Tennessee

When thinking of Tennessee people usually think of the University of Tennessee, fried catfish, Graceland and the Grand Ol’ Opry. All in all, not a bad thought really. But what really makes Tennessee shine, beyond its beloved son Jack Daniels, are the outdoors, wildlife and the people that enjoy them.

Also known as the Volunteer state, Tennessee’s citizens have taken that to heart and are more than willing to lend a helping hand to neighbors and strangers alike. This can and does come in pretty handy when hunting an unknown area!

Tennessee is the 37th largest state in the United States with a total of 95 counties drawn across 42,169 square miles. The state is not that large, but there are plenty of hunting grounds and 95 different species available to hunt.

Here are some highlights of Tennessee’s harvesting statistics from 2009:

 

Animal	Amount Harvested
White-Tailed Deer	156,590
Black Bears	571
Wild Boar	Slightly less than 300
Wild Turkeys	1,479
Squirrels	Over 800,000
Doves	Over 635,000
Rabbits	Over 365,000

 

More than less the state has a humid, semi-tropical temperature, except in the Appalachian Mountains and also a good amount of time in the Smokey Mountains, where it is usually a little cooler. The summers’ average temperature is roughly 85 degrees to 90 degrees. Winters are usually mild to cool, and usually colder the higher you are in the mountains.  The temperature during the winter ranges from 40 degrees to 60 degrees.

Tennessee is well-known for its terrain. The Smokey Mountains have windy hunting trails that have been used for generations. In addition to the mountains of Tennessee are plains and forests where trophy white-tailed deer can be found as well as huge wild turkeys.

The highest point in Tennessee is located in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. A dome called Clingman’s Dome, which reaches 6,643 feet above sea level and is located in Sevier County, 23 miles south of Gatlinburg, TN. Do not get caught slipping here. The lowest elevation mark is at the Mississippi River in the far west region of Tennessee, an area full of swamps. Bring the insect repellent.

This state has born stars such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis and although you may not strike it rich at Sun City Records like these guys, you’ll be able to walk in their shoes, listen to good country music, eat awesome BBQ, and brag about the 10 pointer you just bagged to friendly people willing to listen.