Tennessee Wildcast

Join us this week for the history of one of the longest-standing continuously held sporting events for dogs in the United States. West, TN, has an impressive history when it comes to bird dogs. The first field trial was held just east of Memphis in 1874, and Grand Junction, TN, has been the home for the National Championship of bird dogs since 1900. Every Year in February, Ames Plantation becomes a tourist destination for hundreds of people attending the National Field Trial Championship in Grand Junction. Join TWRA and Dr. Rick Carlisle, Ames Plantation Superintendent, for a discussion about bird dogs, field trials, and Ames Plantation during the running for the 121st National Championship. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

This week we are excited to chat with Katie Van Slyke. Katie is an outdoors-woman and social media influencer. Hear her story of how she was introduced to the outdoors and learn how she is using her life as a social media influencer to introduce kids and women to the sport of hunting and fishing. Catch this and so much more right here on #TennesseeWildCast #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

Ben Gallaher joins us this week to talk about living the life of an Outdoorsman and Country Music Entertainer. Ben grew up playing and hunting in Pennsylvania, but now calls Nashville home. He will tell a few hunting stories, talk about life on the road and share a song or two with us, right here on Tennessee WildCast. You don’t want to miss it! #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

This week we welcome Information Specialist, Lee Wilmot, and Graphic Designer/Editor, Austin Bornheim to the show. These guys work hard to help deliver the Agency’s message through news releases, newsletters, and our Tennessee Wildlife Magazine. Learn about them and how to stay informed on this edition of Tennessee WildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

This week is the first edition of TN WildCast Fishing 101 segments with Old Hickory Guide Service’s Ian Huey. Born and raised in Middle TN, Ian has spent many many days on Old Hickory Lake and is no stranger to many of our other great fisheries across the state. Ian will be joining WildCast hosts, Jason and Don, each month to share some of his secrets of bass fishing. Anything from where to find fish to how to catch them. Join us each month for a new segment and thanks for tuning in this edition of Tennessee WildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

Our crews in West Tennessee are excited about the quality and numbers of fish they are seeing during their surveys. These guys work hard to provide the best quality fishery they can for the Sportsmen and women of Tennessee. Join us as we talk with Regional Fisheries Manager, Tim Broadbent, and Reservoir Biologists, Michael Clark to get the low down on the work happening on our West Tennessee waters. You don’t want to miss this and so much more right here on Tennessee WildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

The Tellico Fish Hatchery produces trout for not only the Tellico River but for many streams across Tennessee. Today we will get a quick update on the Tellico Hatchery from Manager, Jon Ellis, then we will hear from some guides and business owners in the area. Cody Fisher, Owner of Tellico Outfitter and Caleb Luzader, Manager of TN Fly Co. have both seen a boom in business and are excited about the future of the Tellico River and fishing in the Southeast. You don’t want to miss this and so much more right here on Tennessee WildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

This week, Turkey Program Coordinator, Roger Shields and University of Tennessee Ph.D. Student, Lindsey Phillips brings us an update on the Middle TN Turkey Study. A lot has been accomplished in the last 3 years and they have learned so much. Lindsey will give us an inside look at some of the progress. We will learn about the processes of the study and some of the struggles they face while collecting data. Learn all this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

For some, it may be hard to believe how much is accomplished at the Tellico Fish Hatchery. This facility has been in operation for decades, providing quality angling for the sportsmen and women of Tennessee. It has a small crew, but they do amazing work producing and providing fish for anglers to catch on many different streams across the state. Learn about this hatchery and so much more, right here on Tennessee WildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

This week, Jamie Feddersen, the TWRA Waterfowl Program Coordinator, joins us to discuss ducks in Tennessee. He will give us some updates on how bird populations are looking for this season. He will also be introducing a new joint mallard study with Tennessee Tech University. PhD students are capturing mallards in West Tennessee and placing GPS backpacks on them to track and better understand movements and habitat preferences of these birds in Tennessee and elsewhere.  We are excited about what this data will tell us moving forward. Hunters, If you harvest a bird with a backpack please contact the research team using the contact info on the transmitter. These transmitters can be redeployed and they want them back. The team will be happy to make a map of the harvested bird's movements and give you a replica transmitter for your mount or for those hunters who might want it as a keepsake. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

Partners are very important when it comes to managing fish and wildlife in our great state. There are many times the TWRA needs assistance from other groups, like the Tennessee Valley Authority, to help fund programs and improvement projects through grants. Today we are visiting with TWRA Fisheries Program Manager Mark Thurman and TVA Water Resource Specialist Shannon O’Quinn at the Tellico Trout Hatchery to learn about a grant we recently received from TVA to improve trout production, specifically our Native Brook Trout. You don’t want to miss this episode of Tennessee WildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

From the top of Rocky Top to the mighty Mississippi River, Tennessee has it all. This week we invite TWRA’s Pandy Upchurch to breakdown the unbelievable biodiversity of Tennessee. We will learn about snakes, mussels, bats and so much more right here on Tennessee WildCast. Don’t miss it! #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

In this episode, we explore an amazing salamander know as the Hellbender. The Southeastern Hellbender Conservation Initiative (SEHCI) is a collaboration between Defenders of Wildlife, NRCS, The Nashville Zoo, and other conservation partners to support farmers using conservation practices on their lands that help restore hellbender habitat. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working to address recovery of the hellbender in three states: North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Priority watersheds have been identified in a 35-county range of the Upper Cumberland, the Lower Tennessee system, and the western watersheds of North Carolina.  These priority counties are home to some of the last known existing hellbender populations in these systems. Learn about this program and how the TWRA, SEHCI, and The Nashville Zoo team up to work with this amazing animal. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

This week we are coming to you once again from the Crossville Shooting Sports Park. Shooting Sports Park President, Kenny Carey, will bring us up to speed on all that folks can expect when visiting the park. We will also be chatting with shooters Carey Garrison and Gavin Threet. They have competed on many levels including Junior Olympics, All-State Rifle Teams and All-State Pistol Teams. Carey and Gavin are great young men and fun to talk with. Don’t miss this episode of #TennesseeWildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

When we think of the “TWRA Greats”, Jack Murrey is always at the top of the list. Jack dedicated over 30 years of his life to wild turkeys in #Tennessee. He was instrumental in restocking more than 10,000 wild turkeys and returning the thunderous gobble of the wild #turkey for Tennessee’s #outdoor enthusiasts. Join us this week as we meet up with Jack’s son, Sam Murrey, and dive into some of that history and learn what it was like going up in the Murrey home. Sam followed in his father's footsteps and now serves as a Wildlife Manager at Bartlett Range. You don’t want to miss the #TennesseeWildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

When we met up with Chris Ogle a few weeks ago, Matt and I had no idea we were speaking with the future TWRA Wildlife Biologist of the Year! This week we will explore some of the non-game and endangered species we have in Tennessee. Chris knows so much about these critters and works hard managing these species so they can be enjoyed by future generations. From bats to snake to green salamanders, you don’t want to miss this episode of #TennesseeWildCast! #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo www.tnwildlife.org

You may have seen her viral video parody of, “All About That Bass”

Today we visit with Commissioner Brian McLerran and his daughter Ella. Ella will give us an inside look at what it takes to be a #championship shooter and juggle everything else that’s happening in her life. Commissioner McLerran has been by Ella’s side as a coach, father, and cheerleader. He is very proud of her accomplishments. Brian will share his excitement for the #shootingsports and also tell us what it is like to be a Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commissioner. All this and more right here on #TennesseeWildCast. #tnwildlife

Live from “It’s All About Me”, Admiral Greg Boles invites us abroad for a look inside the #VOLNavy. Don’t miss this episode as we go #sailgating with the Admiral and Boating Officer Jeff Webb to learn how the #TWRA is a crucial part of a Tennessee Football weekend. #tnwildlife #govols

The Crossville Shooting Sports Park, located just north of I-40 on Albert Frye Road, is now OPEN. This shooting park was a joint effort between the #TWRA and the #CrossvilleShootingSportsPark, a nonprofit organization promoting shooting sports for all ages. Join us this week as we visit the park and chat with Cumberland County Mayor, Kenneth Carey, and Regional Captain, Matt Clarey, TWRA Hunter Education and Boating Safety Coordinator. They both played an important part in this project and are passionate about introducing folks to the shooting sports. Park hours of operations, range fees and more information can be found Crossville Shooting Sports Park. Thanks for tuning in!