Tennessee Wildcast

This week on Tennessee WildCast we will highlight some of the family fishing events hosted on Free Fishing Day, which is June 8th. On this day anyone can fish without a license and kids can fish for free the following week. This is a great time to introduce family and friends to the sport of fishing! Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Tennessee WildCast and we hope to see you on Free Fishing Day! www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #tnfishing #itswhatwedo

TWRA is excited to announce we now have a Moment Of Freedom fishing pier on the Tellico River in the shadows of the Tellico Hatchery. This week we are hanging out with Mime Barnes, Regional Information Specialist, Mark Thurman, Regional Fisheries Program Manager, and Philip Earhart, Cherokee National Forest Biologist. We will chat about this new pier and how this project came to life, partnerships with the National Forest Service and opportunities in and around the Cherokee National Forest. To learn more about the Moment Of Freedom Campaign visit tnwildlife.org. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

A lot of work goes into TWRA Wildlife Management Areas across the state. Our guests today, James Douglas and Wally Akins, have devoted their careers to wildlife management and land enhancement in Tennessee. James has been the manger of Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness Wildlife Management Area for about 20 years. He loves history and always has a story to tell. He will provide an update and some history about the work happening on Bridgestone Firestone. Wally has had many positions within the agency and has now worked his way up to the Program Manager for the Cumberland Plateau area. He will provide info on the shortleaf pine initiative & the importance of these trees. We will also cover some good places to small game hunt on the plateau. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

This week we are excited to chat with Region 3 Wildlife Diversity Survey Manger Daniel Istvanko and Wildlife Diversity Coordinator Chris Simpson. These guys work with some amazing critters and work hard to protect them everyday. White Nose Syndrome, Snake Fungal Disease and the hard to find Spotted Skunk are just a few of the things we will cover today. Stay tuned and we hope you enjoy this episode of Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

Join us this week as we visit Normandy Reservoir in Middle Tennessee and discuss all things fishing. Former TWRA Communications Manager and WildCast Host, Doug Markham, returns to the show and shares a few fishing stories and tips. Fisheries Biologist Todd St. John also stops by to bring us up to speed on fishing opportunities on Normandy and around middle Tennessee. We are also excited to learn about what all is going on at Normandy Hatchery from Manager Nathan Singer. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #gonefishing #tnfishing

Today we are chatting with Andrea White from the American Canoe Association. We will cover topics related to paddlecraft regulations for life jackets and lights, ramp and river etiquette, resources available if you are on the water and you need help and training available across the state for boaters from our boating partners. TWRA Boating Education coordinator, Betsy Woods will also join us to chat about boating education in Tennessee and the Wear It Program. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife Check out the most recent post from ACA Tennessee’s Facebook Page about the paddling and rescue training opportunities across the state in 2019. https://www.facebook.com/908672292499853/posts/2499863720047361/

Deer season has passed, and you weren’t able to harvest that monster buck from the trail cam, well you might be able to find his antlers. Shed hunting in Tennessee is becoming more popular each year, and some folks are doing this with the help of mans best friend. Join us this week as we hang out with Greg Griffin and his best bud Tank. You will learn a few tips for your next shed hunting adventure and how you can get started in this sport with dogs. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife

This week we will be discussing ticks in Tennessee. This is the prime time of the year to find a tick on you after being outdoors and they can be very dangerous. The University of Tennessee is conducting research on Ames Plantation in Grand Junction TN to learn more about these pests. Dr. Allan Houston , Forestry and Wildlife Research Professor for the University of Tennessee and Ames Plantation, will fill us in on the research being conducted, the brains behind the project and how to protect yourself from this small but potentially deadly arachnid. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife

We are excited to sit down with Hunting Mentor, Larry Proffitt, and Retired Judge, Arden Hill, to talk turkey hunting. These guys are considered some of the best turkey hunters in Tennessee. They will tell some stories of their adventures in the woods, demonstrate some turkey calls and Arden will share about his time in World War II. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. Thanks for tuning in. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife

This week we will chat with Kim Woods and the crew that makes it all happen for East Tennessee Youth Outdoors (ETYO). ETYO is a group of men and women in the Jonesborough, Tennessee area who share a passion for introducing today's youth to the wonders of God's great outdoors. Annually, they host a two-day event centered around the Tennessee young sportsman turkey hunt in the spring. Young hunters will make unforgettable memories while learning about wildlife, conservation, service, responsibility, ethics, safety, and competition. Today we will learn all about this years event and the success of the program, right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.easttennesseeyouthoutdoors.com www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

This week we will chat with Wildlife Diversity Coordinator Chris Simpson, while visiting the Hiwassee WMA. Chris’s focus is on the Cumberland Plateau where a lot of work is taking place. From eagles to bats, he knows a lot about that. Chris will fill us in on some of the great work he is a part of and we will also hear from two of the Hiwassee WMA Technicians. They work hard to make the WMA a great place to hunt, fish and watch wildlife. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife  #itswhatwedo

Today we are hanging out with Brandon Wear. He is the WMA manager on the South Cherokee and Tellico Lake WMAs. We will learn a little bit about Brandon and his history with the agency. He will fill us in on what he and his crew do to improve hunting and fishing on these properties. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife  #itswhatwedo

Tennessee WildCast is in Knoxville this week, live from Calhoun’s on the River. Fisheries biologists, John Hammonds and Shaun Ramsey, will join us to chat about fishing in East Tennessee. We will also cover the Bassmaster Classic, which is coming to Knoxville in just a few days. Thanks to Calhoun’s on the River for hosting us and thanks for tuning in. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

This week we will learn about a non-profit group called the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Maintaining access to public hunting and angling opportunities around the country is the group’s main objective, but Tennessee State Chair Joey Bell will fill us in on the efforts on a local level and how you can get involved. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.backcountryhunters.org www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

Today we welcome our new Communication and Outreach Chief, Jenifer Wisniewski, to Tennessee. Jenifer is no stranger to the outdoors and comes to us from our friends at Georgia DNR where she served as the Communications Chief for a number of years. We are happy to have her on our team now and she bings a lot of great ideas and strengths to the table. Chris Anderson representing Pro Shop Partner the McEwen Group joins us as well with insight on land only purchases. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

This week we venture into the mountains and visit Tellico Fish Hatchery where will meet up with Hatchery Manager John Ellis and Regional Rivers & Stream Coordinator Travis Scott. Together they will bring us some of the history surrounding the hatchery, the species of trout raised here and the efforts taken to help improve trout fishing in the area. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. Thanks for tuning in. tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

We are live today at the Tennessee Boat and Fish Expo in Wilson County. Join us in Humphreys County’s booth while we chat with Karin Landers from VisitHumphreys.com. They will be around all weekend so come say hi. Jeff Smith from Trout Magnet and Crappie Guide, Mark Travis will also join us to chat about their products, services and crappie fishing in Tennessee. tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

Our Tennessee Hunter Education instructors are very special individuals. The Hunter Education Program would not be as successful today without the time sacrifice, extensive knowledge and expertise of our instructors. We are happy to have one of our top instructors, John Torchick, and Hunter Education Coordinator & Officer, Matt Clarey, with us today. Together they will help us understand what it takes to become a volunteer instructor, what all goes into holding a class and how you can join this team of true Tennessee Volunteers. Special thanks to the Highland Sportsman’s Club for hosting us. Club member and Hunter Education Instructor, Keith Watson, will share information and history on the club. All this and more will be covered right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

Days are getting colder in Tennessee but things are heating up at the TWRA. Today we have a smorgasbord of topics to cover with you today. Chronic Wasting Disease Coordinator, Chuck Yoest, will join us with a quick update on the the current CWD findings and how sportsmen can continue to help. We have about two months left in the winter trout stocking season and will highlight those remaining opportunities. Lastly we will get the details on annual magazine calendar contest and the updates of TWRA ’s On The Go mobile app. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo

From the mighty Mississippi to the streams of upper East Tennessee, we are blessed with great fishing across Tennessee. Today we are going to focus our attention on the Cumberland Plateau. Region 3 Fisheries Biologist, Will Collier will update us on winter trout stockings, educate us on the stocking efforts & surveys of the TWRA and remind us about an awesome fish to go after, the Muskie, which attracts a lot of folk to Tennessee this time of year! All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife #itswhatwedo