By Troy Basso Special to the Tribune Most Deer and Turkey hunters use maps for one purpose and that is to navigate from place to place. The truth is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) map is much more than a navigation or survival tool, it’s an awesome scouting tool as well. ... more

I recall conversation a few years ago with a coworker who said he had never missed a turkey. No, he wasn’t a rookie who had been lucky a couple of times in a row. This guy was an honest-to-goodness turkey slayer with more beards to his credit than you could fit in a big shoebox... more

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission held its March meeting that featured five new commissioners and the first meeting chaired by Jamie Woodson. The one-day meeting was held at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Region II Ray Bell Building... more

Old Black Dog The Old Man had worked the ducks wonderfully for the last two minutes. He had turned the twenty some-odd birds when they were nothing more than steadily moving dots against a red sunburst dawn. Circling first in a high watchful pattern, they had then settled into a purposeful flight path arching directly into the sixty-four carefully placed decoys... more

I hit the road to the Big G this weekend, an annual pilgrimage my bunch makes every year about this time. We keep the campers down here from about February to late April. It’s a lot of fishing, cooking, and just forgetting we live in the real world... more

NASHVILLE -- Tennessee’s 2017 spring turkey season opens on Saturday, April 1 and continues through Sunday, May 14. The state young sportsman hunt for youth ages 6-16 is March 25-26. Spring turkey harvest numbers have been consistent for a number of years in Tennessee. Tennessee turkey hunters have passed the 30,000 harvest mark for 14 consecutive years during the spring hunting season... more

The future of hunting as we know it today is in jeopardy. The previous statement shouldn’t come as a surprise. Any hunter who has been listening has been bombarded with issues and messages that hunting, as well as gun ownership, is threatened. To say that the issues involved are complex is an understatement itself. ... more

NASHVILLE --- With spring turkey hunting season quickly approaching, sportsmen are reminded of the various methods to check in their birds. All harvested turkeys must be checked in by the end of the calendar day. Turkeys can be checked in on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website or on the “TWRA On the Go” smartphone app or at a check station... more

Deer Hunt It was the morning of the third day. After two full days of remaining in one spot, the Old Man figured he had the entire landscape memorized. From the entangled patches of dense thicket off to his right, to the stillness of the pines on his left, from the rotted roots of an ancient stump at his left knee, to the nipped ends of honeysuckle vines under his right leg, the Old Man knew it all. ... more

I wish I could say Mill Creek gained its national notoriety from being a “jet setter” destination. Unfortunately, Mill Creek gained national attention in May 2010 as it was the first Metro Nashville river to come out of its banks during the massive floods of 2010. Mill Creek runs through Nolensville and south Nashville, where it then empties into the Cumberland River... more

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is taking orders for the collectible state waterfowl stamp that is produced annually and sold for conservation education. The TWRA has taken the Best of Show winning artwork each year since 1999 from the state’s Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest to create the collectible stamp... more

The Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee (BRAT) presents The Horton 100. NASHVILLE – Henry Horton State Park is proud to host The Horton 100, the annual springtime Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee (BRAT) event on April 22-23. Riders will begin and end each day at Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill. ... more

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is welcoming comments for its 2018 fishing regulations. This is an opportunity for the public to share ideas and concerns about fishing regulations with TWRA staff. The comment period concerning fishing regulations will be open from March 15 until April 23, 2017... more

Seems like every time I go to the lake I hear someone say they wish they knew how to troll for crappie. Trolling, be that with jigs or crankbaits, is the most effective way to catch crappie for most of the year. The exception is when they are on the beds in very shallow water, otherwise it is a deadly technique... more

Normandy The Normandy bass bite is still hit or miss but some better fish have been coming out of the creeks on Storm search baits. The crappie bite is getting better every day and Carol creek has been on fire. Long line trolling Kalins triple threat grubs on 1/8-ounce jig heads has been the key... more

Game Wardens The Old Man moved the sapling ever so slowly with the back side of his hand. The deer were in plain view now, moving steadily away along the edge of the clearing. The two fawns followed closely behind the larger deer, and although they were no more than forty yards, the Old Man could detect no sound. ... more

Brandon Bradley was laid to rest Wednesday, March 1, 2017, but the fond memories of this Lewisburg youth live on. Like many other local sportsmen, Brandon loved deer hunting. One of the highlights of Brandon’s deer hunting experiences was his invitation to hunt with brothers Mark and Terry Drury at Tara Wildlife near Vicksburg, Miss., January 2014. ... more

(“. . .having’ the best honey or using the prettiest in ingredients ain’t important, but lettin’ Nature work her wonders is all that counts.”) Jennifer was trying ever so hard to pay attention, but the little bald man at the front of the room was having difficulty competing with the action that was taking place outside the window. ... more

At one time years ago the Tennessee state record rainbow and brown trout were caught out of the Obey River near Celina. Today, the Obey still fishes very well, although there are better places to catch record-breaking trout. However, there are few places you can catch the sheer numbers of trout that come out of the river every day. The Obey River tailwater, where it flows out of Dale Hollow, is a mere 7 1/2 miles long. It flows into the Cumberland River around Celina, Tenn... more