building custom bows from Osage Orange trees, flintknapping (making arrowheads) and now enjoying his current trade of Bladesmithing (making knives). In Jack’s spare time, he is active in his church, cross county running, rock climbing & bouldering, soccer, Beta Club, welding, and FFA all while being on the Honor Roll in high school. Meet Jack and see his unique skills right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

A few weeks ago we had a chance to visit with the 2019 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Ott DeFoe. Ott takes us through each day of the Classic, his ups, downs and challenges on that final day of the tournament. Also, get the inside scoop during a new segment we like to call “According to Ott DeFoe”. Learn what you ‘Ott’ to do and where you ‘Ott’ to go when fishing in Tennessee. We will also be giving away some Ott DeFoe autographed gear if you can guess the weight of his trophy. Watch and guess the weight by commenting below the show. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

Join us this week as we meet One Eyed Willie and Captain Jack, two well know residents on the campus of Union University in Jackson, TN.  These little guys are great examples of the wildlife rehabilitation work being done by Dr. Huggins, Dr. Kerfoot, and their biology students at Union.  Tune in to learn about rehab centers, how they operate and some of the hardest parts of maintaining a wildlife rehabilitation facility that focuses on helping our winged friends.  www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

Mom, wife, photographer, archery coach and huntress Amy Hall joins us this week for an episode of Tennessee WildCast. Amy has a great perspective on hunting and being outdoors. With only three years of hunting behind her, she has a passion like none other to share her experiences with her kids, friends and anyone she comes in contact with. This past season she encountered an albino buck while in the stand. She will share this experience and so much more right here on Tennessee WildCast. Thanks for tuning in. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

Join us as we meet the new TWRA Wild Turkey Program Coordinator, Roger Shields. Roger has focused his whole professional career to studying wild turkeys. Tennessee is excited to have him on our wildlife team. We know his knowledge and expertise will be very valuable as we continue to study our turkey populations. Roger was happy to report an increase in turkey harvests for the 2019 Spring season and feels good about the future. Today, he will bring us up-to-date on what all is happening in the world of turkey. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Tennessee WildCast! www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

Regulations have been established for the newly created Unit CWD. Join us this week as we dive into these new regulations with TWRA Chronic Wasting Disease Coordinator, Chuck Yoest, and Wildlife Health Specialist with UT Extension and TWRA Veterinarian, Dr. Dan Grove. Both have worked very hard, along with many others in the Wildlife Division, to come with regulations that are science-based and data-driven. We hope this conversations helps you better understand the new unit regulations and thanks for tuning in to Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

This week on Tennessee WildCast we will highlight some of the family fishing events hosted on Free Fishing Day, which is June 8th. On this day anyone can fish without a license and kids can fish for free the following week. This is a great time to introduce family and friends to the sport of fishing! Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Tennessee WildCast and we hope to see you on Free Fishing Day! www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #tnfishing #itswhatwedo

TWRA is excited to announce we now have a Moment Of Freedom fishing pier on the Tellico River in the shadows of the Tellico Hatchery. This week we are hanging out with Mime Barnes, Regional Information Specialist, Mark Thurman, Regional Fisheries Program Manager, and Philip Earhart, Cherokee National Forest Biologist. We will chat about this new pier and how this project came to life, partnerships with the National Forest Service and opportunities in and around the Cherokee National Forest. To learn more about the Moment Of Freedom Campaign visit tnwildlife.org. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

A lot of work goes into TWRA Wildlife Management Areas across the state. Our guests today, James Douglas and Wally Akins, have devoted their careers to wildlife management and land enhancement in Tennessee. James has been the manger of Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness Wildlife Management Area for about 20 years. He loves history and always has a story to tell. He will provide an update and some history about the work happening on Bridgestone Firestone. Wally has had many positions within the agency and has now worked his way up to the Program Manager for the Cumberland Plateau area. He will provide info on the shortleaf pine initiative & the importance of these trees. We will also cover some good places to small game hunt on the plateau. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

This week we are excited to chat with Region 3 Wildlife Diversity Survey Manger Daniel Istvanko and Wildlife Diversity Coordinator Chris Simpson. These guys work with some amazing critters and work hard to protect them everyday. White Nose Syndrome, Snake Fungal Disease and the hard to find Spotted Skunk are just a few of the things we will cover today. Stay tuned and we hope you enjoy this episode of Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

Join us this week as we visit Normandy Reservoir in Middle Tennessee and discuss all things fishing. Former TWRA Communications Manager and WildCast Host, Doug Markham, returns to the show and shares a few fishing stories and tips. Fisheries Biologist Todd St. John also stops by to bring us up to speed on fishing opportunities on Normandy and around middle Tennessee. We are also excited to learn about what all is going on at Normandy Hatchery from Manager Nathan Singer. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #gonefishing #tnfishing

Today we are chatting with Andrea White from the American Canoe Association. We will cover topics related to paddlecraft regulations for life jackets and lights, ramp and river etiquette, resources available if you are on the water and you need help and training available across the state for boaters from our boating partners. TWRA Boating Education coordinator, Betsy Woods will also join us to chat about boating education in Tennessee and the Wear It Program. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife Check out the most recent post from ACA Tennessee’s Facebook Page about the paddling and rescue training opportunities across the state in 2019. https://www.facebook.com/908672292499853/posts/2499863720047361/

Deer season has passed, and you weren’t able to harvest that monster buck from the trail cam, well you might be able to find his antlers. Shed hunting in Tennessee is becoming more popular each year, and some folks are doing this with the help of mans best friend. Join us this week as we hang out with Greg Griffin and his best bud Tank. You will learn a few tips for your next shed hunting adventure and how you can get started in this sport with dogs. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife

This week we will be discussing ticks in Tennessee. This is the prime time of the year to find a tick on you after being outdoors and they can be very dangerous. The University of Tennessee is conducting research on Ames Plantation in Grand Junction TN to learn more about these pests. Dr. Allan Houston , Forestry and Wildlife Research Professor for the University of Tennessee and Ames Plantation, will fill us in on the research being conducted, the brains behind the project and how to protect yourself from this small but potentially deadly arachnid. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife

We are excited to sit down with Hunting Mentor, Larry Proffitt, and Retired Judge, Arden Hill, to talk turkey hunting. These guys are considered some of the best turkey hunters in Tennessee. They will tell some stories of their adventures in the woods, demonstrate some turkey calls and Arden will share about his time in World War II. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. Thanks for tuning in. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife

This week we will chat with Kim Woods and the crew that makes it all happen for East Tennessee Youth Outdoors (ETYO). ETYO is a group of men and women in the Jonesborough, Tennessee area who share a passion for introducing today's youth to the wonders of God's great outdoors. Annually, they host a two-day event centered around the Tennessee young sportsman turkey hunt in the spring. Young hunters will make unforgettable memories while learning about wildlife, conservation, service, responsibility, ethics, safety, and competition. Today we will learn all about this years event and the success of the program, right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.easttennesseeyouthoutdoors.com www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

This week we will chat with Wildlife Diversity Coordinator Chris Simpson, while visiting the Hiwassee WMA. Chris’s focus is on the Cumberland Plateau where a lot of work is taking place. From eagles to bats, he knows a lot about that. Chris will fill us in on some of the great work he is a part of and we will also hear from two of the Hiwassee WMA Technicians. They work hard to make the WMA a great place to hunt, fish and watch wildlife. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife  #itswhatwedo

Today we are hanging out with Brandon Wear. He is the WMA manager on the South Cherokee and Tellico Lake WMAs. We will learn a little bit about Brandon and his history with the agency. He will fill us in on what he and his crew do to improve hunting and fishing on these properties. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife  #itswhatwedo