JOHN TULLY WMA SEPTEMBER 18 UPDATE

 

 

Just wanted to give you an update on John Tully WMA.  We had an extremely good dove hunt on opening day this year.  We had over 250 adults show up for the two adult fields, and we had close to 50 youth show up for their hunt.  The birds never moved until after 3:30 opening day.  Several hunters left unhappy about the lack of birds flying; however, after 3:30, shooting was non-stop!!

 

This last week we began getting our food plots ready for planting.  We were doing really well this week until we got a big downpour this morning over half of the bottoms.  However, we are hoping to get the three fields on Sam Taylor Road planted sometime tomorrow.  We will have to wait for the ground to dry out on the other side. 

 

We had several hunters take to the water for early wood duck/teal season.  We saw several bands that were killed on the area as always.

 

The corn is looking really good considering how late we planted it.  It looks like we will have plenty of food for waterfowl this winter.  Just a remainder, all hunting on the fig field (including the woods next to the field) and the Fullen North Tract will be allocated to a hand held drawing each Monday night at 6:00 before the weekend hunt at the John Tully WMA Workbase which is located on Lightfoot-Luckett Road and HWY 87.  Hunting will be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only.  

 

Until next time, stay safe in the woods and take a child hunting!!

Chris

SHELBY FOREST/EAGLE LAKE REFUGE SEPTEMBER 18 UPDATE

Sorry it has been so long since the last updates.  We have been extremely busy in the field since August.  This picture was taken earlier in the year at the "bus field" below the check station.  We had a pretty good hunt between this field and the field that was at the Bomprezzi Unit of Eagle Lake Refuge.  We have several people hunting doves and squirrels throughout the area.  It has been really good seeing everybody out hunting again.  Hopefully, mother nature willing, we will be having more fields next year. 

We are in the process of putting in food plots.  We will be planting seed tomorrow morning in all our food plots.  We plant Super Plot and Super Plot Plus from Sanders Seed Company.  It is a blend of wheat, oats, rape, clover, rye, peas, etc.  The deer and turkey seem to really love it!!  We are looking forward to another great crop!!  If you need any food plot seed, give Sanders Seed Company in Ripley, TN to help you with your needs.  The guys are hunters, and they know their stuff!!

Waterfowl Hunting Update:

There have been several questions with regard to waterfowl hunting on Shelby Forest.  So, let's try to clear the fog.  If you did not already know, part of the area is now in the TWRA waterfowl computer draw.  The application can be filled out through the internet at the TWRA website www.tnwildlife.org  The application process started September 10, and it will be open until October 1.  There are nine sites of which 5 are located at Eagle Lake, 1 below the Poplar Tree Levee, and 3 below the swimming pool.  There are NO blinds at these sites.  Each site has a number marked in the area from which you are to hunt from.  Another question that has been asked quite a bit, "Can we waterfowl hunt other areas of the Park?"  Yes you can hunt other areas of the Park; however, you cannot hunt the three areas in the computer draw unless you are drawn.  Water levels at this moment are really low.  Hopefully, we will get some water before hunting season.

Until next time, stay safe in the woods and take a child hunting!!!!!
Chris