Tennessee Sportsman: Are there WMAs that are overcrowded like Fort Campbell, LBL, Catoosa or are they underutilized like, say, the CNF?

Ratajczak: Public land has some tremendous opportunities. About every single WMA has areas that are underutilized. They are usually the hard-to-reach places that hold monster deer. Cheatham and Yanahli WMAs are prime examples. Other areas like North Cherokee, South Cherokee and the Bridgestone-Firestone WMAs that feature big woods with little road access are good starting points. Every WMA in every region has a diamond-in-the-rough area.

REALIZING OUR PHA OPTIONS
Tennessee Sportsman: Our public hunting opportunities on PHAs have dwindled in recent years with the loss of many paper company lands once associated with the program. Are there any sleepers still out there?

Ratajczak: This is our biggest loss in hunting opportunity in the last 10 years. What you have is land under private ownership, and we are granted the hunting rights. Only two presently remain, and one of the better options is the hunting found at the Ataya PHA along what is known as the elk corridor. Most hunters will remember the Ataya PHA as Tackett Creek WMA as it was called in the 1970s, and the truth is, many still refer to it as such. The area is mostly in Claiborne County with its 40,000 acres and the remaining 12,000 in Campbell County. Seven years ago, the area was placed in the PHA program. The property itself is owned by Wachovia Bank, while Ataya Hardwoods is the company that acquired the timber rights three years ago. Several mining companies work within the PHA, with the majority of the coal mining done by Dean Chamber's Mountainside Coal Company and John Asher's Apollo Fuels. The TWRA is actually looking at purchasing this piece of property and adding it to the WMA program.

Tennessee Sportsman: Are there any PHAs that are underutilized?

Ratajczak: Again, the Ataya PHA property is one such area that has good hunting and some quality deer that is underutilized. The only other current PHA property is the former Graham PHA known now as Heartwood. It features over 7,000 acres in Perry County.

Tennessee Sportsman: Is the trend for us to likely see fewer PHA opportunities or are there additions to the program on the horizon?

Ratajczak: Yes, unfortunately, it's mostly a wash now with the loss of paper company lands.

THE BEST YOUNG SPORTSMAN HUNTS
Tennessee Sportsman: What counties seem to be the big producers for young sportsman hunt success?

Ratajczak: For some reason, Roane County stands out among the young sportsman hunts. The harvest records also show which ones are more consistent. The most consistent counties in Region I are Hardeman, Henry and Weakley for youth hunts. Almost all that lead the way in young sportsman figures are also atop the heap in the statewide harvest. Region II's top youth hunt success is found in Giles, Lincoln and Montgomery counties. Other than Roane County, Region III youth do best in Dekalb and Meigs counties. The best young sportsman success in Region IV is found in Claiborne County and especially Hawkins County.

Tennessee Sportsman: Are the youth hunts on certain WMAs the best options for taking a buck or doe?

Ratajczak: There are some WMAs that feature good youth hunting. The best thing to do is look at the TWRA's 2007 Tennessee Hunting & Trapping Guide to see which WMAs offer young sportsman hunts. There are probably as many WMAs in Region I that feature some sort of young sportsman hunt during the season as those that do not. Region II is similar, with several WMAs in that part of the state hosting youth hunts. Things begin to thin out a little in Region III and Region IV, but there are some youth hunts on a select few WMAs and many allow the use of a bow, rifle, shotgun or muzzleloader. The other good news is that deer taken on some of the WMAs count as bonus deer. Also, many are non-quota hunts and often fall on dates separate from the statewide young sportsman hunt -- increasing a youngster's opportunity even more.

Find more about Tennessee fishing and hunting at: TennesseeSportsmanMag.com