Tennessee Hunting Seasons for 2002

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HUNTING SEASONS SETS
(CHANGES FOR DEER, QUAIL AND GEESE)
by Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.com

     Last week, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission set season dates and bag limits for the upcoming fall and winter hunting seasons, which will be of interest to area hunters.
    Hunters in this area will be especially interested in the establishment of a new, early season for resident geese. The idea has been tossed around for years. For the first time ever, we'll have a resident goose season here on Kentucky Lake.
    Official dates for the early goose season will be September 1-15. Bag limit will be three daily. In fact, the early season will apply for the entire west Tennessee area. Middle and east Tennessee have had early goose seasons for years in attempts to control the expanding population of
resident Canada geese.
     Significant changes were made to dates of some deer seasons in units A and B and the dropping of the quail daily bag limit from 8 to 6. This was in response to the declining success of quail hunters throughout the state and numerous requests by them to see bag limits lowered. While decreasing habitat looms as the biggest threat to small game populations, especially quail; the change in bag from 8 to 6 is more of a symbolic gesture and a show of support for this popular game bird, says the agency.
    Many area quail hunters hope this move isn't too little, too late. Quail hunting in this area has been on a steady decline for years.
    Turkey hunters will be interested to learn that Henry County is one of six to be added to the fall season.

The changes in the deer seasons are as follows:

Unit A- amend 2nd segment of gun season to close January 10, 2003

Unit B- amend 2nd segment of archery season to close November 22, 2002 and amend 2nd gun season to close January 8, 2003

Special Hunts- amend non-quota hunt dates to read December 21-27, 2002; December 28-January 3, 2003; and January 4-10, 2003

While the dates for the deer season were extended, the net effect provides for seasons that are similar in length to last year's. This is due to the archery season, which opens the fourth Saturday in September, falling a week later this year.

In other action, a proclamation establishing the Yanahli Wildlife Management Area, formerly the Duck River WMA, was passed.

    The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC) set the dates for the 2002 - 03 hunting year as follows:

SMALL GAME:

Squirrel: Opens - Aug. 24, Closes - Feb. 28, Bag limit -10.

Spring Squirrel (2003): Opens - May 10, Closes - June 8, Bag limit -10.

Grouse (closed W. of I-65): Opens Oct. 12, Closes Feb. 28, Bag limit - 3.

Rabbit: Opens - Nov. 9, Closes - Feb. 28, Bag limit - 5

Quail: Opens - Nov. 9, Closes - Feb. 28, Bag limit - 6.

Dove: Opens - Sept. 2, Closes - Sept. 27, Bag limit - 15.

(2nd segment): Opens - Oct. 12, Closes - Oct. 27, Bag limit -15.

(3rd segment): Opens - Dec. 21, Closes - Jan. 7, Bag limit - 15.

Woodcock: Opens - Oct. 26, Closes - Dec. 9, Bag limit - 3.

Wilson Snipe: Opens - Nov. 14, Closes - Feb. 28, Bag limit - 8.

Wood Duck/Teal: Opens - Sept. 14, Closes - Sept. 18, Bag limit - 4 (no more than 2 wood ducks)

CANADA GOOSE (West Tenn): Opens - Sept. 1, Closes - Sept. 15, Bag limit - 3.

(Middle & East Tenn): Opens - Sept. 1, Closes - Sept. 15, Bag limit - 5.

Raccoon:
(Western Unit): Opens - Sept. 20, Closes - Feb. 15, Bag limit- 2 per person/ per night.
(Eastern Unit): Opens - Nov. 1, Closes - Feb. 15, Bag limit - 1 per person/ per night.

BIG GAME:

DEER UNIT A

Archery - Opens - Sept. 28, Closes - Nov. 1, Bag limit - 4 deer (no more than 2 antlered).
(2nd Segment): Opens -Nov. 11, Closes - Nov. 22.
(3rd segment): Opens -Dec. 16, Closes - Dec. 20.

Muzzleloader/Archery: Opens -Nov. 4, Closes - Nov. 10, Bag limit - 2 deer (no more than 1antlered, except 1 deer only in Polk County).

(2nd segment) - Opens - Dec. 9, Closes - Dec. 15, Bag limit - 2 deer (no more than 1antlered, except 1 deer only in Polk County).

Gun/Muzzleloader/Archery: Opens - Nov. 23, Closes - Dec. 8, bag limit - 2 antlered deer.

(2nd segment) - Opens -Dec. 21, Closes - Jan. 10.

DEER UNIT B

Archery - Opens -Sept. 28, Closes - Nov. 1, Bag limit - 2 deer (either-sex).

(2nd segment) - Opens -Nov. 11, Closes - Nov. 22 (except buck-only Nov. 11- 22).

Muzzleloader/Archery - Opens - Nov. 4, Closes - Nov. 10, Bag limit - 1 antlered deer (except either-sex Nov. 8-10).

(2nd segment) - Opens - Dec. 13, Closes - Dec. 15, Bag limit - 1 antlered deer.

Gun/Muzzleloader/Archery - Opens - Nov. 23, Closes - Dec. 1, Bag limit - 2 antlered deer.

(2nd segment) - Opens - Dec. 21, Closes - Jan. 8.

Young Sportsman's Deer Hunts - (1st Hunt)- Nov. 2-3, Bag limit - 1 deer (either-sex).

(2nd Hunt) - Jan. 11-12, Bag limit - 1 deer (either- sex).

Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT.

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