Open Rifle Season Begins
This video is no longer available.
JACKSON, Tenn. — It’s the first day of open rifle season for deer hunters. So, Caleb and Alicia Smith, avid hunters for more than 10 years, took to the woods early Saturday morning in hopes of getting the big one. “Favorite time of the year opening day.” Caleb Smith said. “Took vacation off work today, got up about four o clock,” The couple checked in at Latham’s Meat Market in Jackson. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency set up at different stations across West Tennessee to gather data from hunters.The data from 25 counties, will be used to determine deer gender and age. And to monitor CWD, or Chronic Wasting Disease, which can cause the animals to lose weight and die. “She just followed the blood trail and sniffed on out for me,” Caleb Smith said. “I had her hold the legs while I gutted then we put them on the truck.” The store packs the meat for the hunters to take home or they can donate the deer to hunters for the hungry. The meat is then donated to food banks and programs that help the needy. Daniel Stanfield, Big Game Biologist for Region 1 TWRA, says hunting isn’t just a sport. “I was born and raised and grown up as a hunter and if I harvest an animal I’m gonna harvest it to eat to feed my family,” Stanfield said.
