Outdoors notebook

TV hunter sentenced: Dickson County resident William “Spook” Spann, host of a TV hunting show, has lost his U.S. hunting privileges for six months for illegally killing a deer in Kansas. He lost his hunting privileges in Kansas for an additional six months.

Spann also had to pay a $10,000 fine and $10,000 in restitution and will be under federal supervision for three years.

The sentence was handed down by a court in Kansas City, where Spann had been charged with illegally killing a giant buck in 2007.

Although Spann had a Kansas non-resident hunting license, it allowed him to hunt only on land that he owned or leased. He killed the deer on land owned by another person, which made the kill illegal. Bring the deer’s head across state lines to Tennessee also violated federal law.

Spann insisted that the whole thing was a misunderstanding because he was in the process of acquiring a lease to the land on which he hunted. Nevertheless, he was cited and the case went forward.

The case made wide-spread news because of Spann’s celebrity status as a hunter.

It is now known how the case might affect Span’s TV show, carried on various cable channels.

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Friends of NRA banquet: Advance tickets are on sale for the April 5 Wilson County friends of NRA Banquet and Fundraiser at the James Ward Agricultural Center.

Tickets are $30 and included dinner, door prizes and auction.

Proceeds go to support shooting sports and events, and promote firearm safety. Every years FNRA awards grants to local students and schools to support shooting programs.

For tickets or information call Eddie Kirkus (615) 533-8721 or e-mail lisakirkus@comcast.net

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Scholastic shooting team: Ben Schade is organizing a Wilson County trap-shooting team, the Cedar City Straights, for youngsters 10-18. They can be individuals or members of school and civic groups.

The team will compete in the state’s Scholastic Clay Target Program.

Contact Schade at the Cedar City Gun Club for information.

Brian Lettrich won the Gun Club’s weekly shoot by breaking 49 of 50 targets.

Wil Myers took Junior honors (47) and Coleman Searcy Sub-Jr. (35).

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License reminder: With turkey season at hand (March 30) and spring fishing season about to explode, the TWRA issues a reminder that hunting/fishing licenses expired Feb. 28.

There is no increase in costs from last year, and a wide range of licenses are available, from a standard hunting/fishing license to daily permits and a Lifetime License.

Licenses can be purchased at most outdoors outlets or on-line at tnwildlife.org.

OUTDORS CALENDAR:

March 23: Young Sportsman turkey hunt

March 30-May 12: turkey season

March: trout stocking continues

March 30-May 12 turkey season

April 4-3: state high school trap shoot

April 5: Friends of NRA banquet

April 22: Earth Day

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