Trails on the Laurel Hill WMA that were closed to horseback riding are once again open to equine enthusiasts. A tornado that ripped a 6-mile path through the Wildlife Management Area in 2015 left hillsides of twisted timber that had to be dealt with. The clean-up effort included logging operations intended to remove debris. The use of heavy machinery caused safety concerns, making it necessary to close areas of the WMA to the public... more

The body of a 50-year-old Davidson county resident, was recovered on Percy Priest Lake near Hamilton Creek boat ramp late Sunday evening. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers were on the scene shortly after the accident. Kongmany Rajaphomy and a friend had been out fishing Sunday. ... more

More than 52,000 turkey hunters, wildlife conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts flocked to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center for the National Wild Turkey Federation’s 41st annual Convention and Sport Show, Feb. 15-19... more

By the time winter gets a good hold and the deer seasons have all closed, most bow hunters are ready for a break. After all, especially in the South, the liberal and sometimes long archery seasons can wear even the most hard-core bow hunter down... more

The Old Man – An Introduction Editor’s Note: Some readers will remember The Old Man series of fictional short stories that appeared in Tennessee Wildlife Magazine back in the 1980s written by Jackson, Tennessee’s Gary Cook. Now retired from the TWRA, Cook is one of the most gifted writers to come from the Volunteer State, and we’re happy to bring The Old Man back for Tribune readers’ enjoyment. Look for it each Friday in the Outdoors section... more

By Troy Basso Tribune Contributor Well, once again the 2017 Nashville Boat and Fishing show is a memory. It feels like I have been going to that show for decades. But wait, I have been going to that show for decades. I, as many of you, have seen the show go from good to bad several times over the years. This year the show looks to be moving back toward the good... more

Percy Priest lake has been a hot ticket this past week. My bunch has been catching limits of crappies pretty much every trip out. The fish are in a pre-spawn pattern and holding tight in 10 to 12 feet of water. Trolling jigs has proved to be the most efficient method for this early-season bite. The bass are being found shallow off rocky main lake points and windy days have been the best. Square billed crankbaits in citrus shad and 4-inch swimbaits have been the common theme for the past week... more

More bowhunters are catching on to the exciting sport of bowfishing, and are pulling their tackle out of storage to get ready. Unlike traditional bowhunting, bowfishing is often a fast and furious sport requiring quick shooting reflexes. All that is needed for the sport is a bow with a draw weight of at least 45 pounds, a fiberglass fishing arrow, and some type of bowfishing reel... more

MISSOULA, Mont. - A deer taken in Tennessee this past season has been accepted by the Boone and Crockett Club with an entry score surpassing the current record taken by a hunter. “All deer are unique in some form or another,” Justin Spring, the Club’s director of big game records said. “This particular deer is unique on so many levels.”... more

NASHVILLE -- The 11th Annual Tennessee National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Championships will be held March 30-31 at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro. Registration is underway and will run until March 1 at 10 p.m. (CST). The link to register is: http://nasptournaments.org/TournamentDetail.aspx?tid=2199... more

CROSSVILLE, --- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating the shooting of two bald eagles in the Tennessee River Valley. The first injured eagle was reported on January 30 around 2:00 p.m. ... more

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Tennessee Fur Harvesters are hosting a free trapper training camp. The camp will be held Feb. 24-26 at the TWRA’s Buffalo Ridge Refuge in Humphreys County. The 3-day event is for all ages. ... more

By the time temperatures outside reach the mid-50s most anglers are looking for reasons to get out on the water. This time of the year the crappie fishing is getting heated up and the fish are very willing to eat, if you can find them. They are not ready to spawn but they have vacated their deeper water winter holding areas... more

NASHVILLE -- Sportsmen are reminded that a free permit is required to participate in the 2017 Light Goose Conservation season which will be held Feb. 12-March 10. The application for the free permit is now available on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website under the waterfowl icon in the migratory birds section of “For Hunters.”... more

Feb. 10-12 Nashville fishing and boat expo (Nashville) Feb. 12 RAT-L-TRAP Tournament (Lake Guntersville) Feb. 15-19 National Wild Turkey Federation Convention (Nashville) Feb. 18 … more

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is now accepting entries for its 2017-18 photo contest for publication in the Tennessee Wildlife’s annual calendar issue. All interested photographers are invited to submit up to 10 of their best photos on fishing, hunting, boating, and wildlife species native to Tennessee... more

MEMPHIS -- The Fish and Wildlife Commission was presented a preview of the 2017-18 waterfowl and other migratory bird hunting seasons at its first meeting of 2017. The one-day meeting was held Friday (Jan. 13) at the Bass Pro Shops in the Pyramid. The presentation in regard to waterfowl and other migratory birds was made at the January meeting due to recent changes in the timing of the federal regulation process. ... more

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is soliciting comments for its 2017-18 hunting seasons’ regulations. This is an opportunity for the public to provide ideas and share concerns about hunting regulations with TWRA staff. The comment period will be open through Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017... more

The TFWC passed a resolution to honor Wade Bourne, an outdoors writer and broadcaster who recently passed away. A resident of Clarksville, he contributed to many publications through the years as served as editor-at-large for Ducks Unlimited magazine and as a senior write for Bassmaster magazine... more