Tennessee is a state with legendary hunting and timbered wilderness. Tales of legendary Tennessee native Davey Crockett and his black bear adventures ring through your mind as you strap on durable hiking boots, ready to head out into the mountainous terrain of the Smokies.
Trained hounds make for an exciting hunt as they sniff out a fresh track. Here it’s common to take bears at close, heart-pounding short range, 30 to 40 yards. Archery and muzzleloader seasons are also available for these majestic big game animals.
Great Smokey Mountains National Park, in the state's southeast, is one of the most popular destinations in the country. The Appalachian Trail cuts through the park with some of the highest altitudes and undulating elevations of its 2,100-mile length.
The Tennessee section of the trail does not disappoint. Early risers can sit for hours at dawn listening to the thunderous gobbles of wild turkeys as you watch bears and whitetails traverse tree groves, woodsides and fields.
Other trails in the Smokies lead to waterfalls and bouldered cascading rivers. The park, and the smokies region as a whole, are renowned for fly fishing. Three hundred cold-water trout streams totaling 700 miles are waiting for you to grab your fly rod and your trout net. Shoulder your wicker creel as you walk through beautiful forests to find the perfect aerated pool. A basket full of Southern Appalachian brook trout is tops on any angler's list.
Moving west from the Great Smokies you approach the ridge and valley region and work your way onto the Cumberland Plateau. Running diagonally across Tennessee, the Cumberland Plateau rises 1,000 feet above the Tennessee River Valley. The area is known for numerous waterfalls, natural bridges, deep gorges, and broad pine, hickory and oak forests.
Here you'll find amazing whitetail and turkey hunting, farms and some of Tennessee's best foods. Locals have memories of waking up to the smell of buttermilk biscuits and brown-sugar ham. Fried chicken and plenty of fried catfish are seen on many Tennesseans’ tables. Thin, tangy and sweet Memphis-style BBQ ribs are always welcome across the state. And when it comes to dessert, there are fried pies with cherry, apple, blueberry or chocolate filling.
Coming off the Cumberland Plateau and into the western half of the state, Tennessee flattens out onto the Gulf Coastal Plain. With a strong agriculture industry, it’s common to see cattle walking hillsides and fields as deer feed in the state's many soybean fields.
The Cumberland River runs through Nashville, a city flowing with country and gospel music and exploding industry. Memphis rounds out the state in its southwest region, sitting on the Mississippi River. It is a city full of culture, and the home of Tennessee’s "rhythm and blues" scene.
Tennessee mountains and forests sing a song of peace and vibrant wildlife on its lands. A variety of opportunities lie in this amazing state for passionate outdoorsmen and women seeking memory-rich adventure.
