Outdoors notebook

Trappers meeting: The Tennessee Fur Harvesters Association will hold its annual convention at Fall Creek Falls State Park Oct. 12-14.

It will feature trapping supplies, demonstrations by expert trappers and other events.

For information and a photo gallery of past events visit tfhaonline.net

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Fishing tournament: The Mid-Tenn Bass Classic team event will be held Sept. 29-30 on Old Hickory Lake out of Flippers Marina. For information contact Lebanon’s Reed Durham (615) 479-7729.

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Gold mining concerns: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is investigating reports of gold miners damaging some streams in East Tennessee.

So-called “recreational” panning for gold has gone on for decades in many streams, such as the Little River nears the Smoky Mountains National Park. Such panning involves pans and shoves and sluice boxes and is not considered harmful to the stream when done on a limited, small-scale basis.

However, some gold-mining operations have expanded into more professional, large-sale operations. They use heavy dredging equipment to scoop or suck out the bottom of streams, and also bring in diesel-powered pumps, backhoes and high-pressure hoses to blast away sediment from the stream banks.

Such activities obviously are extremely destructive to the stream and to all fish and other aquatic life that inhabit them. The practices violate the state’s pollution and water-quality regulations and are illegal even if the portion of the stream being mined flows through private property.

The TWRA and other environmental-protection agencies are investing the East Tennessee gold mining sites and will close them down wherever violations are found.

The destruction or damage of a steam for virtually any purpose – from gold mining to residential development -- is illegal in Tennessee and can result in serious penalties.

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Trap shoot: Rob Mathis won the Cedar City Gun Club’s weekly trap shoot, hitting 48 of 50 targets.

Brent Robinson took Class B (44), Ray Hutcheson was top Veteran (46) and K.J. Davis won Sub-Junior (40).

The Gun Club also  hosted The AKA Big 50 Registered Money Shoot, with Will Myers winning the Singles (48).

High Vet went to Bill Robb (37), High Open to Mark Myers (45), High Jr. to Lucas Green (44), High Sub-Jr. to K.J. Davis, and High Class B to Chris Cooper (41).

Davis took Handicap honors, Robb was High Veteran and  Green won Short Yardage.

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New Hunting Guides available: The 2012-13 Tennessee Trapping & Hunting Guide is now available at most outdoor outlets.

The free annual publication is compiled by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and offers detailed information about hunting seasons, bag limits, license requirements and other rules and regulations.

OUTDOORS CALENDAR:

Aug. 25-Feb. 28: squirrel season

Sept. 14-Feb. 28: raccoon, possum season

Sept. 22: deer archery season opens

Oct. 13-26: fall turkey season

Nov. 3-16: deer muzzleloader season

Nov. 17-Jan. 6: deer gun season

PHOTOS WELCOME: Caught a big bass or a batch of crappie? Bagged a limit of doves or squirrels? Share your outdoors photos with readers of The Lebanon Democrat by e-mailing them to andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com