41.9 F
Clarksville
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsYoung Sportsman Deer Harvest sees slight increase over 2010

Young Sportsman Deer Harvest sees slight increase over 2010

Muzzleloader Season Starts November 5th

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - TWRANashville, TN – Tennessee’s youth hunters posted a slight increase over 2010 after a busy weekend of deer hunting across the state in the Young Sportsman Hunt.

The youth hunters (ages 6-16) harvested 8,831 deer, an increase of 13 deer over the same weekend last year. It is also an increase of 629 over the 2009 totals as reported by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

For the second straight year, Giles County was the top county for the youth hunt with 284, also an increase of 13 from its 271 total of last year. Weakley County was again second with 234 and Fayette County moved to third from fourth from a year ago with 226. Henry County was close behind in fourth. Lawrence and Hardeman County each surpassed the 200-harvest number with 202 and 201, respectively.

Rounding out the top 10 harvest counties were Carroll and Montgomery 177, Maury 171, and Madison 161. The second designated Young Sportsman Hunt will be January 7th-8th, 2012.

Tennessee’s Muzzleloader Deer Season opens on Saturday, November 5th and goes through Friday, November 18th in all three of Tennessee’s deer hunting units, according to the TWRA.

For Unit B (East Tennessee) counties, the dates for antlerless deer hunting depend on the county hunted.  Blount, Campbell, Carter, Cocke, Hamblen, Jefferson, Loudon, Sevier, Unicoi, Union, and Washington counties are November 5th-9th. Anderson, Claiborne, Fentress, Grainger, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Knox, Monroe, Morgan, Pickett, Polk, Scott, and Sullivan counties are November 5th-18th. Only one antlerless deer may be taken during this season, however, any of the three antlered deer not already taken may be harvested during this season as well.

The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is three. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day.  Hunters are allowed the following antlerless bag limit during this segment of muzzleloader season: Unit A -4 antlerless deer; Unit L-3 antlerless deer per day and Unit B-1 antlerless deer.

For the exact boundaries of the different deer units, hunters can refer to the 2011 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide, available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold and at all TWRA offices. The guide can also be viewed at TWRA’s website at www.tnwildlife.org.

Muzzleloading firearms of .40 caliber minimum plus long bows, compound bows and crossbows are legal hunting equipment for this season. 

Resident hunters, ages 16 through 64 must possess in addition to other appropriate licenses, an annual big game license for the equipment used.  Lifetime Sportsman license, Junior Hunt/Trap/Fish, Adult Sportsman license and Permanent Senior Citizens license holders are not required to purchase supplemental big game licenses.

In addition to private lands, including public hunting areas, several wildlife management areas (WMAs) will be open to hunters during this muzzleloader season.  Hunters need to refer to the 2011 Hunting and Trapping Guide for a listing of these WMAs or go to TWRA’s website.

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles