Cottontail Time in Tennessee: Rabbit hunting traditions and habitat challenges

1 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2020
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
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COTTONTAIL TIME · PUBLIC DEER HUNTING
NUTS ABOUT SQUIRRELS · WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
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Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine Mission Statement:
Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine vows to put forth a publication to
promote the outdoors lifestyle in a positive manner. We will strive to encourage
veteran and novice outdoorsmen, women, kids, and the physically challenged
to participate in the outdoors in a safe and ethical manner. Our publication will
bring positive attention to the wondrous beauty of the world of Nature in the
mid-south.
Field Staff Editors
Owners - Eddie Anderson
Rob Somerville
Kevin Griffith

Publisher - Eddie Anderson
Editor - Rob Somerville
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Johnathan Anderson
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
It is important to introduce today’s youth to the great outdoors in a safe and ethical manner.
Make sure they have fun, like this young hunter looking out through the dog door of a duck blind.
Photo by Cody Rodriquez
PG..................... ARTICLE ............................................................AUTHOR
6 ........................... Cottontail Time in Tennessee............................................Steve McCadams
14 ......................... Nuts About Squirrels .........................................................Rob Somerville
18 ......................... Twas the Night Before Christmas......................................Rob Somerville
22 ........................ A New Role for Women in Agriculture................................Cynthia Cunningham
30 ......................... How Weather can Affect Row Crop Farming.....................Jon Holden/Erin Mallory
36 ......................... The Next Generation of the Great Outdoors.....................Cody Rodriquez
42 ......................... Public Deer Hunting in Tennessee....................................Richard Hines
50 ......................... Cooking on the Wild Side..................................................Rob Somerville
54 ......................... Trophy Room.....................................................................STO
Garry Mason
Walter Wilkerson
Terry Wilkerson
Steve McCadams
Kelley Powers
Shawn Todd
Eddie Brunswick
Larry Self
Cody Rodriquez
Sharon Somerville
Richard Simms
Dana Watford
Buck Gardner
Richard Hines
Ed Lankford
Drew Brooks
John Latham
Will Gregory
John Roberts
Richard Hines
Rob Hurt
Mark Buehler
Richard A. Fagan
Neill McLaurin
Sam Bradshaw
Daryl Ratajczak
Jonathon Holden

I experienced what doc-
tor’s called a mini-stroke last
month. I know that this is a
pretty dramatic beginning to
my editorial this issue, but it
happened and it really opened
my eyes. The medical staff told
me that this type of stroke is
called a “warning shot” and it
was caused by high blood pres-
sure. I was instructed to reduce
stress in my life, eat healthi-
er, get more exercise and take
my prescribed medicine daily.
I have since recovered nearly
100% physically, but boy was it
a wake-up call for me mentally.
I realized that there was
so much I could have missed
if things had gone bad on me.
I would miss my grandkids
growing up, as well as being
there for my two sons, my
loving wife, my family and
my friends. I know now that
I am not ready to walk down
that final trail yet. I want to
be a better husband, father,
friend and person in general.
I want to appreciate all that
I have experienced. I want to
feel the bend of my fishing
pole, as a bass dances across
a sunset lit pond, and watch
a majestic buck walk silently
through the woods again. All
these thoughts fast forward-
ed through my mind as I was
air lifted to the hospital. I re-
alize now that it was just not
my time yet. I also know now
that this was my wake up call.
I did a lot of soul search-
ing and praying lately … at
least more than usual. I decid-
ed to use this editorial format
to share this experience with
our readers. Maybe it will en-
courage some of you to take
the time to smell the prover-
bial flowers along the way in
your own lives.
During this month of
Thanksgiving, I challenge all
of you reading this to tell ev-
eryone you care about that you
love them. Let’s be kinder to
strangers and let old grudg-
es die. Enjoy life to the full-
est, as no one ever knows how
much time they have left on
this earth. Get right with God,
so there will be no doubt where
you will go when you leave
your earthly vessel.
I want to publicly thank
everyone who prayed for me,
called, messaged and visited,
showing me they cared. I am
truly blessed to have so many
friends. I want to thank all of
our readers and especially our
advertisers, who make it possi-
ble for you to receive our mag-
azine free of charge.
I never in a million years
thought that I would have a
stroke. I have always been
blessed with good health, so
I ask you to think about it. I
hope it never does, but this
could happen to any of us.
Don’t take anything for grant-
ed. Consider everyday a gift
and enjoy life!
See ya,
Rob
From the Desk of Rob S omer v ille
Letter from the Editor

Every year, on the last day
of the Volunteer State’s rabbit
season, when the door shuts on
the pen it sort of has a unique
squeak to it. Rusty hinges seem
to sing a depressed song and
close the books on yet another
season where buddies and bea-
gles must wait several months
before tailgates drop and the fun
and fellowship resumes.
The hour to resurrect the
black and tan bundles of joy has
arrived. Early November sig-
nals the start of small game sea-
sons across Tennessee and rab-
bit hunters are anxious to get
back in the field and hear that
familiar song from a four legged,
tail-wagging choir.
There’s nothing like hearing
the first jump dog yelp, setting
the stage for the season’s first
race. An elusive swamp rabbit
soon breaks out of the brush on
the run, luring the pack to his
trail across the wet bottom and
sloughs of muck and sinkholes.
Starting the season off in
pursuit of a smart swamp rabbit
who knows the value of home
court advantage quickly puts all
the hunters on alert, as the dogs
pool their talents and sniff out
his escape route through briars
and puddles or perhaps across a
running creek.
As the show begins smiles
creep up on everyone’s face, a
confirmation of joy and enthu-
siasm on being here at this mo-
ment in time as beneficiaries of a
southern song being sung by the
beagle brigade. All the dogs in
the pack have one prey in mind,
but each has an individual voice,
which identifies him or her apart
from the clan to the owner of
the pack.
On the minds of every rab-
bit hunter across the region is
wonder of whether or not rabbit
numbers have rebounded. Since
last season have the cottontails
managed to increase in num-
bers? Have the challenges of hab-
itat loss and increased predators
continued to plague the plight of
small game, such as both rabbits
and quail?
The reality of shrinking hunt-
ing opportunities has been a long
time issue for rabbit hunters.
Farms that once were overgrown
with vegetation, providing abun-
dant cover along fencerows and
ditch banks, continue to vanish.
Thickets that once harbored
ample refuge for rabbits to hide
from hawks or coyotes have been
cleaned up, as the threat of a
bulldozer’s blade or a trackhoe’s
bucket are devastating at times.
While beneficial to the farmer
trying to maximize this acreage
for more tillable acres, the by-
product is often severe habitat
loss for various forms of wildlife,
mainly rabbits and quail.
Rabbits often learn to adapt.
Sometimes bulldozer piles offer
refuge to rabbits when a field or
gully has been cleaned up, but in
reality it often concentrates the
COTTONTAIL
TIME
IN TENNESSEEBy Steve McCadams

game into a much smaller area.
Predators know that too, so it
makes their hunt easier.
In today’s world modern
technology has given landown-
ers powerful tools to rearrange
the countryside in a short period
of time. Areas that were once too
wet for access are easily reached
with today’s big machinery and
draining the swamp has never
been easier.
“In the area where we hunt
in Northwest Tennessee the rab-
bit population has remained fair-
ly static over the past two de-
cades,” commented Joe Hill of
Union City. “Certainly the rabbit
numbers are nowhere what they
were when I first started hunting
60 plus years ago, but I attribute
this to loss of habitat.”
“When we find briars, fence
rows with heavy vegetation like
honeysuckle and ditches that
provide protection, we’ll gener-
ally find some cottontails. But,
changes in agricultural practic-
es have eliminated a lot of this
habitat. Farming is financially
marginal at best; thus necessitat-
ing the maximum acreage being
in production for economic sur-
vival, especially with the incon-
sistent commodity prices,” con-
tinued Hill.
“I think the USDA has con-
ducted demonstration projects
that indicate with proper habi-
tat the quail and rabbit popula-
tions rebound. Obviously, the
habitat found in swamps and
wetlands is not conducive to
farming and that is why swamp
rabbits tend to prosper. I have
heard of no other plausible ex-
planation for the disparity in the
swamp and hill rabbit popula-
tions,” he continued when asked
about hill rabbits versus swamp
rabbit numbers.
“Many think if the next farm
bill could expand incentives to
farmers to protect upland game
habitat, it would be a very sig-
nificant step in maintaining and
maybe even expanding the pop-
ulations of quail and rabbits.
Holding a hefty swamp rabbit taken in the Hatchie River bottom is
Crockett Goode, of Dresden. Photo by Steve McCadams

A few rabbits on the tailgate after a good afternoon hunt! {L to R} Pictured here are Joe Hill of Union
City, John David Cowan of Yorkville, and the late Larry Hicks of Yorkville.
Photo by Steve McCadams

Here are a couple of cottontails taken with a 28-gauge, after some awesome races across the hills and
swamps of West Tennessee.

Also, the pretty steep decline in
rabbit hunters could be stopped
if the resource was more avail-
able. It’s a great sport that we
need to preserve, while working
with our agricultural communi-
ty where the ultimate solution is
likely to rest.”
Mother Nature has a way of
reclaiming her turf at times. In
wet years - bushes, briars and
saplings regenerate. A lowland
area or neglected ditch bank or
gully can quickly regrow cover,
recreating excellent habitat for
rabbits to recover their losses.
Today’s rabbit hunters are
almost divided into two sepa-
rate camps: those who target hill
rabbits and those who target the
big swampers, which are known
to play by a different rule book!
There are more than a few
modern day rabbit hunters that
opt to choose swamp rabbits as
their choice. They like the big
hefty rabbits to eat, but the thrill
of chasing the elusive swamper
down backwoods creeks and
marshes where the wise ole’ hare
has been known to swim across a
stream and fool even the smart-
est beagles is yet another reason.
Some hunters are of the opin-
ion that swamp rabbits have sur-
vived well - at least to some de-
gree - because of their wit and
wisdom. In the swamps they’ve
learned to evade coyotes and
foxes. There they can dodge
hawks and owls better too.
Unlike hill rabbits the ter-
rain of the marshes and swamps
doesn’t change much when com-
pared to hillsides where agricul-
tural has at times wiped out rab-
bit populations in certain areas.
Predators have increased
in awareness and gained more
skill in their hunting techniques
for catching rabbits too. Ask
any farmer and he will tell you
that hawks or coyotes have mas-
tered the art of following trac-
tors or combines, especially at
harvest time when wildlife has
been pushed to the last small
block of standing corn or soy-
beans and milo.
The critters know the game
is hiding in the last patch of cov-
er and that machinery sooner or
later will flush the rabbits and
quail from their diminished ref-
uge. Once the wildlife hits the
open field in an attempt to flee is
when predators seize the oppor-
tunity! Predation then becomes
even more of a factor.
Returning to areas where
Joe Hill of Union City, Tennessee shows off a cottontail to the beagle
brigade after a long race over hills and hollows.

hunting pressure is part of the
equation is yet another factor in
the decline of rabbit populations
in some sectors. Public hunting
acreage such as wildlife manage-
ment areas is a prime example.
Scores of sportsmen today
just do not have enough plac-
es to hunt and pursue small
game. They quickly turn to pub-
lic hunting venues, competing
with legions of other hunters
after the same prey. The bot-
tom line is an area can only sup-
port a limited amount of hunt-
ing pressure before the game is
gone or diminished to the point
rebounding numbers are just
not sufficient to sustain quality
reproduction.
Any acreage, be it a private
farm, public hunting area or
backwoods swamp has a carry-
ing capacity. A combination of
factors can alter that balance to
the point it no longer supports
a viable population for a qual-
ity hunt.
Wise are the hunters of yes-
teryear that learned not to over-
shoot a covey of birds down so
low they couldn’t pair off and
reproduce, or overhunt an area
once full of rabbits to the point
hardly any were left to help sus-
tain the local population.
Unfortunately, there are some
folks who haven’t learned or
practiced that conservation tool
which their fathers and grand-
fathers understood. While their
ancestors may not have been
biologists or trained wildlife
managers they applied common
sense and knew a thing or two
about game management!
And so it goes that another
small game season returns to the
calendar where hunters hope for
the best. The states long and lib-
eral season opens the first Satur-
day in November each year and
runs all the way to the last day
of February. Daily bag limit will
be five as it has been for decades.
Let the races begin!
Editor’s Note: Steve McCadams is
an outdoor writer and profession-
al guide from Paris, Tennessee.
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Most adult hunters got their
first taste of actual shooting at
wild game in the squirrel woods.
Whether it began with a .22 ri-
fle or a twenty-gauge shotgun,
this sport is how many of us cut
our teeth in hunting. Maybe its
attraction is due to the sport al-
lowing an adult and child to sit
side-by-side under the shade of
a sprawling hickory or oak tree,
enjoying the sights of the great
outdoors in a safe environment.
But the solid “thud” of a squir-
rel hitting the forest floor, close-
ly followed by the excited chat-
ter of a successful child on their
first hunt probably has more to
do with this reasoning than any-
thing else.
Fox Squirrels versus
Gray Squirrels
The Volunteer State has two
sub species of squirrels - the gray
and the fox. The difference be-
tween the two is like night and
day. The fox squirrel is larger in
its adult stage and can vary in col-
or. You may see a brown, black
or red fox squirrel. The black col-
oration is to me the rarest and
makes the prettiest mount. Many
fox squirrels will have white spots
on their nose or face. The fox sub
species is usually larger, and has
a more lush coat and a fuller tail
than its cousin.
The gray squirrel, on the oth-
er hand, is smaller. It has a sparse
coat and tail and is much fast-
er and more agile than its larg-
er cousin. I have seen grays leap
across six-foot open expanses of
air between trees, only to land
safely on a branch less than ¼ in.
in diameter.
SquirrelsAboutNuts
By Rob Somerville
Many southern hunters “cut their teeth” squirrel hunting as a child.
Photo by Rob Somerville

Many southern hunters “cut their teeth” squirrel hunting as a child.

My original home town of
Kenton, Tennessee has a unique
breed of the hybrid gray squir-
rels. They are white as snow and
people travel many miles to view
them. They are plentiful and the
good folks of Kenton have adopt-
ed them as their trademark - thus
the name, “Home of the White
Squirrels”. Hunters should take
note though. There is a stiff fine
for anyone caught trying to harm
one of this cities adopted pets. I
have heard many theories as to
why these white squirrels are so
dominant in Kenton. Many be-
lieve that they are more aggres-
sive than normal-colored grays
and fox squirrels, and that they
simply run them off.
Locate the Early Season
Food Source
Hunting squirrels on open-
ing day can be frustrating if you
don’t know where to begin. The
trees have full branches of leaves
that allow these little pranksters
to stay virtually hidden from our
view. The acorns, which many
hunters associate with a squirrel’s
main diet, are not ripened yet. In
my opinion, that is an advantage
instead of a disadvantage. If they
are not feeding on acorns, they
are probably cutting on hicko-
ry nuts. Hickory trees are no-
where near as plentiful as oaks
in most wooded areas. But if you
find a few hickory trees dropping
during a pre-season scouting for-
ay, you are in business.
As you approach the first tree
you decide to hunt in the pre-
dawn of opening morning, use
stealth. Squirrels have an excel-
lent sense of hearing, and when
spooked by an intrusive sound,
can disappear as if by the com-
mand of a magician’s wand. Do
not sit down directly under the
tree you are planning to hunt.
Find another tree that gives you
the best view through the lower
foliage and upper canopy of the
predetermined tree. Sit quiet-
ly and in full camouflage, mov-
ing only your eyes. As daylight
overtakes darkness, you will more
than likely begin to see some of
the upper boughs of surrounding
trees sway under the weight of
the squirrels bodies as they leave
their den tree to breakfast on an
early morning treat of hickory
nuts.
Patience is Virtue
Wait for an easy shot. You
should also be aware that if there
are no other hickory trees in the
area, several squirrels will be ar-
riving before long. When you feel
the time is right, take your first
Here is a nice brace of squirrels the author shot one morning, without ever moving from his original spot.
Patience pays off! Photo by Rob Somerville

shot. Hopefully you will see the
squirrel fall and hear the thud
of its body hit the ground. Here
is where most rookie “squirrel
snatchers” make a mistake. They
want to rush right over and col-
lect their harvest. The best tactic
to take is to visually mark exact-
ly where your squirrel fell with
you eyes, and stay where you
are – sitting as still as a statue.
Chances are that there will be
several squirrels in the same tree,
which you weren’t even aware of.
If one slips around the trunk to
see where his buddy went, take
your shot, mark where the sec-
ond squirrel fell and repeat the
process.
Even if the squirrels were ner-
vous that day and scattered in
various directions for the safe-
ty of other trees, the woods will
eventually quiet down. If you ha-
ven’t been walking around, mak-
ing noise and allowing yourself
to be seen, they will usually come
back to the feed tree. It is possi-
ble to take your entire limit from
a dropping hickory tree without
ever changing locations.
Taking Care of your Harvest
The hunt is over. Now you
have a decision to make. May-
be you want to get that big, red
fox squirrel mounted, or perhaps
you have visions of squirrel and
dumplings for supper. The qual-
ity of your taxidermy trophy or
your meal now depends on how
you take care of the harvested
game.
If you are planning to eat
the squirrels, immediately dress
them. Rinse them well with cold
water and let them soak in a large
bowl of salt water in your refrig-
erator over night prior to prepar-
ing your favorite squirrel dish.
If you want to get your tro-
phy mounted, place the squirrel
in a plastic garbage bag. Work
the air out of the bag and lay the
squirrel in a flat position in your
deep-freeze until you can bring it
to your taxidermist.
Summary:
Squirrel hunting is a Tennes-
see tradition. It is a sport that can
include kids as well as senior cit-
izens, who still love to hunt but
can’t get around like they used
to. I hope these tips help you
have a successful squirrel sea-
son. Don’t forget to bring plen-
ty of mosquito spray along. Get
out and get after the acrobat of
the woods. You too may become,
“nuts about squirrel hunting”.
See ya,
Rob.
There are many differences between the gray {left} and fox {right} squirrel.

Now listen my friends and you shall hear,
Of a Christmas tale so strange and so rare.
Twas the day before Christmas, a cold, snowy day you see,
An hour before sunrise, found me perched high in a tree.
I had one more buck tag to fill for this year,
As I sat bundled in all the warm clothes I could wear.
All of a sudden I saw such a strange and wondrous sight,
Twas a bright red light, soaring high through the night.
As I sat and pondered as to what I just saw,
A tremendous noise broke the silence and filled me with awe.
Limbs crashed and rained down, as the woods seemed to shatter,
And I woke from my stupor at this boisterous clatter.
Bodies were crashing, and running askew,
Was it a whole deer herd? Well, it was more than a few.
I slipped quietly from my stand, a few steps had I taken,
Is that sleigh bells I hear? No, I must be mistaken.
As daylight arose, I crossed my fingers for luck,
Peeking around a huge oak tree I spied a trophy buck.
My legs turned to Jell-O, and I shivered and shook,
At the chance of this wallhanger buck, which would make record book.
I forced myself to steady and raised my rifle to aim,
When from over my shoulder a cheerful voice came.
It said, “Hold on a minute Rob, and listen to me.
And in my voice I believe some logic you’ll see.
I’ve got no problem at all with hunting, my friend,
But if you shoot this animal, then Christmas might end.
He’s not a whitetail deer, of that you should know.”
And when I looked through my scope, I saw the deer’s nose was aglow.
“Is it Rudolph?” I asked with my voice all a stammer,
And the voice simply said yes, hitting home like a hammer.
So I turned to the voice and said, “Well, then you must be ….. ,”
But I was cut off with a wink, a Ho-Ho, and Tee-Hee.
“That’s right”, said the old man, clothed in red and in white,
So chubby and happy, with pink cheeks shining so bright.
“I’m Santa Claus, who some call Saint Nick,
And I’ve got a big problem. You see, Rudolph is sick.”
I stepped back on to something, and heard a honking noise,
It was a bike horn and looking around, I saw thousands of toys.
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
By Rob Somerville
My friends, the following is a true story about what happened to me, while deer
hunting last Christmas Eve. Believe it or not!

I glanced up in a tree, and saw a sleigh upside down,
It was all broken up, its with presents scattered on the ground.
As Rudolph walked up and licked Santa’s hand,
I saw a tears rununning down the cheeks of the fat man.
He said, “Well Rudy, we’re just a couple of old fools.
We’ve outlived our uses, and we’ve bent all the rules.
I guess there’s going to be some sad girls and boys,
Who behaved all year, but still won’t get any toys.”
I sat down on a stump, barely blinking back my tears,
As memories filled me, from my younger Christmas years.
When I, as a boy, crawled in to my bed,
And visions of presents filled my young head.
But what could I do, no magic had I,
Why I can barely run, let alone could I fly.
I told Santa, “You know, I’d help you if I could,
If I knew what to do, I certainly would.”
So I stared down at my boots, feeling so useless and weak,
Then suddenly felt a wet nose, as It nuzzled my cheek.
It was Rudolph the red, who nudged me to stand,
And he lit up his nose, as he tugged at my hand.
“It seems Rudy likes you,” said the fat man in red,
“And it just might work, Rudolph,” with a wink, Santa said.
I said, “No, not me, I’m just an ordinary man”,
But Santa smiled at me and said, “Rob, if you believe, then you can.”
The next thing I knew, my four-wheeler was packed,
With candy canes, teddy bears, and presents all stacked.
Rudolph was hooked up to my Yamaha’s front-end winch,
Santa pulled out some Skoal and thumbed out a pinch.
He sprinkled the dust on me and my ride,
Saying, “This magic dust will give you the power to glide.
Though Rudolph is too old to pull such a load,
His bright red beacon will light up your road.”
To make sure I wasn’t dreaming, I pinched myself hard,
Thinking that we must look like the very strangest Christmas card.
Santa jumped up behind me, and gave the throttle a tweak,
And I thanked my Grizzly’s heavy-duty shocks, as they let out a shriek.
We tore out through the woods, and soared high through the sky,
Over mountains and valleys, so far and so high.
The rest of the night, it went by like a blur,
It passed by in fast motion, with a dizzying whir.
We went down through the chimneys of millions of houses,
We awoke not a soul, not even the mouses.
We ate milk and cookies; I felt my belly would pop,
And at the end of it all, I just wanted to drop.

“Here’s the last stop, Rob”, I heard Santa say,
as I stepped on to the roof, and said, “What a day!”
We had arrived at my own house; I was sure ready for bed,
So I hugged old Saint Nick, all clothed in charcoal stained red.
He said, “There’s just one more thing, before you take leave,
I have one more special gift, and it’s yours to receive.”
He handed me a box, wrapped in paper and bow,
It read, “Do not open, until tomorrow.”
He told me he loved me, and I hugged Rudolph’s neck,
I bent over to Santa, and gave his cheek a quick peck.
“I’ll never forget you Santa, please call me next year,
And we’ll do this again, me, you, and that deer.”
The next morning I woke up early and rushed to the tree like a kid,
To see what could be my present, which under the paper were hid.
I tore it apart, and eyed it with glee,
It was a photo of Santa, and Rudolph, and me.
Santa is magic, and Christmas is too,
It’s not just for kids, but also for you.
Keep Christ in Christmas, for his birth is the reason,
That we celebrate with gifts, during this glorious season.
I hope your holidays, are filled with peace, love, and light.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

From bookkeeping and
care giving, to plowing and
harvesting, women have had
a big impact on the Agricul-
ture Industry. Traditionally,
women were responsible for
doing housework and feeding
the family. During WWII the
wives of farmers endured more
challenges than ever. Their ef-
forts to feed their fighting men
changed an industry forever.
Just as the depression was
coming to an end; the war was
beginning. According to The
Bureau of Agriculture Econom-
ics, it was reported that over
two million men left their ag-
riculture jobs to work in the
war industry. The wives and
children gladly accepted the
responsibilities of the farm,
but the farm labor shortage
demanded that the work be
outsourced.
The farm labor crisis brought
women from the Woman’s Na-
tional Farm and Gardening As-
sociation together to reestablish
the Woman’s Land Army of
America (WLAA) in 1940. The
British Woman’s Land Army
was first established in 1917.
This organization was estab-
lished after the British Land
Army’s success during the first
world war. Women recruited
other women and older teens
to fight the war on agriculture.
Florence Hall, Chief of WLA,
worked closely with many agri-
culture colleges and Extension
Services. They developed plans
and procedures for the Emer-
gency Farm Labor Program.
By 1942, women were able
to attend programs that trained
farm labor. Universities offered
programs in vegetable produc-
tion, poultry, and dairy. Wom-
en that lived in the city were
invited to stay at camps and
farms to attend the training.
Women that lived at home used
carpools or rode buses. Emer-
gency farmworkers were given
“on-the-job” training to speed
up the process. The 1942 har-
vest season was one of the best
during that era. The Women’s
Land Army finally gained the
support of Secretary of Agricul-
ture, Claude R. Wickard.
The success of the 1942 sea-
son had more than just Wick-
ard’s good graces. The pro-
grams were being advertised on
national radio. Member of the
WLA were setting up booths at
A NEW ROLE
IN AGRICULTURE
FOR WOMEN
By Cynthia Cunningham

department stores, just trying
to engage more women in the
movement. Forty-three states
moved forward, using the train-
ing programs within the next
year. In 1943, 250,000 women
were placed in farm labor jobs.
The following year the num-
ber would grow to 800,000.
Farm labor was just the begin-
ning for women in Agriculture.
Ann Anderson would see some
these challenges throughout her
lifetime.
Ann Anderson was raised
on a farm in Dyersburg, Ten-
nessee. Her family focused on
livestock and row crop farm-
ing. From the beginning she
and her sister were expect-
ed to complete the same tasks
as her brother. Her mother
also helped with the chores
that farming required. Ann’s
dad ran the operation with his
two brothers, and their fami-
lies. Ann’s mother was vital to
the operations on their farm.
She often helped in the day to
day operations. She would also
keep the household afloat. She
maintained a vegetable gar-
den to help sustain the fami-
ly, she cooked often and took
lunch to the field. Her moth-
er loved the life that she and
her children had. The advice
that Ann’s mom would always
give is, “Never marry a farmer.”
Despite that, Ann married her
high school sweetheart, Eddie
Anderson.
Eddie Anderson is a 2nd
generation farmer, also from
Dyersburg. After high school
he and Ann attended the Uni-
versity of Tennessee at Martin
to obtain degrees in agricul-
ture. During his second year,
The Vietnam War had start-
ed, and young men were being
drafted. Eddie enlisted in the
National Guard for one year.
Ann helped with her father’s
When a husband and wife are in the business of agriculture, you could say that the woman is also
married to farming. This is Virginia, Eddie and Ann Anderson’s daughter, in her wedding dress on a
John Deere tractor.

farm while he was away. Eddie
and Ann married in 1967. They
lived and worked on his family
farm next to Eddie’s parents.
When they first began farm-
ing, Ann took on the tradition-
al task as a farmer’s wife. She
helped out in any way that she
could. She kept the books and
looked after the fields with
him. She and her mother-in-
law gardened and prepared veg-
etables. She enjoyed canning
and spending time on the farm
with their children. They have
a son that works with Eddie on
the farm, and daughter that is
learning her trade on the farm.
Their daughter – Virginia,
attended the University of the
Tennessee at Knoxville for two
years, and then transferred to
Martin. She lived in Nashville
with her husband and children
for six years. She worked as a
paralegal in Nashville. Recent-
ly, she has moved back home
to work on the farm. This in-
cludes the bookkeeping tasks,
but it doesn’t stop there. Vir-
ginia does field work and rais-
es her children. Her daughter’s
new role in farming changes
Ann’s role. She now spends
more time on the home front.
The effects of COVID-19 have
worried she and Eddie, but the
year in looking up. This year
she felt inspired to get her gar-
den going again and preparing
more fresh meals than she has
ever. She prepares three meals a
day, and cares for many of her
younger grandchildren.
Ann has been able to witness
some of the biggest changes the
industry. She was not able to
participate in the Future Farm-
Eddie and Ann Anderson are pictured here with their grandchildren. Both are second generation farmers
and Miss Ann comes from a Century Farm.

ers of America Association, but
has been able to see her daugh-
ters and granddaughters all be
involved in the organization.
The climate change has affect-
ed the harvesting and planting
periods. In the past, vacations
would be easier to plan into
the month of July. Now they
only see breaks in January and
February.
Small farms like this need
support from the community.
The Anderson’s have done a
great job of staying involved.
They help in whatever ways
they can for the county fair.
They also host a “Santa Par-
ty” each year. Each year the
farm participates in the coun-
ty’s agriculture day to continue
to educate young minds about
farming. Although change is
inevitable, the Anderson’s have
kept their values and beliefs in-
tact throughout the years.
“Farming comes with good
years and bad years, but I
wouldn’t change anything. We
have a good life and we enjoy
what we do!” says Ann.
To date, more than thirty
percent of United States farm-
ers are women, and even more
women are engaging in other
outlets of agriculture. The in-
novations and technology de-
velopment have created more
jobs in the industry. Univer-
sities have expanded the pro-
grams they offer to be more
inclusive of every aspect of
agriculture, helping men and
women to advance agriculture.
These times … they are a
changing!
Editor’s Note: Cynthia Cunning-
ham is an Agriculture Commu-
nications student at the Univer-
sity of Tennessee at Martin.

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Have you ever imagined
the difficulties that weather can
bring to row crop farming? There
are many contributing factors to
how weather can impact row
crop farming that people do not
recognize. With today’s growing
population, farmers often have
to combat many hardships that
weather brings, in order to cre-
ate a steady food supply. Nat-
ural disasters also bring uncer-
tainty and bring great concern
to those that harvest the world’s
food supply. Furthermore, daily
and yearly changes in season can
also bring changes to row crop
farming annually, causing many
other issues. Weather plays a
major part in the stability and
prosperity of row crop farming
every day, no matter how minor
it may be. Climate change refers
to any significant change in the
Flash flooding, or lots of rainfall over an extended period of time, is not good for row crops.
Photo by Jonathan Holden
By Jon Holden & Erin Mallory

measures of climate lasting for
an extended period of time. In
other words, climate change in-
cludes major changes in tem-
perature, precipitation, or wind
patterns, among other effects,
that occur over several decades
or longer.
By the year 2050, the popu-
lation is estimated to rise from
7.7 billion to 9.7 billion. With a
constantly growing population,
farmers are having to make great
advancements in how they care
for crops in order to create a
stable yield each and every year.
One of the greatest burdens for
farmers is the weather conditions
that can impact their row crops.
Unexpected weather issues can
cause crop yields to become low-
er; depending on the severity and
damage caused. With a constant-
ly booming population, weath-
er could greatly impact how we
feed the world for future gener-
ations. This is causing farmers
to reevaluate how they grow and
harvest their crops. Weather
conditions have the possibility
to make or break farmers’ crop
yields for the year. As simple as
the concept of weather can be,
it plays a great role in our daily
lives, but especially in farmers’
lives, where they work solely to
provide for the world.
With weather, there comes
natural disasters, which can
greatly influence the success of
crops from year to year. Farming
often is most negatively impact-
ed by natural disasters annually.
For example, flooding in certain
areas can ruin the land where
farmers harvest their largest crop
yields; water damage overtakes
and submerges the plants, caus-
ing them to not be able to grow
any further. In another instance,
droughts leave farmers with very
little options of how to pro-
duce bountiful crop yields if
the soil they have does not have
enough water in order to aid in
the plants’ growth. Wildfires are
another type of natural disaster,
and when in occurrence, damage
the land around the fire, causing
most living organisms to dimin-
ish and not be able to repopu-
late for a long period of time.
Tornadoes, while not contain-
ing any time of fire, can cause
major destruction to crop fields
and can possibly destroy entire
farming operations. Depending
on the location of a farming op-
eration, there is an endless list
Some farmers believe in the greenhouse effect and some do not. This is the scientific depiction.

of options of natural disasters
that could impact that particu-
lar area. Farmers that partake in
row crop farming have to take in
the possibilities that their crops
could be damaged by a natural
disaster at any given time and
plan accordingly.
Daily and yearly changes of
weather also contribute highly to
the success of row crop farming
and their yield numbers. For ex-
ample, a lack of excess amount
in precipitation can influence the
growth rate of crops due to the
lack, or excess, in amounts of
water that are taken in. Yearly
changes in temperature can im-
pact how well crops do as well.
Cold fronts can freeze crops if
the temperature drops sudden-
ly without warning; this leads
to crop damage and is hard to
correct once it happens. On the
other hand, if the temperature
exceeds certain levels, crops may
shrivel if the heat is not combat-
ted by an adequate water source.
The length of growing seasons
is also an issue that affects row
crop farmers yearly. Depending
on the length of the growing sea-
son, farmers will have to adjust
when they plant their crops and
decide when they think it is best
to harvest their crops. Shorter
growing seasons can cause is-
sues for some farmers, depend-
ing on other factors of that sea-
son. Weather changes daily will
also be a significant factor on
the success of row crop farming.
Global warming refers to the
recent and ongoing rise in global
average temperature near Earth’s
surface. It is caused mostly by
increasing concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the atmo-
sphere. Global warming is caus-
ing climate patterns to change.
However, global warming itself
represents only one aspect of
climate change. Ozone is a gas
that occurs both in the Earth’s
upper atmosphere and at ground
level. Ozone can be “good” or
“bad” for people’s health and
for the environment, depend-
ing on its location in the atmo-
sphere. Greenhouse gases con-
tribute to the greenhouse effect,
an effect that occurs when green-
house gases absorb energy and
trap heat in the Earth’s surface.
Greenhouse gases are essential
to keeping our planet warm but
too many greenhouse gases con-
centrated in the atmosphere can
increase global temperatures.
Changes in ozone, greenhouse
gases and climate change affect
agricultural producers greatly
Row crops need rain for them to grow. Severe drought will stunt the growth and the amount and quality
of grain on the plants. Photo by Jonathan Holden

because agriculture and fisheries
depend on specific climate condi-
tions. Temperature changes can
cause habitat ranges and crop
planting dates to shift. Droughts
and floods due to climate change
may hinder farming practices.
To combat the Global warming
effects, we can limit waste, lim-
it the amount of fossil fuel used
and also we can plant more trees.
All of these actions will limit the
greenhouse gasses.
To conclude, weather cond-
tions play a very important role
in the success of row crop farm-
ing. With a continuously grow-
ing population, farmers are hav-
ing to combat the hardships that
weather plays when deciding how
they will harvest enough crops to
fuel our growing world. Natu-
ral disasters also bring unspeak-
able damage and hardships to
farmers around the world. Dai-
ly and yearly changes in weather
will always bring uncertainty to
farmers when it comes to their
operations. As simple as weath-
er may seem, it can bring great
prosperity or heavy hardships to
the farmers of the world.
During the strong winds from tornadoes or hurricanes, crops are blown over and this makes it hard for
the farmers too, if that is even possible. Photo by Jonathan Holden
Erin Mallory is a student at Dres-
den High School, President of the
Dresden FFA, and the secretary
of the West Tennessee regional
officer team.
Editor’s Note: Jonathan Holden is
an Agriculture Education Teach-
er at Dresden High School. His
background is in Agriculture and
Animal Science.

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The future of any sport, or-
ganization or pastime is to get
young, energetic people to fall
in love with what you are trying
to get them to pursue. Hunt-
ing and fishing fall into this ex-
act same category. To help con-
serve our wildlife and our land,
we have to get young men and
women involved in the great
outdoors. Many of my childhood
memories revolve around base-
ball and football. My most pre-
cious memories are those that
were made while on the water
or in the woods. I’m sure most
of you are the same and have
some wonderful memories of
your first duck, deer, or crap-
pie. Now, try to imagine your
life without those memories that
were made outdoors with family
and friends. My life would not be
anything like it is today if I had
not grown up spending time out-
doors and learning about life the
way you learn when you spend
quality time in nature.
Hunting and fishing is not
only fun for kids, but it also
teaches them so many life les-
sons. Youth in the outdoors can
learn many traits to help them in
life such as patience, determina-
tion, and perseverance. Nothing
in this world can teach patience
like a slow day of fishing!
Determination may be taught
by trying to trap a wary, old coy-
ote. Perseverance may play a role
in moving a hanging deer stand
two or three times until you fi-
nally get it in the right spot to get
a shot a monster whitetail buck!
Anytime you take a kid into the
outdoors they learn so many new
things and they may not even re-
alize it at the time. All they know
is that they are enjoying them-
selves and having fun.
Let’s talk some about get-
ting kids interested in the out-
doors. One of the best ways to
get a child hooked on the out-
doors is to take them bluegill
fishing. Bluegill fishing for many
is the gateway to the great out-
doors. It can be fast paced and
action packed. Ounce for ounce
they can give a huge fight for a
young beginning angler. From
the smallest of bluegill to the
ones big enough to fillet, they
all put up a fight and are a blast
to catch.
Dove hunting is also another
good way to introduce a young
sportsman to the outdoors. Most
kids don’t care as much about
shooting a dove as they do be-
ing “the dog.” Some of the best
retrievers I have ever hunted
with were kids on their first dove
hunt! They love hunting and
searching for the downed birds.
Make sure they have hearing pro-
tection on while in the field. We
don’t want to damage a young
man or young woman’s hearing!
Deer hunting is always fun
with the kids if you can keep
them somewhat quiet, and good
luck with that! Seems like when
you are in the deer stand a kid
can eat a small bag of potato
chips and make enough noise
to run off a charging bull ele-
phant! So make sure you carry
them plenty of snacks and keep
them warm.
Duck hunting was always my
favorite outdoor activity. I didn’t
have to be quiet and there was
The Next Generation of
the Great OutdoorsBy Cody Rodriquez

always plenty of joking around
and good conversations. I used
to enjoy listening to guys that I
was hunting with telling stories
of years gone by when “there
were so many ducks you couldn’t
shoot in the air and not hit a
greenhead!”
When introducing young peo-
ple to the outdoors remember to
keep it fun and enjoyable. Allow
them to be kids but also make
sure that you teach them SAFETY
FIRST. Teach them to be good
stewards of the outdoors and they
will learn to love it as you do. As
you enjoy your outdoor outings
teach them to be responsible and
to respect the animals of the out-
doors. Don’t be afraid to show
them the tips and tricks to killing
big bucks and catching big slab
crappie, but teach them to do it
ethically and by the law. Hunting
and fishing can definitely play a
huge positive role in a young per-
son’s life if you teach them the
proper and safe way to do things
while still making it an enjoyable
and memorable experience.
As a person that enjoys ev-
ery minute I can on the water or
in the woods, I like to think that
the great outdoors and the people
that introduced me into hunting
and fishing have tremendously
shaped me into the man that I
am today. I would like to person-
ally challenge all of our readers
of STO magazine to take a kid
hunting or fishing. A few hours
outdoors could change a child’s
life forever. Please introduce a
young person to the outdoor life-
style and help save our passions
for future generations to enjoy.

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Hunting public land deer can
be both frustrating and reward-
ing and whether it is easy or hard
depends on how you go about it.
Having both hunted public lands
and worked public deer hunts for
forty plus years I have seen it all.
Many years ago, when I was
working for a wildlife agency, I
had been assigned to work a hunt
with another biologist. While we
were waiting at the deer check-
in station, we kept noticing the
same guy driving up and down
the road. Finally, he stopped and
struck up a conversation, “Got an
idea where I might shoot a deer”?
I said, “Sure, drive down this
road about ¾ of a mile and take
the trail to your left, walk about
150 yards until you see that grove
of oak trees. Sit there and wait”.
After this hunter left, the fellow
I was working with laughed and
said, I thought you had never
been here”. “I haven’t but at least
now he will get out in the woods”
About 2:00 that afternoon
that same hunter checked in a
deer and was happy as could be.
The big secret, he got out in the
woods!
Public land deer hunting can
be that easy…sometimes. On all
the public hunts I have worked I
have seen hunters like the one I
just described and other hunters
who could have hosted their own
By Richard Hines
PUBLIC DEER
HUNTING
IN TENNESSEE
Andrew Friel is pictured here with his Fort Campbell monster buck.
Fort Campbell is a military base near Tennessee that allows public
hunting and is renowned for monster bucks. Make sure and read up
on all of their guidelines and rules for hunting there.
STO File Photo

Chuck Jones, from Nashville with a public land harvested giant of a buck.
Photo by Richard Hines

Google Earth can let you scout your land from home using your own computer. Looks like a good edge
to hunt where mature trees meet smaller ones in this photo.
Photo by Richard Hines
Map of West and Middle Tennessee TWRA lands open for Hunting shown in green.

hunting show.
The number one way to get
a deer is getting into the woods;
and not just getting out there
but staying longer than you nor-
mally do at your normal hunt-
ing ground. With such a mix of
people hunting, those with lots
of experience along with novices
are constantly pushing deer and
kicking deer out of their normal
areas. In most cases deer are pri-
marily shot early in the morning,
but a lot are shot mid-day. Hunt-
ers who stay on the stand longer
may see bucks moving and shift-
ing to avoid groups of hunters
going to their camp or dragging
a deer back to their vehicle.
Public lands are a good place
to take advantage of this but it has
a drawback, public lands may be
larger than you are used to. Do
not bite off more than you can
chew, concentrate on one or two
areas. Before you head to your
selected WMA, scout the site
on your desktop and pick likely
locations.
Always go to the TWRA
website and look at their maps.
Then click on Google Earth. Most
WMA maps will only show basic
roads, trails and boundary lines.
Clicking on an extra site will al-
low you to pull up recent satellite
photos. Using these photos might
help you pinpoint potential loca-
tions worth checking out.
Keep in mind that most
hunters will hunt along the near-
est trail or road and as you move
behind gates, hunter numbers will
begin dropping. Knowing this be-
fore you head to a WMA, Google
Earth will let you identify large
areas between roads, streams, or
other major features that might
influence where deer are moving.
Upload the coordinates of poten-
tial sites on your GPS.
Satellite photographs will
also help you know habitat con-
ditions. Take time to note the size
of trees. The uniform appearance
of a forest canopy is usually a
young forest. A 5-year-old clear
cut can provide more forage than
a food plot while there may be less
food found in a pole size stand
of trees. If the canopy appears
patchy or bumpy you should find
older trees that are mast {acorn}
producers. Find locations that al-
low you to hunt near several dif-
ferent habitat types. If you are
having trouble telling the habitat
conditions, take time to look at
satellite photos of areas you are
familiar with. Ground truthing
can help you interpret what you
are seeing on satellite photos.
Tennessee has over 100
WMAs that are open to deer
hunting. By the time you are
reading this it is too late to get
into a quota hunt. TWRA held the
2020 big game drawing June 19 -
July 24, however, there are nu-
merous other locations, one of the
largest in West Tennessee (Region
I) is Natchez Trace WMA,
Exactly where to go in Ten-
nessee is strictly a preference,
Map of East Tennessee TWRA lands open for Hunting shown in green.

what type of habitat you want to
hunt and how far do you want
to drive are two considerations.
You should be picking out loca-
tions that are open concurrent
with statewide seasons or those
marked with a BG {Big Game}
after the name. A permit is re-
quired, so check all regulations
to stay current and legal. Using
the link will take you to Ten-
nessee WMAs and other public
hunting lands that are open to
both gun and archery hunting.
https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/
twra/hunting/wildlife-manage-
ment-areas.html#all.
Once you pin down where
you are going, try to scout it be-
fore you walk in on opening
morning. Also, have at least two
alternative locations picked out.
Nothing like arriving at your “se-
cret spot” and finding the park-
ing lot full!
One thing about old pub-
lic land bucks, they understand
stealth and stealthy they are. I
remember a deer quota hunt I
was supervising years ago. While
checking on hunters I stopped to
glass a 400-acre field. There were
hunters around the field and as
I was watching a 20-inch-wide
buck stood up out of the grass,
looked around and laid back
down. Not one hunter saw the
deer and I suspect he was there
all day. Do not overlook places
that you would say to yourself,
“a deer would never be in there”.
During public hunts, deer WILL
BE in locations where you would
never expect them.
So, is public land hunting
easy or hard? It can be reward-
ing and every year, hunters take
both trophy deer and large num-
bers of deer for the freezer. You
must adjust for other hunters and
tolerate some who are not as ex-
perienced. I have met many oth-
er hunters and for the most part
they are willing to help drag out a
deer, not to mention spending the
evening telling deer stories. Ev-
eryone in a WMA camp is a deer
hunter, and you cannot beat the
comradery and that makes it easy.

WILKERSON’S TAXIDERMY
FROM A “MOUSE TO A MOOSE”
AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN!
TRUST WILKERSON’S TAXIDERMY
AND THEIR 30-PLUS YEARS
IN ALL PHASES OF TAXIDERMY!
STATE, NATIONAL & WORLD
AWARD WINNING TAXIDERMISTS!
1529 Morgan Rd - Dyersburg, TN
731-286-0853

WE HAVE A WHOLE FLEET OF WRECKERS
FOR ANY SITUATION!
CHECK OUT OUR SELECTION
OF DIXIE DEER BLINDS!
IF YOU LOVE THE GREAT OUTDOORS,
BUT SOMETIMES YOUR BACK JUST DOESN’T
WANT TO COOPERATE, DO WHAT I DID AND SEE
MY GOOD FRIEND DOC COLE.
HE WILL GET YOU STRAIGHTENED OUT!
- ROB SOMERVILLE
COLE CHIROPRACTIC
BARRY L. COLE D.C., FADP
731-285-2696 1-800-558-2696
417 TROY AVE. - DYERSBURG, TN - 38024
chirotn@colechiro.com
www.colechiro.com
COLE CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

MOBILE APP v2.0
NOW AVAILABLE!
TWRA ON THE GO

421 W. COURT ST.
DYERSBURG, TENNESSEE
731-285-5767
sam@bradshaw4insurance.com
Sam Bradshaw
Contact information:
While you’re hunting or fishing on Reelfoot
Lake, stop by and see Johanna and her crew
for a quick, delicious meal.
Or, beat the heat with their
“World Famous” ice cream.
Dine-in or eat outside on their Patio!!
Home Owned and operated
731-253-6311
HWY 78 - Tiptonville
Less than 5 min from Reelfoot Lake
“Something Different”
our hospitable

54 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2020MAY - JUNE 2019 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 54NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2020 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 54
Attached is a photo of 4 year-old grandson - Case
Simpson, with a nice bass he caught on a plastic worm
from a Madison County farm pond. He landed it
himself and released it. It’s not his first fish, but I’m
pretty sure it’s his biggest so far.Photo submitted by proud grandpa – Robert Simpson
Perry Pee Wee Cox had an awesome day Oct 9th, fishing
the Taud Bass Tournament at Kentucky lake with his
friend Roger Mcbride. The team took 3rd place and got
Big Bass!
Robert “Doc” Jackson with
an October, Pickwick Lake,
slab crappie.
Danny Jackson caught this
14lb. monster bass at Carroll
County’s 1000 acre lake in
September, 2020

SELLING WHOLESALE
AND RETAIL
DEALERS WELCOME!
WE BUILD: Gliders, Swings,
Adirondack Chairs, Tables,
Rocking Chairs, Lounge Chairs,
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WE OFFER 13 COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM!
It's Built in
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2' Adirondack Chair $215.00*
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ONCE IN A
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*ALL prices shown are retail
477 BLOOMING GROVE S. - McKENZIE, TN - 38201
“We don’t cut corners .... we clean them”

Cottontail Time in Tennessee: Rabbit hunting traditions and habitat challenges

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Cottontail Time in Tennessee: Rabbit hunting traditions and habitat challenges