Personnel from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will be working deer checking stations at various locations throughout East Tennessee on the opening day of the deer gun season (Nov. 18) for the purpose of collecting data.

Data collected on this date will provide agency wildlife biologists important information on the status of the deer herds in Tennessee.

Antler size and age of bucks, plus the age of does taken on opening day is very important for wildlife biologists in formulating season proposals for future deer hunting seasons. In addition to the age of bucks, length of the main beam, circumference of the main beam, and greatest outside spread measurements will be taken on antlered bucks.

Counties and checking station locations in East Tennessee are:

Anderson County - Adams in Powell

Campbell County - Quick Stop Market & Deli in Caryville

Carter County - Hampton Bait Shop in Hampton

Carter County - Roan Mountain Auto Parts NAPA on Hwy. 19E

Claiborne County - Southern Outdoors in Tazewell

Cocke County - Bybee Market on Hwy. 160

Grainger County - Joyce's Taxidermy in Washburn

Greene County - Creekside Market on Hwy. 70

Greene County - Porters in Baileyton

Hawkins County - Minors Market in Church Hill

Hawkins County - Rock Hill Grocery on Hwy. 70

Hawkins County - Stanley Valley market in Surgoinsville

Jefferson County - Bucks-N-Bass in Dandridge

Johnson County - A to Z Market in Laurel Bloomery

Loudon County - Simmons BP Exit 68 off I-75

Sullivan County - Grocery Barn on Hwy. 394 near Blountville

Sullivan County - The Store on Hwy. 421 Bristol

In addition to collecting data on opening day of the gun season, TWRA personnel worked eleven checking stations across East Tennessee on the opening day of the muzzleloader/archery season collecting data from harvested deer.

University students will be assisting TWRA personnel at the checking stations. This opportunity gives the students, studying wildlife management, hands-on experience that can be a valuable learning tool.

Remember - Ask First Before Hunting on Private Land

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) would like to remind all hunters that Tennessee State Law (TCA 70-4-106) requires all hunters to have permission before hunting on private property.

Every year TWRA Offices across the state receive calls from landowners about people hunting without permission. TWRA personnel will, as in past years, assist landowners who wish to sign a warrant and prosecute hunters for hunting without permission.

The law requires hunters to have permission from the landowner before hunting, whether or not the property is posted. In most cases, verbal permission will work. If the property is properly posted with signs stating hunting by "written permission only", then hunters are required to carry written permission from the landowner.

TWRA urges all hunters to obtain a 2006 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide or go to www.tnwildlife.org and review the information before hunting. Each year, hunters are issued citations for violations that a few minutes of reading could have prevented.

Remember - "Stop Poaching" - in East Tennessee, call 1-800-831-1174 to report game law violations.