Message from the publisher . . .

When the decision was made to bring Tennessee Hunting Online Magazine — TnHunting.Com — back to the Internet, it was not a decision that was made lightly and without consideration. On the contrary, a lot of thought went into making that decision. I frequent other Tennessee hunting websites, especially TnTurkey.Com and TnDeer.Com. The publishers of those fine websites — Hank Mills and Dennis Goldsby, respectively — do a terrific job, and a great service to the Tennessee outdoors community. I did not want to create the perception that we're trying to compete with those websites, although I knew that the perception would be inevitable to some extent.

But the bottom line is this: TnHunting.Com is not competing with TnDeer.Com or TnTurkey.Com. We simply want to help promote the hunting that this state has to offer. Tennessee Deer is by far the best service on the 'net for deer hunting in Tennessee, and Tennessee Turkey is the same for turkey hunting in Tennessee. There's no way to offer more than those Websites, and we don't want to. What we do want to do is fill a niche that those sites don't fulfill, primarily through bringing the latest hunting news and a variety of other hunting features to the Tennessee hunter.

It's true that both of those websites' most popular feature is an online discussion forum, a feature also utilized by TnHunting.Com. However, we are not attempting to direct traffic away from those forums. Yes, our forum community is growing, and the way of life on the Internet is that most websites either require a forum to survive, or need a forum to maintain interest and growth. But our number one priority has been and will remain bringing the latest news to the Tennessee hunter, through our format that is similar to a "Drudge Report" style or the Outdoors Pressroom's style. At the present time, we do not have the resources to fully cover all of the state's outdoors news and happenings. Instead, we gather headlines from other news sources throughout the state and direct our viewers to those news sources so that they do not have to hunt the 'net themselves to find the latest Vol State hunting news, while mixing in our own news, editorials as needed, and columns.

At the same time, we want to provide a "quick guide" of sorts to Tennessee's hunting and fishing regulations, and offer other information pertinent to the Tennessee hunter. In doing so, we will not get as in-depth in the individual game species like deer and turkey as websites like TnDeer.Com and TnTurkey.Com. They have more space to devote to the single game animal, while we're attempting to cover a broader spectrum. As such, we're happy to refer our viewers to those websites for more information on deer and turkey.

We want our viewers to think of this website as their website. TnHunting.Com does not turn a profit; in fact, it operates in the red. It is published as a combination of a hobby by the different folks involved, as a public service to Tennessee hunters and to promote the state's outdoors opportunities, and to garner attention to aspiring outdoors writers who cannot yet get published in various print publications around the state, or who simply want additional exposure to those publications. We encourage everyone with an idea, a compliment or a complaint to feel free to contact us, or leave a message in our forums. We want to continue to improve this website with information that is important to Tennessee hunters.

I am proud to be a Tennessee sportsman, and I hope this website reflects that. Our deer aren't as big as deer in Iowa or Ohio. Our turkey aren't as plentiful as turkey in Missouri. But when the entire package is considered: Some of the best squirrel hunting in North America, quality rabbit hunting, grouse hunting and other small game opportunities, some of the best deer hunting in the southeast, among the top 10 turkey states in the nation, and bear and elk herds that are at huntable levels, and to be able to hunt all these animals from the beautiful scenery that is Tennessee's woods and streams . . . well, that all other states could be as lucky.

Good hunting,