Tennessee Out-Of-Doors Summer 2015

The mystery of the honeyguide bird Q&A with NWF’s Collin O’Mara Bacon-wrapped, plank-grilled turkey recipe

$500 www.tnwf.org

A noble effort

Conservation rallies on behalf of the

monarch butterfly

SUMMER 2015

Speaking of trap shooting...

Ann Dickinson delivers a memorable senior speech

on her favorite sport

Chris Roberts brings20 years of conservation

experience to TWF

PLUS:

Wetlands whisperer

Tennessee Out-Of-Doors

Kendall McCarter, Executive EditorMark Johnson, Editor

Kate Hill, Graphic Artist

During the annual Davis P. Rice Memorial Youth Hunt back in January, TWRA’s Lance Rider checks the skies for ducks at the “Taj Mahal” blind near Halls.

Photo by Mark Johnson

SOUTHERN EXPOSURES

SUMMER 2015

Michael Butler, Chief Executive OfficerKendall McCarter, Chief Development Officer

Karen Vaughn, Director of Grants & Special ProjectsMark Johnson, Director of Communications

Janet Henderson, Director of FinanceChris Roberts, Director of TMF and WES

J.W. Worthen, Director of TNSCTPAndrew Peercy, TNSCTP Manager

Matt Simcox, HFTH ManagerTony Lance, Executive Assistant/Office Manager

Cameron Mitchell, Development OfficerAngela Schmidt, Development Coordinator

Kate Hill, Communications CoordinatorMichael Folk, HFTH Coordinator

Stephen Cawthorn, TNSCTP CoordinatorGreg Young, Legal Advisor, Burr & Forman, LLP

2014–2015 Board of Directors

Terry Lewis • Chairman, Powell

Dr. John O. “Jack” Gayden • Vice Chairman, Memphis

Ric Wolbrecht IV • Treasurer, Germantown

Chris Nischan • Secretary, Nashville

Tommy Bernard • Kingston Springs

Jim Candella • Brentwood

Allen Corey • Chattanooga

Frank Duff • Chattanooga

Bruce Fox • Knoxville

Monty Halcomb • Wartrace

Dan Hammond • Franklin

John Jackson • Dickson

Robert Lineberger • Brentwood

Sam Mars III • Harrogate

Albert Menefee III • Franklin

Richard Speer • Nashville

Terry Whitson • Rogersville

Advisory Board

Anker Browder • Knoxville

Albert Buckley Jr. • Franklin

Jim Byford • Martin

Charles Chitty • Chattanooga

Philip Claypool • Memphis

H.A. “Craig” Connors • Rossville

Bill Cox • Collierville

Nick Crafton • Memphis

Bill Dance • Collierville

Phillip Fulmer Sr. • Knoxville

Paul Grider • Bolivar

Mark Ingram • Maryville

Mike Kelly • Nashville

Jean Maddox • Nashville

Jim Maddox • Nashville

Tami Miller • Franklin

Colin Reed • Nashville

Tom Rice • Nashville

Brian Sparks • Germantown

Brenda Valentine • Puryear

Susan Williams • Knoxville

ABOUT THE COVER: Monarch butterfly populations have declined by 90 percent since 1995. Story on Page 12. Photo by Patty C.

TWF Staff


SUMMER 2015 l www.tnwf.org l 3

Conservation organizations are linking arms to save the monarch butterfly. Find out how you can have a direct, positive impact on this important species. Page 12

FEATURES

8 Wetlands whisperer Chris Roberts is restoring wildlife habitat for TWF

10 Six questions for Collin O’Mara A visit with the National Wildlife Federation’s CEO

18 Courtesy of the honeyguide Dan Hammond’s African safari held an unexpected surprise

20 Blind of brothers La Follette hunt is a healing event for wounded veterans

PROGRAMS 22 TWF Youth Hunts DPR Memorial event and first youth turkey hunt are featured in photos

DEPARTMENTS

4 Chairman’s Corner5 From the CEO6 Social Media28 Around the State30 New Employees31 Memorials/Honorariums

WILD GAME RECIPE29 Bacon-wrapped turkey breast


Tennessee Out-of-Doors Magazine is the official publication of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. Printed materials include natural resource and conservation news, outdoor recreation news

and articles on pertinent legislation. All submissions are subject to editing or rewriting. All editorial, advertising and subscription correspondence should be mailed to:

Tennessee Out-of-Doors300 Orlando Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209

A NOBLE EFFORT

24 TN Scholastic Clay Target Program Memphis student delivers a memorable senior speech

Photo

by Patricia W

oo

d

Tennessee Out-Of-DoorsTennessee Out-Of-Doors

CHAIRMAN’S CORNER

We’re not called “the Volunteer State” for nothing

Terry LewisChairman of the Board

Volunteer... What does that word really mean to you? Webster’s defines

volunteer as “one who serves or acts of his own free will.”

Tennessee is full of volunteers. In fact, we’re nicknamed for them. There are volunteer health care workers, Little League coaches, Cub Scout leaders and Boy and Girl Scout troop leaders. There are Red Cross, church, and civic volunteers, and groups of people who volunteer for disaster relief. Folks volunteer to work the voting polls, blood drives, and help the elderly in nursing homes. There are the over 300 volunteer Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program coaches and countless others who raise money for the Hunters for the Hungry program.

The list of volunteers is nearly endless. For the most part, we are a society of volunteers lending a helping hand and sacrificing our time, energy, and financial resources for causes we believe in.

TWF traces its beginnings back 69 years to the strong shoulders of men and women who came together for a common cause. The goal was to establish new leadership uninfluenced by corrupt political control. Volunteers like Lou Williams and Z. Carter Patten gave of their personal time and money to work the political establishment in hopes of building a new organization to restore the integrity of all of Tennessee’s wildlife and resources, not just fish and game.

Today, many others volunteer their precious time for the good of others. Dr. Jack Gayden, who served two terms as TWF’s chairman of the board and today, as vice chairman was the driving force behind Hunters for the Hungry’s Hunger Challenge and is a very effective promoter of TWF. He is a tireless volunteer.

I am very proud of the volunteer efforts of TWF’s supporters who give back much to the interests and betterment of the public. As Dr. Jack Gayden led by

example with his volunteerism, I too give of myself and strive to lead by example. I have the great honor to serve as TWF’s current board chairman. I also serve as president of the Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association, a longtime TWF affiliate.

I also serve as a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency volunteer coordinator and as the Hatfield Knob Wildlife Viewing Area creator and caretaker. I volunteer my time to host TWF’s Annual Wounded Warrior Turkey Hunt and our newest venture, the TWF Annual Youth Turkey Hunt. I have no more or no less time than any of you.

I challenge each of you to reflect upon your own volunteer efforts. Could you do a little more for the benefit of our outdoor recreational opportunities and our future heritage?

I challenge each of you to reach down and, like Dr. Jack, find those priority areas where you can make the difference for the generations who follow us. You can make a difference and you can make an impact.

Let’s all devote more time and commit ourselves to being better Tennessee Volunteers. In the end, when God calls us home, we will best be remembered by the footprints of the volunteerism we left behind.


FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The hat trick: TWF helps solve three major challenges

Michael ButlerCEO

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation recently launched our “Tennessee’s

Wildlife is Your Wildlife” campaign in an effort to inform Tennesseans that

wildlife is held in the public trust. It is, indeed, your wildlife.

But with this ownership always comes challenges by those who seek to damage and reverse this rich legacy of public resources and equal access to wildlife. Below are three recent examples and TWF’s efforts to ensure that wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts came out winners.

1. Over the past three years or so, TWF has worked closely with U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and others to find a permanent funding solution for Tennessee’s two federal fish hatcheries at Erwin and Dale Hollow.

It’s done!Sen. Alexander announced Moday, May 11, that TVA

would permanently support the hatcheries. This ensures the continued production of millions of disease-free trout eggs, some one million trout stocked into our East Tennessee tailwaters, and the annual $45 million economic impact for our state.

2. During this year’s session of the Tennessee General Assembly, a little-known joint resolution quietly worked its way through the House and Senate. When discovered, it drew TWF’s full attention. The resolution essentially calls for the state of Tennessee and our congressional delegation to demand the transfer or sell all federal publicly held lands to the states in which those lands are located.

TWF was able to stop this resolution’s passage for now, thank goodness, but make no mistake — it will return. Folks, we cannot allow this to become the official policy of the state of Tennessee. The number of outdoorsmen and women who would be negatively impacted by such policies is astronomical, not to

mention the wildlife itself. Offloading federal land to states that can’t afford to manage it is an amazingly bad idea for a myriad of reasons.

3. Some four years ago, Tennessee commercial fishermen filed a lawsuit against the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC). The suit challenged the TWRC’s authority for making rules and regulations, claiming that the 2010 “right to hunt and fish” constitutional amendment (RHF) that TWF helped pass should exclude them from regulations on paddlefish and other commercially harvested fish species. Judge Russell Perkin of the Davidson Chancery Court issued his decision May 14, ruling in favor of the TWRC. A precedent-setting part of this case was Judge Perkin’s interpretation of the RHF. In essence, he ruled that the amendment is personal and does not extend to commercial fishermen. This is exactly what the authors of the amendment — including TWF — intended when we wrote the language.

As TWF continues to work for wildlife in Tennessee, we will be faced with more and more threats to the public ownership of these natural treasures, and we will need your continued support. Keep abreast of these issues and get details on our website at www.tnwf.org.

Don’t forget: Tennessee’s wildlife is YOUR wildlife!

Tennessee Out-Of-DoorsTennessee Out-Of-Doors

TWF launches Instagram account

TWF SOCIAL MEDIA

The Federation does its best to keep up with trends

not only in wildlife and habitat conservation, but also

in communications. To that point, we’re happy to

bring to your attention the launch of our Instagram

account back in January.

If you’re new to Instagram, it’s easiest to think of

Instagram as a photo-sharing app, which makes it

perfect for outdoor and wildlife photographers.

Below are some examples of the incredible talent in

our online community. These photos came from our

first two Instagram photo contests. The grand prize-

TOP LEFT: Chris Hatfield @chrishatfield, winner; TOP RIGHT: Tim Tower @timtower, runner-up; BOTTOM LEFT: Amy McGee @amyjomcgee, runner-up; BOTTOM RIGHT: Rory Huffman @rdh333captures, runner-up

winners were Chris Hatfield’s rushing stream photo,

Dottie Brewer’s frozen bird-feeder pic, and Sumer

Newport’s mountain sunset (see below). Go to our

newly designed website at www.tnwf.org to view a

gallery of the full images.

Chris, Dottie, and the other runners-up all received

some TWF goodies for their submissions. If you

haven’t already followed us on Instagram, grab your

smartphone and do it now. Search for @twfoutofdoors.

And stay tuned for the next TWF photo contest. It

will be coming soon!

TOP LEFT: Dottie Brewer, winner; TOP RIGHT: Sumer Newport, winner; BOTTOM LEFT: Norma @petitdesignco, runner-up; BOTTOM RIGHT: Rhonda Reagan, runner-up

January Photo Contest Febuary Snow Photo Contest

SUMMER 2015 l www.tnwf.org l 7SUMMER 2015 l www.tnwf.org l 7

TWF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is one of our favorite forms of

communication, so if you’re a Facebook user but

haven’t yet LIKED our page, be sure to do so and join

the more than 19,000 other friends and supporters of

Tennessee’s wildlife and great outdoors! Facebook,

Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram are excellent tools

for staying connected with your fellow outdoor

enthusiasts in our state and for sharing photos, field

reports, and other types of pertinent information.

Facebook: tnwildlifeTwitter: @TWFoutofdoorsYouTube: tnwildlifeTVInstagram: @TWFoutofdoors

On April 1st we asked for captions for this goofy

photo; we had more than 100 responses to choose from.

Caption contest

Photo submissions

photo by Rolland Gelly

Our overall winner was “I shoot you with the ack ack of love” by Nancy Yount. Not too gross and a perfect call-back to one of our favorite Looney Tunes characters, “Pepe Le Péw.”

Some of our other favorites included: Jackie Norton Smith: My big brother told me that

this was the best cologne to get the girls.Cheri O’Bryant: Larry thought the date had gone

well up until now.Malissa Phillips Bess: ....and a good time was had

by all. Well, almost.

From Instagram, @JACKSON_JOHNSON_

...this was next to the last day of the season on the farm, Mt. Juliet.

From Facebook, Sabrina Ellis Hester: Clarksville

Lots of deer and birds feeding like crazy!

When I took this shot, there was a butterfly on the thistle that I was photographing and the hummingbird just showed up from seemingly nowhere and gave me this opportunity to take a few shots. Great how some things just happen to work out for you sometimes. — Instagram follower Rory Huffman, @rdh333captures

Get on board!


Wetlands whispererChris Roberts brings 20 years of habitat restoration experience

to the Tennessee Wildlife FederationStory and photos by Mark Johnson


‘Getting out into the Tennessee countryside and slogging through muddy fields is my idea

of a perfect day.’

Chris Roberts is in his element, and you can tell. Outfitted with a windbreaker, rubber boots, and a

square-end shovel — the tools of his trade — Chris strides with an air of excitement through

ankle-deep rainwater that has collected in a Hardin County field of winter wheat.

(See Roberts, page 16)

As he walks, Chris points out slight variances in the soil types, identifies vegetation in the adjacent woods, and even calls attention to animal tracks in the mud. A small group of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) staff members follow Chris through the saturated field, making notes and collecting soil samples.

Since beginning his job at TWF as the Director of Ecological Services some six months ago, he has already been on dozens of similar site visits. With more than two decades of experience, Chris has protected “tens of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat and hundreds of miles of streams” over his career and has become a wetlands “whisperer” of sorts.

“I’ve been doing this work for quite a while,” says the athletic 44-year-old. “Getting out into the Tennessee countryside and slogging through muddy fields is my idea of a perfect day.”

Raised on an apple orchard in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York, Chris says that wildlife conservation work was a natural path for him.

“I spent most of my time outdoors as a kid,” he says. “Working with wildlife was in my blood.

A lot of people don’t really know what they want to do with their life, but I knew from a very young age. I went straight to The College at Brockport [State University of New York] because one of their specialties is wildlife conservation. I earned my undergraduate degree and stayed there for my master’s.”

After graduating, Chris headed west to do wildlife conservation work in Oregon and California, focusing

mainly on conducting field surveys for species populations that were trending toward an endangered status. Three years later, he landed a job with The Nature Conservancy in Nashville. Prior to coming to TWF, Chris worked with The Land Trust for Tennessee on projects ranging from wildlife habitat conservation to Civil War battlefields to recreational trails.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with so many passionate people,”

says Chris, who lives in Thompson’s Station with his wife, Michelle, son, Carter, 9, and daughter, Campbell, 6. “The mission of TWF and my career goals are the same — it’s all about wildlife conservation.”

Today, Chris is showing TDEC and TWRA employees a potential restoration site that may be returned to wildlife habitat through TWF’s Tennessee Mitigation

FEATURE — CONSERVATION


Chris Roberts has protected tens of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat in his two decades of conservation work.

FEATURE — TWF PARTNERSHIPS


Collin O’Mara, who joined the National Wildlife

Federation (NWF) as President and CEO July 7, 2014, has an impressive background in conservation.

He was appointed Secretary of the Delaware Department of

Natural Resources and Environmental Control in 2009, the youngest state cabinet official in the nation at the time. In that position, O’Mara led the state’s efforts to conserve and restore wildlife and fishery habitat, improve air quality and public health, ensure access to clean water, expand outdoor recreation and environmental education opportunities, and enhance the state’s resilience to extreme weather and other climate impacts, according to NWF’s website.

Among O’Mara’s many accomplishments during his time as Secretary, he instituted the Delaware Bayshore Initiative aimed at establishing the region as a world-class conservation and low-impact recreation tourism destination for hunting, birding, fishing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.

In his first year as head of NWF, O’Mara has made it clear that he intends to refocus the organization’s efforts on wildlife conservation and on-the-ground

work. O’Mara recently spoke with Tennessee Out-of-Doors.

OOD: You’ve spent a large portion of your first year as CEO traveling the U.S. to meet personally with state wildlife federations and other conservation groups. What is the top observation you’ve taken from those trips?

O’Mara: In every state I’ve visited, there is serious conservation work going on. That’s very rewarding to see, but there is also a lot of opportunity for us to stitch together better partnerships with hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, and others to help fight off the ever-present threats to conservation. I see a need for us to really bolster our coalitions.

OOD: To that point, what are some issues that you feel need to be addressed at a state level rather than in Washington?

O’Mara: Well, first of all, I think getting kids outdoors needs to be addressed at a local level. You can’t legislate your way into taking kids hiking or hunting or fishing. Inspring a love for wildlife really needs to start at home.

Also, I think scientific wildlife management is always done best when it is close to the resource, and that people naturally take more pride in restoring habitat if it’s local. It creates a strong stewardship ethic.

OOD: NWF has really taken up the cause of the monarch butterfly, almost as a flagship initiative. Why is that?

O’Mara: There are a variety of reasons. Monarch populations have plummeted by more than 90 percent over the past 20 years, and there is a lot of significance to the species. Monarchs are an indicator species and their decline sends a message about the amount of habitat we’ve lost. They help us understand the connection between habitat and a healthy, viable wildlife population.

Why are we making this a flagship initiative? Because I think that through the monarch, we can inspire generations to understand this link between healthy habitat and healthy wildlife populations. Every fourth-grader in the country has learned about the monarch and the stages of metamorphosis, so this is a species that all ages can get behind. It allows us a platform to discuss much larger issues of migration, of habitat, and

The National Wildlife Federation CEO says NWF is re-committed to wildlife conservation

By Mark Johnson

six questions for colLin o’mara

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of chemical use through a very iconic and recognizable species. Through the monarch, we can talk about honeybees, migratory birds, and some of the amphibian species that are struggling. We can even get into bison in the West, or wolf habitat, and other apex predators. The monarch essentially gives us an entrée.

OOD: For many Americans, the phrase “wildlife conservation” evokes images of whales or penguins or elephants or some other exotic, faraway species. They don’t necessarily think of wildlife right here at home. What would you like Americans to know about conservation?

O’Mara: I think that the diversity and the stewardship of American wildlife is, in many ways, the envy of the world. I attribute that largely to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. It results in Americans being more invested in wildlife conservation and in us having more protected land than most places.

We also have wildlife that is much more accessible to everybody, regardless of their income, or where they are born, or where they live. Wildlife here is a public trust resource and the fact that it’s shared by all of us is unique. That said, we are always only one generation away from that stewardship legacy being threatened because it takes public vigilance to protect it. With the great blessing of sharing ownership of wildlife comes the great responsibility to conserve and manage it for future generations. That’s different from almost anywhere else in the world.

OOD: TWF has launched a public awareness campaign using the tagline “Tennessee’s wildlife is your wildlife,” which speaks to that very responsibility. How important is it to you that average citizens should get involved in conservation?

O’Mara: I’d go a step further and say that it’s critical! If people who enjoy engaging with the great outdoors aren’t willing to stand up to protect wildlife, they can’t expect someone else to do it. We have to make it an


issue, because I’ll guarantee you that the opponents of scientific management of wildlife or of regulated development will make sure their point of view is heard.

Just this year, we’ve seen a resolution in Tennessee proposing the selling off of public lands, and there are 15 different states right now where groups are trying to make it easier to privatize the captive cervid [deer] populations. These fights are real and if sportsmen and women don’t show up, the chance of long-term success of winning them are in doubt.

OOD: What would you like Tennesseans to know about what NWF is doing these days?

O’Mara: I want to live in a country where everyone who wants to have a great experience in nature can do

so, and where every kid has the opportunity to hunt, fish, enjoy birds, go hiking, and all those things. Throughout our history, that’s been a big part of the American identity. The assurance of availability of those things isn’t going to happen in Washington; it’s going to happen in every neighborhood, community, county, and state. I want the National Wildlife Federation to help pull together a nationwide conservation

army and make sure we have robust wildlife populations, healthy habitat, good scientific management, and sufficient funding for conservation. I want us to leave that legacy for future generations.

Tennesseans should know that NWF is focused now more than ever on making sure we provide every American an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. We are committed to promoting wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation in every corner of the country.

I would also like to mention that the Tennessee Wildlife Federation is viewed as one of the strongest NWF affiliates there is. You guys are among the best of the best, and it’s a combination of effective advocacy, habitat work, and great programs that are often replicated in other parts of the country. I congratulate Tennesseans on their grassroots involvement in making these things happen.

‘NWF is focused on making sure we provide

every American an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors’

FEATURE — TWF PARTNERSHIPS


Conservation groups join forces to stem the decline of the majestic monarch butterflyBy Glen Liford

Monarch butterfly populations are considered to be indicators of the health of many ecosystems.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that the monarch is on shaky ground,” says Julie Sibbing, senior director of Agriculture and Forestry Programs with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). “Even if their numbers tripled from last year, they would still be very low.”

A number of factors are blamed with bringing about this drastic decline, Sibbing says, including deforestation in the Mexican mountains where most of the butterflies spend the winter; changing climates that include ever stronger storms along with drought conditions in California; and a reduction in crucial milkweed habitat due to widespread development and the increased use of herbicides in modern agricultural and gardening practices.

Early this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) joined forces with the NWF and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to bolster conversation efforts and increase awareness of the popular pollinators’ plight through a memorandum of understanding and a promise to work together. The USFWS has pledged an additional $2 million in immediate funding for on-the-ground projects around the country.

Biotech giant Monsanto joined the fray in April when they announced they would spend $4 million to bolster conservation efforts, donating $3.6 million to the NFWF and another $400,000 to universities and other conservation groups working to preserve the species.

In Tennessee, TWF is launching a major public awareness push in support of the collaboration of the national conservation groups. Michael Butler, TWF chief executive officer, says this effort is a worthy one.

“TWF will be leading the charge on behalf of the

monarch here in Tennessee,” says Butler. “We see this project as a great vehicle to show people that they can make a difference through their actions, planting decisions, and financial support. These goals are achievable, and the type of cooperation we’re seeing here can lead to other conservation successes as well.”

While the spotlight is currently cast upon the monarch butterfly, other species — such as honeybees, in particular — will benefit as well.

“The monarch’s habitat is often the same as many other important pollinators,” says Sibbing. “It’s the monarch, however, that we believe is the perfect poster child to bring awareness and inspire actions that will stem the decline and stimulate the survival of this

beloved butterfly while keeping other populations healthy, too. This species plays a vital role as an indicator of healthy or unhealthy ecosystems.”

The monarch’s distinctive orange and black markings endear it to naturalists everywhere. The insect is considered a natural work of art and easily captures the imagination of many. But it’s the intriguing story of its life cycle —

and mysterious migratory pattern that covers more than 3,000 miles — that make the monarch a fascinating subject.

The species’ trip northward to summer feeding areas in the U.S. and Canada requires three generations of butterflies. The butterflies mate and go through the metamorphosing life cycle from egg to larvae to pupae to adult. The eggs are laid on the exclusive feed source of native milkweed plants.

As the weather turns colder, a single generation of

(See Monarchs, page 14)



We’re seeing less and less of everybody’s favorite butterfly — the monarch. Experts estimate that over the last 20 years, the population of the iconic butterfly

has fallen by as much as 90 percent.

“Even if their numbers tripled from last year,

they would still be very low.”— Julie Sibbing, NWF

monarchs turns south toward a winter home they have never seen. How these butterflies know to navigate to the same areas as their ancestors is one of nature’s greatest enigmas.

Monarchs east of the Continental Divide mostly head to Mexico where they winter in clusters of millions of butterflies in oyamel fir trees high in the mountains. Monarchs west of the continental divide seek eucalyptus trees and Monterey pines along the California coast.

Deforestation and loss of wintering habitat has been detrimental to the monarchs, but most experts believe the loss of native milkweed plants is the more devastating problem.

“The widespread use of herbicide-resistant crops


and the increased use of herbicides has almost eliminated vital feeding habitat,” explains Sibbing. “Additional pesticide use by other rural and urban residents has had a substantial effect as well. And rural landowners who are now mowing their five-to-50 acre tracts instead of leaving them in a natural state are also contributing to the problem.”

Some conservation groups are advocating listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species, but there is some disagreement as to whether this move would be effective. Some believe the regulations that result from such a listing could actually be detrimental to the cause, says Sibbing. The NWF is among the groups that believe the best option is to seek cooperation and assistance among the

various groups that can impact the monarch’s recovery.The targets of the conservation campaign are diverse,

ranging from homeowners with a backyard flower garden to farmers with thousands of acres to state highway departments responsible for maintenance and mowing of miles and miles of interstate right of ways.

“We’re specifically targeting the Interstate 35 corridor from Texas to Minnesota because it follows a very similar path to the monarch migration route,” says Sibbing. “And nearby lands within the Tennessee border are important habitats as well.”

The NWF plans to contact state transportation departments along this route and propose that these areas be planted with native milkweed and other nectar plants.

The partnerships will also seek the cooperation of various agriculture groups, including the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association, says Sibbing.


(Continued from page 13)

Monarchs

Although the monarch range stretches across a large portion of the U.S., they over-winter in very small locations in Mexico, the coast of California, and the southern tip of Florida. Illustration courtesy of USFWS

Contact zone betw

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Produced in the Division of RealtyFalls Church, VA 12-5-14Monarch migration mapadapted from Monarch Watch ´

Monarch Butterfly: Fall & Spring Migrations U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

0 500250Kilometers

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W I N T E R

W I N T E R

Fall migrationSpring migration

Summer breeding areasSpring breeding areasOverwintering areasCorn Belt: High Monarch productionUSFWS Regions

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‘building awareness and the cumulative effect

of all these actions can make a difference’

—Julie Sibbing, NWF


“Of course, we can’t ask farmers to stop spraying for weeds,” she says. “But we can suggest that they leave areas between and along the edges of fields, in roadside ditches, and in pivot corners on irrigated plots in a natural state.”

Additionally, the NWF Butterfly Heroes program is designed to engage people of all ages and walks of life, says Mary Phillips, NWF director of Garden for Wildlife Habitats. The Butterfly Heroes program encourages concerned citizens, especially children, to sign up at the association’s webpage at www.nwf.org/butterfly-heroes to pledge their support.

“The Butterfly Heroes are encouraged to observe their gardens and the butterflies, caterpillars, and other wildlife that make it their home,” says Phillips. “They can contact their local garden center or other websites to add the right plants to help the monarchs and other pollinators thrive.”

The organization’s initial goal was to sign up 20,000 participants in the Butterfly Heroes program, says Phillips. By late April, more than 37,000 people had signed up. The revised goal is 50,000 participants.

The monarch population did not get in its present condition overnight, says Sibbing, but with awareness, committed partnerships, and public engagement, there is still time to reverse the decline.

“Many of these steps are small ones,” she says. “But building awareness and the cumulative effect of all these actions can make a difference. We can all help.”

Visit www.nwf.org to learn more about the monarch conservation initiative or to sign up for the Butterfly Heroes program.

Glen Liford is a freelance outdoor writer from Clinton, Tennessee.


Milkweed plants are critical because monarch adults only lay their eggs on — and caterpillars only eat — that plant species. Photo by Nicole Hamilton

Five steps to creating good monarch habitatPlant milkweed. Include at least one milkweed

plant that is native to your area to provide food

for monarch caterpillars. Good varieties for

Tennessee include whorled, white, aquatic, and

sandhill/pinewoods milkweed depending upon

soil type. Butterfly weed is also a good choice.

Download a milkweed information sheet at

www.tnwf.org for details.

Site your garden in a sunny spot that has some

wind protection.

In addition to milkweed, use a variety of nectar

plants with staggered bloom times to provide

butterflies and other pollinators a continuous

source of food.

Avoid herbicide and pesticide use near your

butterfly garden. Be aware that chemicals can

drift during breezy weather.

1

2

3

4Source: Monarch Joint Venture

‘The cumulative effect of all these actions can

make a difference. We can all help.’

—Julie Sibbing, NWF



roberts

Chris, in the blue jacket, visits a future wetlands restoration site along the Tennessee River in Hardin County with TWRA’s Rob Todd (second from left) and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation staffers Caitlin Elam and Mike Lee.

Fund (TMF), an “in-lieu fee” administrator that mitigates damage to fragile wetlands ecosystems. Although the terminology may sound complex to the average person, the concept is fairly straightforward, Chris explains.

“When a company or organization builds something that destroys wetlands habitat, the Clean Water Act requires them to restore wetlands somewhere nearby,” he says. “In Tennessee, for every one acre destroyed, at least two must be restored. In the world of mitigation, one acre restored is equal to one ‘credit.’ Our TMF program identifies and implements wetland restoration projects statewide.”

Chris says potential restoration sites are usually marginal areas of farmland, historic wetlands prior to cultivation, and owned by someone who is interested in improving wildlife habitat on their property. It’s about “making things right with nature again,” he says.

“Our science has come a long way in the past 40 years,” Chris points out. “Before that, nobody cared about wetlands. People generally viewed them as waste places full of mosquitos and snakes, and the vast majority of our wetlands — especially in West Tennessee — were ditched, drained, filled in, and generally ruined. These days, we understand how critical wetlands are not only to wildlife, but to our entire ecosystem.”

Currently, Chris is working on several wetland restoration projects across the state, and that’s only the beginning.

“This organization is unique in our state in that it protects the rights of outdoorsmen and women, engages people in the out-of-doors, and restores and protects wildlife habitat.”

Chris adds that he sees possibilities beyond only wetland restoration projects.

“The bottom line is, we’re working to restore and protect more wildlife habitat so that people can enjoy it. That can manifest itself in a number of different ways, and I feel that now more than ever, TWF is leading that charge.”

To learn more about TWF’s Tennessee Mitigation Fund and other habitat restoration work, visit www.tnwf.org.

Chris checks the soil to confirm that it is hydric, or able to sustain a wetlands environment.


WILDLIFE is

WILDLIFE

Tennessee’s

TM

It’s true. The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation established in the

1860s places wildlife in the public trust of all Americans. Our wildlife belongs equally

to each of us. It also requires us to be responsible for serving as conscientious

stewards of our wild things and places.

TWF makes that concept manageable and serves as the “tip of the spear” of

conservation in the Volunteer State. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1946.

But we need your help. Only together can we keep our wild places wild, our fauna

and flora thriving, and our access to the Great Outdoors unimpeded.

Please make a tax-deductible gift today in support of your Tennessee wildlife.

Use our online donation function at www.tnwf.org/donateIt’s quick and easy, and you’ll receive immediate documentation for your tax records.

Your gift will benefit Tennessee’s wildlife through habitat restoration and

stewardship, youth engagement programs that create future conservationists, and

advocacy on behalf of our Great Outdoors through public policy.

WILDLIFE is WILDLIFETennessee’sTM

REMEMBER:

Making a gift is easier than ever

1Go to www.tnwf.org/donate

2Enter your gift amount and billing information.

3Review your gift and confirm your donation.

FEATURE — TWF BOARD MEMBER

It was September 2009, and Dan was deep in the Tanzanian bush, having just taken a zebra on his first of three African safaris. As Dan and members of the safari crew field-dressed the animal, the men began to notice a repetitive and peculiar bird call in a nearby tree. It sounded like the hoarse chatter of a hyena, only higher-pitched.

Cha-da-da-da-da!Cha-da-da-da-da!“This thing was really going crazy and, after a while, it

became annoying,” recalls Dan, CEO of media group American Hometown Publishing in Nashville. “After several minutes, one of the elder members of the group

suddenly looked up and said to Pembe, the guide who had been assigned to me, ‘Take Dan and go follow the honeyguide bird.’”

Dan recalls that Pembe immediately walked to one of the pickup trucks, retrieved an axe, and said simply to the American, “Come.”

“Well, of course, I followed,” Dan says. “I was still very new to Tanzania and to the culture of the safari, so I felt it would be disrespectful to question anything like that.”

The two men approached the tree where the strange bird was blaring. As they reached the trunk, Dan and Pembe watched a handsome, brown and white, robin-sized bird fly out of the tree at head height and swoop into another some 30 yards away in plain sight of the men.

Cha-da-da-da-da!Cha-da-da-da-da!

TWF board member Dan Hammond experiences one of nature’s oddest relationships

By Mark Johnson

Courtesy of the honeyguide

After years of hunting game big and small, from

Alaska to Africa, former TWF board chair Dan

Hammond thought he had seen it all.

But he hadn’t. A little birdie told him so.

A greater honeyguide bird perches in a tree in South Africa. Honeyguides are known as “indicator birds” due to their unique interaction with not only various mammals such as honey badgers, but also humans. Photo courtesy of Birdlife Port Natal



Without explanation, Pembe turned and walked to that tree as a mystified Dan followed. Again, the bird flew out of the tree as the men arrived and landed in another, roughly 30 yards away as before. Again came the clear-throated call.

“I thought I was on Candid Camera or something,” laughs Dan. “I was sure these guys were playing some elaborate joke on me. We followed this thing from tree to tree, probably another six times.”

Finally, when the men reached the bird’s next tree, the enthusiastic singer stayed put, chattering over and over.

“This is the tree,” said Pembe. He stepped back and began taking measured swings with the axe at a noticeable lump near the base. As Pembe cut, Dan

Dan, right, was led by professional hunter Simon Evans on his three African safaris in 2009 and 2011. Dan also encountered the honeyguide bird during his 2011 safari.

noticed that the odd bird had quieted and seemed to be watching the proceedings with keen interest.

Pembe pulled a hunk of the bark away from the tree and gestured for Dan to look inside. Stuffed into a hollow area in the center vein of the tree was a yellow mass of beeswax dripping honey. Small sweat bees swarmed around the men, but were inconsequential.

“Enjoy some honey, courtesy of the honeyguide bird,” said Pembe triumphantly with a wide smile.

Dan was dumbfounded. “I couldn’t believe what had just happened,” he says

with a shake of his head. “That bird had very deliberately led us to a bee hive, and it quickly became clear why. After a few minutes of enjoying this

FEATURE — TWF BOARD MEMBER

In homage to an old tradition, Dan has flown his custom-made TWF flag over the camps of all his African safaris. This was one of his campsites during his 2009 Tanzanian excursion.

(See Hammond, page 27)

The interior of the tree singled out by the honeyguide bird revealed a bees nest teaming with honey and honeycomb.

Photo

s courtesy o

f Dan H

amm

ond

For 11 years, wounded warriors have gathered at Terry Lewis’ farm for a healing outdoor experience

Story and photos by Mark Johnson

Max Summers, a veteran from Ladoga, Indiana, says the Wounded Warrior/Wheelin’ Sportsmen Hunt was an “awesome event” and hopes to attend similar hunts in the future. A former artilleryman with the Army 82nd Airborne Division, Summers was injured during a 2004 training exercise.

Young men are gathered around a crackling campfire. They are clad head to toe in camo and tactical

garb, faces painted in blacks, browns, and greens. Carefully maintained weapons and boxes of ammo

are nearby and at the ready as the men prepare to deploy into the field.

blind of brothers

Warrior/Wheelin’ Sportsmen Turkey Hunt sponsored by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Pine Mountain Longbeards Chapter, the Campbell Outdoor Recreation Assocation (CORA), and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Since 2005, more than 250 wounded servicemen and wheelchair-bound hunters have taken part in the event, which begins with a Friday evening meal and concludes with a daylong Saturday hunt.

One of the participants is 34-year-old Max Summers of Ladoga, Indiana. He gives an exuberant thumbs-up as his camouflaged Polaris vehicle, driven by guide Joe Harman, pulls out of the staging area in the darkness of 5 a.m.

But here, in the early-morning woods of northeast Tennessee, there is no stress of battle and no fear of enemy fire. Those things linger somewhere in the collective memories of this group of friends because their soldiering days are behind them. Today, there is only camaraderie, fellowship, and healing.

Within the next few minutes, some 25 “wounded warriors” — military veterans who have been injured due to combat or training — along with several disabled outdoorsmen, will load into a fleet of four- wheel drive utility vehicles provided by volunteers and head into the craggy hills of Terry and Jane Lewis’ La Follette farm and find their spot in a pre-assigned blind. They are taking part in the 11th annual Wounded

FEATURE — TWF OUTREACH



“Wish me luck!” Max calls out to a group of volunteers. “I’m going to need it!”

Some might say Max used up a lifetime’s supply of luck back in 2004, when he was an artilleryman with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Having enlisted in September 2001 in response to the terrorist attack of the same month, Max had already completed one deployment to Afghanistan in 2002-03 and was taking part in a training jump in March 2004 when something went wrong.

“I had a parachute malfunction of some kind,” he explains. “It was probably due to prop blast [of the airplane] or something, but my chute tangled. I managed to pull my reserve chute, which opened a couple of seconds before I hit the ground. I’m a big guy, not to mention the fact that I was carrying an 85-pound rucksack and a machine gun, so I had a lot of weight on me. I hit the ground very hard. I probably shouldn’t be here.”

The landing severely damaged both of Max’s knees,

his lower back, and resulted in a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

“The medics saw me coming down and were there almost immediately,” he says. “I don’t remember a whole lot of what happened after, which is probably a blessing. They told me I had four concussions at once.”

Although he was able to serve the balance of his military time, Max admits that civilian life since has had its challenges, including seven back surgeries to date. He’s quick to point out that his wife of 11 years, Christie, is a nurse educator and a skilled caregiver.

“That helps a lot, as you can imagine,” he says with a laugh. “And we’ve got a 9-year-old, Hannah, who keeps me awfully busy, too.”

In addition to operating a small diesel repair shop when he’s physically able to work, Max is still devoted to his “other” first love — hunting.

“I’ve always done a lot of small game and deer hunting,” says the paratrooper. “Trapping is one of

my favorite things to do. Both my dad and my granddad were trappers, and it’s kind of a dying sport that I’m proud to be involved with. I mainly trap raccoon, muskrat, and coyote.”

But turkey hunting wasn’t in his repertoire, says Max, so he jumped at the chance to attend the hunt at the Lewis farm. Terry says Max is a perfect example of

‘providing a place to come hunt and fellowship is the

very least we can do.’

TWF Chairman of the Board Terry Lewis, right, was recognized by other event organizers during the 2014 Wounded Warrior Hunt.

(See Brothers, page 22)

Participants and volunteers enjoyed a Friday evening campfire before an early morning breakfast and trip to the blinds the next morning.

FEATURE — TWF OUTREACH


why he began inviting wounded servicemen to his farm to hunt back in 2004.

“I know a lot of these guys were outdoorsmen prior to their time in the military,” says Terry, TWF’s board chair and one of the longest-tenured members of the current board of directors. “After all these guys have done to protect our freedom, I think providing them a place to come hunt and enjoy some fellowship is the very least we can do. And in many cases like Max, this may be the first time they’ve had an opportunity to turkey hunt. Some of the guys in wheelchairs, for example, can’t just go anywhere and have access to a turkey blind. We can do that for them here.”

There’s a palpable sense of excitement as the utility vehicles begin returning to the Lewis home place as lunchtime approaches. Although only one turkey has been harvested, the hunters are eager to talk over their experiences, including Max, who didn’t get a shot but can hardly contain his excitement.

“We had an awesome time,” says Max as he sits down with a plate of homemade barbecue provided by one of the volunteers from CORA. “Just as the fog lifted, we had nine hens and three gobblers come in. They got within 75 yards or so, but a deer or something in the woods behind us spooked them. It was close! But


BROTHERS

At the 2013 Wounded Warrior hunt, participants and volunteers listen as speakers address the crowd after the morning hunt.

PROGRAMS — TWF YOUTH HUNTS

In conjunction with the Pine Mountain Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation sponsored its very first youth turkey hunt Saturday, March 28, at the La Follette farm of TWF Chairman Terry Lewis and his wife, Jane.

Ten youth hunters, all Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program athletes from the Knoxville area, participated. Eleven-year-old Patrick Calhoun (pictured right with his father Douglas, left, and guide, Jonathan Brandonburg) harvested a 23-pound gobbler sporting a 10.5-inch long beard, a successful day in any turkey hunter’s book.

First TWF Youth Turkey Hunt in

La Follette yields trophy

Photo by J.W. Worthen

honestly, I’m kind of glad, because it’s not always about killing a bird or deer or whatever. The appeal is just being in the woods. I had a lot of fun watching those turkeys.”

The “icing on the cake,” he adds, has been sharing the experience with his fellow veterans.

“There’s a lot of good dudes here,” he says, gesturing around the lunch area. “Many of us are dealing with TBIs and PTSS [post traumatic stress syndrome] and that kind of stuff, and this brings us back to the camaraderie that we don’t really get to experience anymore, being out of the military. I really want to thank the folks who provided this event for us. I really wouldn’t trade it for anything and I hope I can come back again.”

PROGRAMS — TWF YOUTH HUNTS

Some 120 Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program athletes — including many first-time hunters — gathered in Dyersburg Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30-31, with parents and coaches for TWF’s 7th annual Davis P. Rice Memorial Youth Waterfowl Hunt, the largest waterfowl hunt for youth in the U.S.

Participants met Friday evening at Dyersburg’s Lannom Center for a catered meal and a program emceed by comedian/magician Brian Staron. Scholarships provided by TWF, Delta Waterfowl, and Final Flight Outfitters were awarded to lucky athletes, and silent auction winners were announced before the hunters broke into groups based on their blind assignments.

The athletes, coaches, and parents took to the fields early Saturday morning with several groups hunting throughout the day. More than 250 ducks were harvested.

Davis P. Rice Hunt still nation’s largest

Coaches, parents, and hunters enjoy a late-morning break at the “Taj Mahal” blind near Halls where some 40 athletes were stationed.

At the previous night’s banquet, Dyersburg comedian and magician Brian Staron entertains an audience of anxious participants in the Davis P. Rice Memorial Youth Waterfowl Hunt. A catered meal was followed by a video presentation, safety briefing, and door prizes.

Heather Argue, 14, of Spring Hill, surveys the skies outside her blind near Dyersburg.

A young hunter readies himself as ducks approach the “Willow” blind on the outskirts of Dyer County.

Photos by Mark Johnson



FEATURE — TNSCTP

“I’m passionate about this sport,” says Ann, 2015 captain of the Hutchison Trap Team and one of the top female athletes in TWF’s Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (TNSCTP). “I love the people I get to shoot with and that I always get sort of a surprised reaction from people when they ask me what sport I play.”

When Ann first tried shooting clay targets in 2012, she was immediately hooked, although she calls her first few times on the range “frustrating.”

“My coaches reminded me that it would take some time and patience,” she says. “After the first practice, I just wanted to go right back!”

Her enthusiasm has paid off. Ann placed second at the 2014 TNSCTP State Championship with a blistering score of 98. More recently, she won First Place at the Region 1 District Shoot, with a 95. She has been named both Junior Varsity and Varsity Trap Most Valuable Player in 2013 and 2014 respectively, and received the 2015 Hutchison Trap Leadership Award.

But it’s not the medals and trophies that Ann mentions as her favorite thing about trap shooting. It’s the relationships.

“What I love about this sport is that it’s not just about the shooting,” she explains. “Our team is very close-knit. We do team lunches every Friday before our big Saturday meets, have Saturday cook-outs, and just enjoy hanging out together.”

Ann’s father, Hoppy, one of the team coaches, says the camaraderie of the squad is unlike any he has seen with other teams or groups.

“When new girls start on the JV team, they

Hutchison School student Ann Dickinson sheds new light on a misunderstood sport in her senior speechBy Mark Johnson

Speaking of trap shooting…

When Ann Dickinson delivered her March 19 senior speech in front of parents, teachers, and the student

body of Memphis’ Hutchison School, she didn’t seem nervous at all. Why should she be? After all, she

was discussing her favorite subject, one that had dominated her thoughts and many of her weekends for

the past three years: clay target shooting.

Ann won first place at the Shelby League District Championships in April with a score of 95. Photo courtesy of Hoppy Dickinson


immediately become part of the family,” he says. “When Ann finishes shooting, she always goes over and works with the younger girls one-on-one. We’ve made lifelong friends and I think shooting will always be a part of Ann’s life.”

The senior agrees and says she plans to attend the University of Memphis next year despite the fact that the school doesn’t currently have a trap team.

“I’d really love to try to get one started,” she says. “Regardless, I hope to be able to come back and help coach at Hutchison.”

She adds that it was an easy choice to give her senior speech on trap shooting, and that after she delivered her talk, she was amazed by the response of many of her classmates who had no knowledge of the sport.

“People were just excited to learn what trap shooting was about because you don’t hear too much about it at all,” she says. “I think people liked to see that girls are strong and willing to do this sort of thing.”

The following is the text of Ann’s speech:I have never been a very competitive person. As a child I

tried every sport from soccer to tennis and even cheerleading. I quit soccer after a game in fourth grade because a girl from the opposing team bumped into me so I decided to cry and pretend to be hurt. However, to be perfectly honest I think I was just tired of standing in the cold. Then in middle school I tried my hand at tennis. Anna Threkeld and I became the unstoppable “A Squared” doubles team, but again I think we were in it just for the cute tennis skirts and our weekly post-practice snack trips to get ice cream.

Sophomore year I made an abrupt decision to join the trap shooting team. The trap shooting team was, at that point, only a small second-year team that consisted of six members. After attending a short interest meeting, I was instantly hooked and ready to join. After two months of safety classes, supportive practices, and a lot of waiting, I was finally ready to step onto the field for my first tournament.

I can picture that early morning perfectly; it was a cold Saturday morning in February when we were greeted by the varsity team and the coaches with hand warmers, donuts, and hot chocolate. Being that it was my first-ever trap tournament I was extremely nervous. After we had finished our one hundred rounds we were greeted once again with

congratulations and I noticed that my anxiety had completely disappeared. It was at that moment that I realized that I had found one of my passions and ever since that first match I have had the pleasure to watch the team improve and continuously grow larger each year. I am passionate about trap because it has become more than just another

extracurricular activity. Unlike all the other sports I had once

played, Trap shooting allowed me to overcome my anxiety. Instead when I step onto the field I automatically feel comfortable and sometimes I even feel an overwhelming sense of peace when I look past the shooting houses and see the serene lake encompassed by trees. I find the consistency calming; every round my eyes lock onto the small orange clay target as my mind focuses on the task at hand. Then with the touch of my finger the target explodes like a firework and disappears into

the wind. When I shoot trap I am able to forget about everything else I need to accomplish and it has taught me to focus on only one task at a time. My passion for the sport also comes from my strong determination to break the common stereotypes that trap shooting is a male oriented sport.

I have always taken pride in breaking such stereotypes. When I was young I alternated between smock dresses and my personal favorite outfit that consisted of khaki Bermuda shorts and a camouflage t-shirt accessorized with dangly

FEATURE — TNSCTP

At the TNSCTP State Championships in Nashville last summer, Ann, right, took second place in competition for high overall varsity female trap shooter. Megan Burgess, left, of Cumberland County came in third, and St. Agnes School’s Frances Wenger was the gold medal winner. Photo by Joel Lucks

‘trap shooting has

become an integral part

of my life’

(See Dickinson, page 26)


(See Target, page 18)

plastic clip-on earrings. I was so determined to be tough as a child that I even tried to pick up a mouse in a mousetrap because the adults would not touch it to throw it away. Needless to say the situation did not turn out well. I proceeded to scream and throw the mousetrap across the room when the mouse’s tail started to twitch.

With my trap shooting I continue to break those stereotypes in a completely different manner. When I have a conversation with someone and the topic of what sport I participate in comes up, I hesitate. They always have a slightly confused look on their face when I answer with “I am on the trap team” and their reply usually consists of something like “So you run on the track team?” I cannot help but smile because this scenario is inevitable. I must then explain that I shoot on the Hutchison trap team and the stranger’s puzzled look turns into a surprised expression. The conversation usually continues with me answering questions about my gun or how the sport even works because they don’t expect a female to know more about the sport than they do. They continue the stereotype of trap being a male dominated sport, when in reality, female teams are changing the future of the sport.

Trap shooting has become an integral part of my life. It has provided me with a close circle of friends from all

around the world and it has become a hobby for my dad and I, even though sometimes I think he is more into it than I am. Trap shooting is empowering and it has taught me to be confident in all of my endeavors.

I would like to finish with a quote from the famous female shooter Annie Oakley “Aim at a high mark and you will hit it. No, not the first time, not the second time and maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect. Finally you’ll hit the bull’s-eye of success.”


Dickinson

PROGRAMS — TNSCTP

St. Mary’s takes on MUS in 3rd annual shoot-off in Memphis

TNSCTP athletes from the Memphis University School and St. Mary’s School convened Monday, April 13, for the 3rd annual Shoot-Off & Cookout at the Robert Tipton Jr. Field at Shelby Farms in Memphis.

The event is designed to be a social event for the two schools as well as a good-natured tournament and a chance for year-long bragging rights. Some 80 athletes, parents, and coaches were on hand and, after the shooting, enjoyed a wild-game barbecue and cookout.

As for the competition, the MUS boys prevailed in the 100-target shoot-out, edging the St. Mary’s girls by the slim margin of only five targets.

This was the first event at the field since the March unveiling of a plaque memorializing Robert Tipton, Jr., an avid sportsman and friend to the Federation.

At Shelby Farms in Memphis, members of the St. Mary’s and MUS TNSCTP teams paused for a photo by the trap machine marker dedicated to late clay target athlete Robert Tipton, Jr.. Standing left to right are: August Klinke, Bolton Gayden, Butch Matthews, Ivy Leep, Dub Sorrells, Larson Wade, Mike Carrier, Sarah Lowe, MUS Coach Hamilton Eggers, Kyle McDowell, and Ethan Pretsch. Kneeling is St. Mary’s Coach Boyd Wade. In a 100-target shoot-out, the MUS boys edged the St. Mary’s girls by only five targets.

Ann, shooting at a Memphis practice session, says people often misunderstand her when she says her favorite sport is trap shooting.

Photo courtesy of Hoppy Dickinson

Pho

to c

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of R

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rect

In the Fall 2012 issue of Tennessee Out of Doors, we brought you the story of Dan and Cherie Hammond’s sponsorship of the college education of Sajo Msweve,

a young father and wildlife officer who had accompanied Dan on his first Tanzanian safari in 2009.

“Sajo was one of the brightest guys I had encountered during that trip, and he came from a wonderful family,” Dan says. “It occurred to me while I was out in the bush that helping out a guy like that might be the single most impactful thing I could do to improve wildlife management…well…anywhere!”

Dan explains that poaching, particularly of elephants, has become rampant in Africa due to a booming black market demand for tusk ivory in China.

“Aside from shutting down China’s black market, which isn’t going to happen, what is needed most for conservation in these areas are quality, well-educated wildlife professionals,” he says. “Sajo decided to go to a college called Mweka Wildlife College, which has a two-year wildlife management program that is basically equivalent to earning a high school degree. He did great and achieved all As and Bs.”

The story, Dan reports, has gotten even better.“Sajo recently told us that he has decided to dedicate

himself to earning a bachelor’s degree and become a full-blown game officer,” Dan says. “This means that, with his previous work experience, he would have the opportunity to run an entire game reserve. He would be able to train many other wildlife professionals under him and have a serious impact in an area that desperately needs quality leadership.”

With Sajo’s longterm commitment to using his education to improve wildlife conservation across

Hammonds to underwrite the bachelor’s degree of Tanzanian wildlife student

Tanzania, the Hammonds have decided to underwrite the remainder of his education at Mweka Wildlife College.

“Sajo’s story is an example of what could become a larger project in the future,” Dan says. “I’d love to see this become an expanded scholarship program that could put some of the best and brightest talents through the university in Tanzania to study wildlife management and zoology, and take those skills back into the field where they can implement them. Whether it’s Africa or Tennessee, at the end of the day, the common denominator is putting boots on the ground in management, and you always want the best people in positions of making decisions in conservation.”

amazing honey, we stepped back a few yards from the tree. The honeyguide bird immediately flew down and started eating grubs and beeswax. He had used us to open up his food source for him. Without us, he couldn’t have eaten. And without him, we would’ve never known the honey was there.”

When Dan returned home some six weeks later, he was eager to research the honeyguide on the Internet and, sure enough, a Google search revealed page full of articles and videos. He also learned that some African cultures even go in search of the honeyguide


hammond when they need honey, and have devised a method of summoning the birds. The honeyguide has a particular call reserved only for human interaction, and sounds quite different when communicating with other birds and mammals.

“It was nice to know I hadn’t dreamt the whole thing,” says Dan. “I went back to Tanzania in 2011 and the same thing happened. It’s just fascinating how nature can provide these incredible, symbiotic relationships. I feel very blessed to have been able to witness something that very few people will ever get to experience. It’s just another reason why I love being outdoors as much as I do.”

At his initial graduation from Tanzania’s Mweka Wildlife College in 2009, Sajo Msweve was joined by Dan and Cherie Hammond.



TWF AROUND THE STATE

SHELBY COUNTYTWF attends Bass Pro Shops Memphis opening

TWF was a featured organization

at Bass Pro Shop’s Grand Opening

at the Memphis Pyramid.

DAVIDSON COUNTYTWF holds legislative reception

The Federation conducted an

April 7 reception for lawmakers

at the Nashville Gun Club.

DAVIDSON COUNTYTNSCTP State Championships

The big week for TNSCTP athletes

will be June 23-27 at the Nashville

Gun Club. For more information,

visit www.tnsctp.org.

KNOX COUNTYTWF to sponsor hummingbird festival

The Federation will, for the second

consecutive year, sponsor the Wonder of

Hummingbirds Festival in August. For

details, visit ijams.org.

SHELBY COUNTYMUS wins Hunger Challenge

In April, the Memphis University School

Hunger Challenge club was presented with

the Hunger Bowl trophy for scoring the

most points in the statewide competition.

SEVIER COUNTYHFTH attends FFA Convention

HFTH staff visited with more than 3,000

future farmers at the 2015 Tennessee State

FFA Convention in Gatlinburg March 29–

April 1.

Shelby

Davidson

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is active across the state, from Mountain City to Memphis. Here are some quick looks at things going on in the world of TWF’s youth engagement and wildlife conservation across Tennessee.

Knox

Sevier



TWF AROUND THE STATE WILD GAME RECIPE


Honey mustardWILD TURKEYcooked on a plank

THE MAIN STUFF:

1 boneless wild turkey breast

6-8 strips of raw bacon

1 cooking plank (presoak in water at least 2 hours)

HONEY MUSTARD MARINADE:

2 Tbs Dijon mustard

2 Tbs rum

2 Tbs honey

1 Tbs olive oil

1 tsp coriander

1/2 tsp meat tenderizer (optional)

In a small bowl, mix all marinade ingredients until

thoroughly combined. Place turkey breast in a sealable

bag or casserole dish and cover with marinade.

Marinate 6-24 hours, refrigerated. Place turkey breast

on presoaked plank. Cover with sliced bacon. Grill or

bake in a preheated, 375º oven, 30-45 minutes or until

meat thermometer reads 150º-160º.

A word of caution about planks: Never leave them

unattended on the grill or campfire. Avoid repeatedly

opening the grill cover as this can cause flare-ups and

lost heat.

Planks can be purchased ready-to-use or untreated

wood can be bought at a lumber yard and planks can be

cut to desired size. Any non-resinous wood can be

plank-cooked upon; cedar, alder, oak, maple, cherry,

apple, pecan, and hickory are a some of the more

common wood types.

PLANK PREPARATION:

STEP 1: Soak plank in water or other liquid,

minimum 1 hour, maximum 24 hours.

STEP 2: Preheat plank on grill at medium heat 2-3

minutes, or in a 350º oven 5 minutes.

STEP 3: Brush a light coating of olive oil onto cooking

side of board if desired to prevent food sticking.

PLANK COOKING OPTIONS:

GRILL (DIRECT HEAT): Use the lowest setting on a

gas grill or low charcoal heat. Place plank with food

directly over the heat source. Cook with the lid closed.

Plank should reach heavy smoke in 10-15 minutes.

Use spray bottle filled with water to extinguish any

flame on the plank. This approach promotes a heavy

smoke flavor.

OVEN: Preheat oven and board to 350º. Place plank

with food, directly on oven rack. Position a foil lined

baking sheet on the rack below the plank to catch any

drippings. This method infuses a light smoke essence

into food. Planks can be cleaned and reused.

When cooking this amazingly good-looking wild turkey recipe, be sure to use the lowest setting on your gas or charcoal grill. Photo courtesy of Game&Fish

Courtesy of Game&Fish (www.gameandfishmag.com)


NEW STAFF


TWF held a Feb. 12 open house to celebrate the completion of a 5-month-long renovation project that resulted in a new conference room and several offices on the first floor of the state headquarters building in Nashville.

The Development, Communications, and Finance departments have been relocated to the first floor,

Federation unveils renovations, new conference room

TWF is proud to announce the hiring of three new staff members — John “J.W.” Worthen, Stephen Cawthorn, and Chris Roberts — and the promotions of two others since December 2014.

Worthen joins TWF as Director of the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (TNSCTP) in January. Prior to joining TWF, Worthen served as store manager at Gander Mountain, one of the nation’s largest outdoor products retailers. He holds a degree in business with a focus in marketing from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.

Cawthorn came on board in December 2014 as TNSCTP program coordinator. Before joining TWF, Cawthorn spent three years working in program support for a U.S. government contractor in the Washington, D.C. area. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University and master’s degree from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Tony Lance was promoted to Office Manager and Michael Folk, to Hunter for the Hungry Coordinator.Read about Roberts on Page 8.

Clockwise from top left are: J.W. Worthen, Stephen Cawthorn, Michael Folk, and Tony Lance.

TWF STAFF ADDIT IONS/NEWS

LEFT: The new conference room features a dimensional TWF wall logo. CENTER: TWF board member Anker Browder and Chief Develop-ment Officer Kendall McCarter were on hand to greet visitors. RIGHT: TWF East Tennessee Development Officer Cameron Mitchell, an ac-complished chef, served up an impressive menu for the occassion. Photos by Mark Johnson

leaving the second floor dedicated to program staff, as well as administrative and executive offices.

The new conference room, named in honor of former TWF Board Chair Dr. Jack Gayden, features photography from renowned outdoor photographer Robin Conover and an 18-foot-long, rustic maple table made by TWF Director of Ecological Services Chris Roberts.


IN MEMORY OF

In Memory of Mr. Ray BellMr. Michael Henry of Franklin, TN

In Memory of Mr. Fred T. CarneyMs. Doris C. Carney of Manchester, TN

In Memory of Mr. William (Bill) Kelton CarterMr. and Mrs. Ed and Janet Mills of Knoxville, TN

In Memory of Mr. Robert EppsMr. and Mrs. William Lee of Smyrna, TN

In Memory of Mr. Loyd L. EzellMr. and Mrs. Leonard and Ann Ezell of Chattanooga, TN

In Memory of Mr. C. H. HarrellMr. Bill Cox of Collierville, TN

In Memory of Mr. Donald JenkinsMs. Pauline Jenkins of Newport, TN

In Memory of Mr. John W. LangleyMr. Alan Dorsey of Brooklyn, NY

In Memory of Mr. Doug MooreMr. and Mrs. John and Nancy DeFord of Mequon, WIMr. and Mrs. Robert and Vickie Eddy of Saginaw, MIMs. Shirley Gay of Salt Lake City, UTMr. and Mrs. Gary and Nancy Sebenick of Saginaw, MI

In Memory of Ms. Mary MorrisMr. James Chumney of Jackson, TN

In Memory of Mr. Payne ShanafeltMr. and Mrs. Rodger and Kay Cobb of Fairhope, AL

In Memory of Mr. George W. Smelcer, Jr.Ms. Sara Cornwell of Knoxville, TN

Memorials and HonorariumsIn Memory of Mr. Charles Richard Stanfield, Jr.Friends at Napa Filters Affinia of Gastonia, NC

In Memory of Mr. Robert Eugene Tipton, Jr.The Deborah Dunklin Tipton Charitable Foundation of Memphis, TN

In Memory of Mr. Grant WomackMs. Paula Thomas of Murfreesboro, TN

In Memory of Mr. H.S. WorshamMr. Steven Worsham of Tullahoma, TN

To make a gift in memory or honor of an individual, visit www.tnwf.org/donate.

IN MEMORY AND HONOR

IN HONOR OF

In Honor of Mr. Bolton GaydenMr. Henry Gayden

In Honor of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse HenonMr. and Mrs. Todd and Beth Henon

In Honor of Dr. James R. Appleton, M.D.Dr. Harold A. McCormack of Collierville, TN

In Honor of Mr. Peter SchuttMr. and Mrs. John and Mary Leslie Olson of Tallahassee, FLMr. and Mrs. Joseph Reddoch of Germantown, TNMr. Richard Spore of Eads, TN

In Honor of Dr. John O. “Jack” GaydenMr. and Mrs. Charles Thornburg of Nashville, TN

In Honor of Bryan and ShaylaMr. Jason Truss of Nashville, TN

In Honor of Mr. Mike BensonMr. Ryan Hulton of Cleveland, TN

Tennessee Wildlife Federation300 Orlando Ave.Nashville, TN 37209

Documents

Tennessee Out-Of-Doors Summer 2015