By TNHUNTING.COM STAFF

The year 2006 was a relatively quiet year in Tennessee, where outdoorsmen and sportsmen were concerned. It was a year that saw record turkey harvests, near record deer harvests and near record bear harvests. It was a year that saw conservationists honored, conservationists pass on and new conservationists emerge. It was a year that saw public outcry towards TWRC and accusations of political gamesmansip.

And, of course, it was a year of rebirth for TnHunting.Com. Originally online as "TennHunt.Com" several years ago, Tennessee Hunting Online Magazine returned to the Internet in late June after several years of silence. Our goal was simple: Gather hunting, fishing and conservation news from various sources around the state and post them in a "Drudge Report" style so that sportsmen don't have to hunt for them, while offering our own news and insight on happenings of today, as well as providing a quick reference for hunting season dates, bag limits and regulations.

Because we've only been online for a half-year, we can't call this a "year in review" and be fair. Therefore, we humbly present "2006: A half year in review."

At about the same time we were coming online in June, public controversy was swirling over the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission's decision to close the Lock 5 portion of Old Hickory WMA in Middle Tennessee to hunting. As a result, hunters took action to urge Governor Phil Bredesen to remove Commissioner Tom "Golden Goose" Hensley from the commission, citing political underhandedness. Their efforts never built up enough steam to prove fruitful.

At the same time, there was plenty of good news on the conservation front in Tennessee, starting with TWRA's early July decision to seek a Wildlife Management Area in Collierville. At the same time, there was discussion about the possibility of baiting in Tennessee. But that discussion would ultimately prove to involve an issue that is dead in the water. Not to be lost was Ducks Unlimited's July news that excited Volunteer State duck hunters, as DU proclaimed duck hunters to be up heading into the 2006 duck seasons.

As July turned to August, the US Fish & Wildlife Service got on the joy bandwagon of waterfowl, backing up DU's claims by proposing liberal waterfowl seasons for 2006. And it wasn't just ducks making noise; Soon came news that the feds were loosening Canada goose regulations, news that was further pleasing to waterfowl hunters. With hunting seasons quickly baring down, TWRA announced in August that it would be cracking down on poaching and began discussing a reduction in the crappie limit. Then, we went from a purported scandal involving a Golden Goose to a squawker of another sort: Nashville star Troy Gentry, half of the dynamic duo Montgomery Gentry, was accused of shooting penned bears.

By then it was September. Squirrel season had opened, dove and goose seasons were set to open, and early wood duck season wasn't far away. TWRA was still making news, proposing an apprentice license to encourage new hunters to try the sport, while prognosticators were jawing about crossbow use as the deer season neared. Before September ended, the TWRC was discussing the possibility of a Tennessee elk hunt and archery season had opened for deer hunters. And, the state's proposed crappie chop was reaching a boiling point among some anglers.

As September rolled into October, news came that conservationist Lee Asbury had died. Talk of an elk hunt was still at the forefront at the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, where TWRA conducts its business, and the first indications began to emerge that 2006 would be a banner year for deer hunters. The TWRA went forward with its plan to reduce the crappie limit by half.

Soon, October had barged headlong into November, with muzzleloader hunters reporting great success in the woods, while the prognosticators continued to jaw, this time about displaying dead deer. In late November, former TWRA Turkey Biologist Jack Murrey was honored by the National Wild Turkey Federation, while the mayor of an East Tennessee county was injured on a bear hunt . . . and later fined by TWRA. There was also more news on the conservation front, this time that the state would conserve better than 12,000 acres of land formerly owned by Bowater. Deer season just kept getting better, and then November became December.

The month started with the first person in Tennessee being charged under the state's albino deer law. Soon came news that it was all but final that the state's first elk hunt would be held in 2008. As the year wore down, TWRA announced that Tennessee's bear hunters had turned in a banner year, and then turkey applications began to be accepted, as we started getting ready for an even bigger and better year in 2007.

Thanks to all who have visited TnHunting.Com in 2006 . . . or half of it, anyway. The website has experienced tremendous growth this year; better than could have been expected in these stages of infancy. Hopes are high for an even better year in 2007, as TnHunting.Com continues to bring Tennessee outdoorsmen the latest hunting news right to their computer screens.

Email the author | Discuss it on our forums | More hunting news