NASHVILLE — Access to Martha Sundquist State Forest in Cocke County via Gulf Road will be temporarily altered to facilitate the first two phases of a bridge replacement project on the forest.
“The three wooden bridges on the forest were in place before we acquired the forest in 2001,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “While the bridges are well maintained, their age and general condition warrant replacement to avoid potential safety issues and reduce expanding repair costs.”
The project will occur in three phases. Workers will replace the wooden bridges with more permanent structures to handle the heavy equipment required for state forest management.
Phase one began Aug. 26 with construction on Bridge 2. During this phase, the public can access the forest via Gulf Road over Bridge 1, turning left immediately onto the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) Road #225101 (also known as Chestnut Ridge Road).
Phase two is expected to begin in mid-September with construction on Bridge 1. While construction on Bridge 1 occurs, the north access to the forest via Gulf Road will be temporarily closed. A map of the area can be found online.
Forest access from the south will not be impacted during phases one and two. The public may continue entering the forest via USFS Roads No. 2250, No. 2251, and No. 225101. These roads can be reached via Exit 7 on I-40 just over the state line in North Carolina.
The third phase of the bridge replacement project is planned for spring 2025. Additional details for that phase will be released early next year.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) purchased the land that would become Martha Sundquist State Forest in 2001 from the International Paper Company, which had owned the property since the 1930s. Today it is surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest on three sides and is composed of mature mountain and cove hardwoods. It is managed under TDF’s compartment plan system to promote long-term forest health, sustainability, and regeneration while supporting the local forest industry.
It is popular for hiking, hunting, fishing, timber production and demonstration of forest practices. In addition, the forest has special provisions for bear hunting.
The Division of Forestry protects Tennessee’s forests by fighting wildfires, coordinating hazard emergency response, providing prescribed fire guidance and contract services, as well as wildland fire training. Additionally, the Division promotes the responsible use of forest resources by assisting landowners, providing quality seedlings, monitoring insects and diseases, improving urban forests, managing state forests, protecting water quality, and collecting forest inventory data. The Division also works to promote primary and secondary forest industries to stimulate the state’s economy. Visit www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests for more information.
Labor Day marks final major summer boating holiday
NASHVILLE — The Labor Day holiday, the final major weekend of the 2024 summer boating season, is Aug. 31-Sept. 2. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency issues a reminder to wear life jackets and for boating in a safe and responsible manner.
The TWRA wants all those who visit the waterways to have an enjoyable time. However, TWRA officers will be on the waterways looking for dangerous boating behavior, such as boating under the influence (BUI) and other reckless operation.
“As you head out to one of our beautiful lakes or rivers this Labor Day weekend, please keep common sense and safety in mind,” said TWRA Lt. Col Matt Majors. “Our waterways are some of the best in the country, and it is our responsibility to keep them safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
Children under age 12 are required to wear a life jacket. In addition, there must also be a life jacket onboard the vessel for each person.
Labor Day is regarded as the third major holiday weekend of the summer boating season. There was one fatality over Memorial Day weekend and two during the Fourth of July holiday period. There have been 16 boating-related fatalities compared to 20 at the same time in 2023.
Support Bays Mountain Park with custom license plate
KINGSPORT — The City of Kingsport is excited to announce more than 600 Bays Mountain Park license plates have been pre-ordered. Now, the city needs your help in reaching the goal of 1,000 pre-orders.
Designed by Cassy Rose, the vivid license plate shows a red and orange sunrise coming over a blue forested Bays Mountain. Once 1,000 license plates have been ordered, the state of Tennessee will authorize the production of the plates. When production is complete (4-6 months), the plates will be shipped to your county clerk’s office, and you will be notified the plate is ready for pickup.
The cost to pre-order a license plate is $35. To pre-order, go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “license plate.” All funds raised will directly benefit improvements, events, projects and the maintenance at Bays Mountain Park.
Learn more on the Bays Mountain Park Association website at www.friendsofbays.org/license-plates.
Tennessee’s dove season opens Sept. 1
NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s dove season opens Sept. 1 at noon (local time) and is one of the state’s most long-standing outdoor sports traditions. This year’s opening day falls on a Sunday over the Labor Day weekend.
Tennessee’s dove season is once again divided into three segments: Sept. 1-Sept. 28; Oct. 12-Nov. 3; and Dec. 8-Jan. 15, 2025. Hunting times, other than opening day, are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Doves are found throughout the various regions in the state, but the highest concentration is in farming areas. The hunter must have a valid state hunting license and Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit at all times while hunting. Hunters must have landowner’s permission to hunt on private land.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency manages dove hunting fields in each of the four regions. For more information and location of fields visit https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/hunting/migratory-birds/dove.html#fields.
The daily bag limit for mourning doves is 15. There is no limit on collared doves. Doves not readily identifiable as collared doves will be considered mourning doves and will count toward the mourning dove daily bag limit. No person shall take migratory game birds by the aid of baiting, or on any baited area. Any auto-loading or repeating shotgun must be incapable of holding more than three shells while being used for dove hunting.
In addition to the start of dove season, the early season for Canada geese, brant, blue, snow and Ross’ Geese (light geese) also starts on Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 22. Refer to the 2024-25 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Guide for daily bag limits.
Other hunting seasons that open Sept. 1 are moorhens, gallinules and rails (Virginia and sora) with a closure on Nov. 9. The Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit is also required to hunt these species.
A short crow hunting season overlaps with the opening week of dove season, Sept. 1-5. It will resume Sept. 13 through Dec. 20 with hunting allowed Friday, Saturday and Sunday only in this segment.
More information on Tennessee’s dove and other migratory birds can be found on the TWRA website (www.tnwildlife.org) in the Hunting section.
The 2024-25 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Guide can also be viewed on the website or the TWRA App. A copy may be obtained at any TWRA regional office or license vendor.
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