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Opening weekend for archery deer was a bust. Much of East Tennessee suffered a deluge and flooding on Sept. 27 and high winds on the 28th. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has the harvest figure for opening weekend this year at 2,026, down 34 percent from last year's 3,058.

The 2009-2010 Tennessee Waterfowl Hunting Guide is available at all license agencies now. It has the state and federal regulations, hunting dates, bag limits, duck blind rules for wildlife management areas, and much more useful information. Various seasons range from Oct. 1 to March 10, 2010.

Here is a special youth deer hunt just arranged by the TWRA. Young hunters ages 10-15 who have never taken a deer and are hunter safety certified are eligible for this free hunt on opening day of Tennessee's Young Sportsman Deer Hunt on Oct. 31. Thirty hunters will be chosen by drawing.

A gracious landowner in Humphreys County (just west of Nashville) has donated his property for this hunt. The private farm incorporates a variety of wildlife management practices and has more than 2,000 acres of prime deer habitat.

In addition to the hunt, participants are invited to a Friday night cookout and campout; participants must provide their own camping gear. There are hotels in the area if preferred.

Applications are available by contacting Donald Hosse at Don.Hosse@tn.gov or by phone at 615-781-6541. Deadline for receipt of applications is Oct. 12. They can be faxed to 615-781-6543. Winners will be notified by Oct. 15 and given more specific information about the hunt. Participants are responsible for having the appropriate Tennessee hunting license and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 21 years of age.

n A hunter should always include a camera in his/her arsenal afield. On-the-spot photographs of hunting success excel over posed shots at the truck or in the driveway at home. And besides the invaluable personal keepsake, how about some bragging rights?

First-ever deer? Trophy buck? A giant gobbler? Here is the place to send those special photos of your hunt: The Trophy Gallery at www.NRAhuntersrights.org. All hunters are welcome to share their photos, and what constitutes a trophy is completely up to you.

All photos should be sharp, tasteful, and display safe gun handling practices. Include the following information with your submission: Your name and home town, date and location of the hunt, type of game species, weapon used, and any special details. E-mail all of this to huntersrights@nrahq.org and put “Trophy Gallery” in the subject line.

Perhaps you have a recent memorable hunting story to share. Share it with the world at the “Members' Hunt Reports” section of the above Website. Include such details as personal planning tips, geographic location, travel, guides/outfitters used (with contact information), and recommendations for other hunters. E-mail to the above address and put “Hunt Report” in the subject line.

Also, there are lots of interesting, up-to-date articles on hunting at www.NRAhuntersrights.org. Check it out.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission will soon be changing the laws regarding live bait. For the past two years TWRA biologists have worked to develop a coordinated set of regulations pertaining to the harvest, sale, and use of live bait. The TWRC is ready to take comments from the public through Oct. 31.

The primary goal of the changes is to protect native species – specifically certain salamanders and crayfish – in three fragile rivers: The French Broad, the Holston and the Clinch.

Anglers who like to catch crawdads, bluegill or threadfin shad from the Tennessee River to use for live bait can continue to do that, but species from other watersheds will not be allowed into these three river systems. The new rules would directly impact commercial fishermen and bait dealers.
A second proposal concerns using rainbow trout as bait. Anglers will be allowed to possess any number of rainbows under eight inches, as long as they have proof of purchase. Rainbows eight inches or longer will be subject to the legal creel limit of seven fish per person.

The TWRA recommendations will be voted upon by the TWRC at its Dec. 3-4 meeting in Nashville. Comments can be e-mailed to becky.gunn@state.tn.us in the TWRA Fisheries Division.
In other news the TWRC corrected an earlier misstatement concerning bag limits for the youth waterfowl hunts: The canvasback harvest is not closed; one per day is allowed.

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