The application period will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 12:01 a.m. (CDT) for the computerized hunt drawing system to be used for 2012-13 pool/waterfowl blind sites for Bogota and Thorny Cypress Wildlife Management Area in Dyer County (Region I) and four units of the Region III Chickamauga WMA (Candies Creek, Johnson Bottoms, Rogers Creek, and Yellow Creek).

The application period will continue through midnight (CDT) on Oct. 10.

The application form, similar to WMA quota hunts, is available online at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website (www.tnwildlife.org) and will soon be available in printed format at license agents. All participating WMAs are on the one application with a total of 42 blind sites. An applicant can only apply once per year for these areas.

For the 2012-13 season, there are significant changes to the process. The number of hunters allowed per pool/blind has been increased from four to five. Also, in an effort to increase the use of the waterfowl hunting sites in this drawing, parties of up to five will be allowed to apply together, instead of only individuals. 

This means a group of five, who apply as a party, will have five chances of being drawn. Additionally, any member of a group that is drawn can use that blind site and bring guests as long as the total number of people hunting the drawn site does not exceed five.  In years’ past, only the one person drawn could use the site and if that person did not hunt, then no one was allowed to hunt that site.               

Youth Quota Hunts:               

• For Bogota and Thorny Cypress, youth ages 6-15 may apply for youth-only quota waterfowl hunts. Youth quota hunt information is on the same quota hunt application with the other waterfowl quota hunts. If successful, the youth party must be accompanied by at least one non-hunting adult. Party may not exceed five youth. This is a change from last season’s hand held drawing.

• For Candies Creek, Rogers Creek, Yellow Creek and Johnson Bottoms Units, young sportsman hunters may hunt blind sites during the youth waterfowl season on a first come, first serve basis. Youth hunters during the youth waterfowl season must enter the hunting area only from established TWRA parking areas.