CHATTANOOGA, Tenn — The Year 2025 was a big year for NewsChannel9.com/Outdoors. About 1 million users viewed these 10 stories alone. In reverse order, here is a recap of the Top 10 Outdoor News stories our readers found most interesting.
- #10: Push underway to allow ‘straight-walled’ cartridges during Tennessee muzzleloader season
The Tennessee Wildlife Federation made a push to legalize “straight-walled cartridge,” single-shot firearms during the state’s muzzleloader-only deer hunting season on private lands this past year. These firearms, while allowing hunters only one shot like traditional black powder muzzleloaders, use ammunition similar to modern-day firearms. Therefore they are far more reliable and some say accurate. Many opponents argued that straight-walled cartridges can already be used during the regular firearm deer hunting season, and if it were legalized during muzzleloading-only season, it would in effect, eliminate the need for such a season. The measure failed but proponents say they will likely bring the issue up again in 2026.
- #9: Tennessee man drowns in boating accident
Unfortunately this story is all too familiar and the circumstances were not especially unusual. But for some reason, as is prone to happen on the world wide web, this story of a drowning in Tennessee captured an especially large amount of traffic among our readers.
- #8: Two new Tennessee state parks open near Chattanooga; Here’s how to visit
It seems that these days, there is an increased amount of interest in “getting outdoors” in Tennessee. That belief was reinforced by the huge amount of interest in the #8 story on our list. Fiery Gizzard State Park preserves the famed Fiery Gizzard Trail and surrounding forestland in Grundy and Marion counties. The park includes more than 20 miles of trails with waterfalls, bluffs and scenic overlooks that draw hikers from across the region. Meanwhile, newly-created Head of the Crow State Park, protects more than 4,200 acres taken from the Lost Cove section of the former South Cumberland complex. The park includes the headwaters of Crow Creek, Sewanee Natural Bridge and ridge-top habitats prized for their biodiversity.
- #7: Rhea County outraged after rare elk is killed and left to waste
This “outdoor crime” garnered a huge amount of attention, in part because many people did not know that Tennessee elk had found their way into the actual NewsChannel9 viewing area. A Rocky Mountain bull elk had been sighted by numerous Rhea County residents near Dayton, that its until it was shot and killed shortly before Thanksgiving. The majestic animal was left unclaimed in a field. TWRA and Rhea County Sheriff Mike Neal teamed up to offer a $2,000 reward for information leading them to the culprits. At last report, however, Sheriff Neal said no charges have been filed in the case.
- #6: Tennessee angler sets new state record with invasive Alabama bass catch on Ocoee River
With the huge number of anglers in Southeast Tennessee, and across the country, big fish always generate lots of attention. Local angler and fishing guide Caleb Bell set a new state record with his catch of an Alabama bass on the Ocoee River in October. The 7-pound, 3-ounce bass topped the previous state record Alabama bass of 7 pounds caught in Parksville Reservoir by Shane McKee in 2014.
- #5: Sometimes duck hunting is about much more than shooting ducks
This story came about following what can only be described as a poor, unsuccessful duck hunt for author Richard Simms. However, the story he discovered in the blind was far better and more important than killing ducks. It is the story of a tribute paid to a man – a duck hunter, of course – who had passed away. But while now deceased, Jim Sturgill’s memory will live on in one particular Mississippi duck blind.
- #4: Wake boats under fire: MasterCraft defends industry as critics call for restrictions
Researchers released a video which illustrated quite dramatically how wake boats (boats designed to make large wakes for wakesurfing/wakeboarding) can potentially damage lakes when they operate in relatively shallow water. More and more people are expressing concerns regarding wake boats and calling for stricter regulations governing how and where they can be used. In fact several states are creating laws which restrict where wake boats can legally operate. In Tennessee wake boats cannot operate (in wake mode) on bodies of water smaller than 50 acres, in parts of a waterway less than 400 feet wide or within 200 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse, or similar structure.
- #3: Dog thought to be snatched by hawk from Tennessee doggie daycare found alive
When this story initially broke, a worker at a Cleveland, Tenn. doggie daycare business reported that they believed a hawk swooped down, grabbed a small Yorkie in its talons and flew away with it – although they did not actually see it happen. The dog was later found, alive, about a quarter-mile away. At least one report indicated that a veterinarian found no evidence of talon marks on the dog. There was no definitive evidence that a hawk actually grabbed the dog.
- #2: Three dead, three injured in boat crash during fishing tournament on Smith Lake
This tragic story told of a professional bass tournament angler accused of crashing into another boat on Alabama’s Smith Lake, killing three people. The professional angler, Flint Davis (22 at the time), was later charged with multiple felonies (HOTLINK: https://newschannel9.com/sports/outdoors/georgia-man-faces-multiple-charges-after-deadly-boat-collision-at-fishing-tournament), including three counts of reckless manslaughter. The bass tournament organization hosting the event, Major League Fishing, is facing a civil lawsuit as a result of the accident.
Since that time, other popular bass tournaments in Alabama have been cancelled or eliminated in fear of potential liability should such an accident occur during one of their events.
- #1: Snake bite claims hiker’s life on Tennessee state park trail
Any story that includes the word “snake” always garners huge interest on the internet. Call it a love-hate relationship. People hate snakes, but apparently love reading about them.
This case, however, was especially sad and scary for readers as it was about a rattlesnake bite which killed a young man while hiking in a popular Tennessee state park. As is all too often the case in such incidents, an emergency management official reported that the young man apparently tried to pick up the snake when he was bitten. The man’s identity was never shared publicly.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US
Finally, we feel obliged to point out that we have now been providing our readers with dedicated Outdoor news and stories for ten years. In that time NewsChannel9.com/Outdoors has grown to one of our most widely read sections at NewsChannel 9.com…