Outdoors notebook

Scholastic shooting team: Ben Schade is organizing a Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program trapshooting team for Wilson County youngsters in grades 9-12.

For information contact Schade by phone (615-478-8019) or at the Cedar City Gun Club or Lebanon Gun Shop.

Tennessee’s Scholastic Clay Target Program has surged in recent years. It emphasizes competitive shooting and firearms safety.

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Trap shoot: Speaking of the Cedar City Gun Club, its weekly trapshoot was won by Richie Bolin in a shootoff with Danny Shaw after both shot 47’s in regulation.

Hunter Satterfield took Junior honors (30) and Billy Rob was top Veteran (30).

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Killer cats: A survey by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service claims that housecats kill at least 2.5 billion birds and 13.8 billion mammals every year.

The survey said those are conservative figures; the actual number of mammals killed every year by housecats might be as high as 20 billion.

Some have questioned the figures, and note that the include mammals of all species, including mice, rats and moles and that that type of predation is beneficial.

Wildlife officials, however, for years have warned about the growing problems of cats to wildlife. Feral cats that roam free are the biggest problem because they have to kill prey to survive, but even domestic house cats are instinctive predators and take a heavy toll on all birds and small animals in their area.

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Friends of NRA: The Wilson County Friends of NRA banquet & fundraiser will be held April 5 at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center.

For tickets or other information call Eddie Kirkus (615-533-8721) or e-mail Lisa Kirkus (lisakirkus@comcast.net). Tickets also are available at the Lebanon Gun Shop.

The Wilson County chapter last week was recognized for having an increase in participation over the previous year.

The organization is active in promoting shooting sports, especially among youngsters, and annually awards grants to numerous schools, clubs and individuals in Wilson County.

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Licenses expire: Hunters and fishermen are reminded that their licenses expired Feb. 28.

Licenses can be renewed or purchased at most outdoor outlets, or on-line on the TWRA website (tnwildlife.org).

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Hunter input invited: This is the final week for hunters to submit recommendations to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency concerning the 2013-14 hunting seasons.

Mail comments to: Hunting Season Comments, TWRA Wildlife & Forestry Division, P.O. Box 40747, Nashville, Tn. 37204; or e-mail to: twra.comment@tn.gov

E-mails should include “Hunting Season Comments” on the subject line.

OUTDOORS CALENDAR:

Feb. 28: squirrel, rabbit, quail seasons ended

Feb. 28: raccoon, possum seasons ended

Feb. 28: hunting, fishing licenses expired

March 30-May 12: turkey season

April 5: Friends of NRA banquet

PHOTOS WELCOME: Caught a big bass or prize bluegill, bagged a buck or a duck last season? Share your outdoors photos with readers of The Lebanon Democrat by e-mailing them to andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com