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The spring turkey season is “in the books” as they say, ending on Sunday. The harvest tally (subject to change) is 31,350, which bests the last two years. It breaks down as 24,813 mature males, 6,316 juveniles and 221 females. Last year the total figure was 30,204, 2007 was 31,258 and 2006 was 35,874 (state record). Blount County accounted for 211 this year, compared to 215 last year.

n The spring squirrel season began on Saturday and runs through June 14. The daily bag limit is 10. There are plenty of gray and fox squirrels in Tennessee and the mast crop has been good to them in recent years.

At this time of year the only thing more plentiful you might find in the woods are ticks. Be watchful for both the common dog tick and the tiny black or seed tick. Since they can’t fly or jump, they brush onto victims from grass, bushes or trees. For protection when outdoors use insect repellents and wear long pants and shirtsleeves. After being outdoors, inspect your whole body well, especially major crevices. It takes several hours for a tick to attach.

By the end of May most will have been eaten by birds, but ticks stay around until the first frost.

n Outdoors Magazine, a publication devoted to the better hunter, angler and trapper, is looking for an exceptional cover photo to adorn the July issue, which is showcasing women in the outdoors. The editor specifies they are looking for serious female hunters and anglers, a photo that celebrates their talents, strengths, accomplishments, and journeys.

The ideal photo would be a “trophy shot” of a woman with a whitetail, moose trout, or salmon, but well composed pictures of other big game animals or fish will also be considered. Backgrounds in the picture are important, as is the sharpness of the image. Photos must be large in size, approximately 300 dpi.

Act quickly. Send pictures via e-mail to Kyle@elkpublishing.com or via post to: Outdoors Magazine, 531 Main Street, Colchester, VT, 05446. Call 802-879-2013 if additional information is required.

n High school students in Tennessee should look into this. The first Tennessee Outdoors Youth Summit (TOYS) will be held on July 19-24, sponsored by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

At the TWRA complex in Montgomery County, students will be introduced to many outdoor activities, including: Boating, hunting, trapping, archery, photography, marksmanship, plant identification, forestry, camping, water quality, trap shooting, skeet shooting, wildlife identification, and several classes with wildlife and fishery biology as the topic.

The TOYS instructors are professionals and experts in their fields. Students will get to participate in 10 classes during the week. The fee is $350 and it includes all meals and hotel lodging in Clarksville.

This first TOYS event is limited to 100 people; the deadline to apply is June 5. Applications can be downloaded from www.tnwildlife.org. For more information, contact Jereme Odom at 615-781-6500, extension 2103, or e-mail Jereme.Odom@tn.gov.

n Here is a similar action-packed outdoor experience for youths in grades 6 through 12. For the second year Pheasants Forever and Trout Unlimited are teamed to present “The Ultimate Nature Experience” (TUNE).

TUNE campers will get to explore the outdoors, relax around the campfire and meet new friends while participating in the multitude of activities being offered, including: Fly fishing, shooting sports, high ropes course, archery target range, canoeing, wetland biology, dog training, pheasant ecology, outdoor survival, and much more.
The cost of the camp is $350 and limited scholarships are available. The first TUNE takes place on June 19-22 at the Audubon Center of the Northwoods in Sandstone, Minnesota. Contact Diane Weyandt at 651-209-4940 or via e-mail at DWeyandt@pheasantsforever.org.

A second TUNE will take place on July 11-14 at the Cal-Wood Education Center in Jamestown, Colorado. Contact Bob Hix at 303-743-8957 or via e-mail at BHix@pheasantsforever.org. Registration materials can be found at http://www.calwood.org.

n A boating safety class will be held in Blount County from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on May 20-21 at Alcoa Good Times. Bring the Type 600 permit for the exam on Thursday. Preregister by contacting the instructor Matt Cameron at parts@alcoagoodtimes.com.

Tom Wiest welcomes news, questions and comments from readers. Contact him at wiest.tom@gmail.com.