JOHN TULLY WMA AUGUST 6 UPDATE

Just wanted to let you know we have started mowing all food plots and roads this week.  We have also mowed parking lots and entrance roads at the dove fields.  We are continuing to band wood ducks through the end of August.  Numbers have been really low compared to year's past for whatever reason.  However, we have caught at least 100 ducks already this year.  We got around 100 acres of corn planted on the Fig Field Unit, but we were unable to plant the lower section due to the water.  We have corn in every place we had last year and plus several more acres.  Between the rainfall amounts and beavers, planting in this lower area has been impossible.  We have stuck 2 tractors and a dozer trying to get corn planted.  We will be doing some bushogging in this area this fall along with some dirt work if mother nature will cooperate.

The 3 dove fields look better this year than they ever have.  Sunflowers are beginning to dry out, and we are looking forward to three really good fields this year.  Remember, we have 1 juvenile only field for the opening day, and 2 adult fields that are all first come, first serve.  My challenge to you is to grab a young person and bring them to the youth field.  We feed them and give out drinks each year.  Most kids average shooting a case of shells on that opening day.  There is fun to be had by all.  We have to remember that these young people are the future of our sport!!!!

SHELBY FOREST/EAGLE LAKE REFUGE AUGUST 6 UPDATE

I just wanted to let you know that road maintenance has been in full swing the last month.  The roads below the checking station are looking much better as of late.  Chainsaws have been running full blast!!!  We have begun mowing roadsides and food plots until the tractor broke down.  We are hoping to have it back running next week sometime, so we can continue.  Sunflower field below the checking station is looking really good.  Plants are beginning to dry out, and we hope to spray them at the end of next week.  I am looking forward to seeing how this field turns out this year.  It may take a couple of years before this field gets used by a lot of birds, but the location is perfect. 

Also, there has been an update to the computerized waterfowl draw for Shelby Forest.  There will be 9 blind sites to which the successful hunters may hunt.  There will be 5 sites on the Eagle Lake Pool off Island 40 Road, 1 site behind the Poplar Tree Lake Levee, and 3 sites below the bluff at the swimming pool.  More information can be found on the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org in the near future. 

Corn has been planted on the refuge for the third time.  Some of the corn looks really good, while others not so much.  I cannot believe I am saying this right now, but we need a rain or two.  It has gotten dry really quickly.  We have around 200 acres of corn planted and approximately 100 acres of a combination of millet and wild sorghum. 

We have also been doing some major work with our drainage ditch (waterway) on the north end of the refuge.  We are hoping to get some fresh gravel put down next week.