Odom preserves hunting 10/12/06
From the Tennessean - Thursday, 10/12/06
Odom preserves hunting
TWRA officer raises money to purchase land
By LARRY WOODY
Staff Writer
While most of us wring our hands and fret about Tennessee's declining wildlife habitat, Jereme Odom decided to roll up his sleeves and do something about it.
About 18 months ago the 30-year-old Tennessee Wild-life Resources Agency officer came across 600 acres of land for sale in Cheatham County. He decided to try to acquire it to protect it from runaway development that is sprawling throughout Middle Tennessee.
Odom scouted the acreage, researched the deed and got a price quote from the owner. Then he moved to Step 2: Figure out how to pay for it.
So far Odom has raised $406,000 to secure the property, which includes a 145-acre public shooting complex scheduled to open Saturday. The rest of the property will be reserved for hunting and other wildlife activities.
"It's really satisfying to see it all come together," said Odom, in his seventh year as a TWRA wildlife officer.
"Obviously I couldn't have done this alone. David Adkins, who was my hunter education instructor, has been with me every step of the way. I've had great support from the TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and such organizations as the National Wild Turkey Federation, which contributed $75,000."
Along with the big donations have come hundreds of smaller ones, generated by Odom "literally going door-to-door at times" as well as speaking to civic clubs and other community organizations to solicit contributions.
"It's something I'm very committed to," said Odom, the father of three young daughters. "The way land is being developed in our area, if we don't take steps now to preserve some of it there won't be any around for our kids. That's really what drives me."
Odom grew up in rural Houston County "hunting and fishing. I remember how much I enjoyed it — and still do. I want to make sure that it's available to future generations."
The shooting complex will place a special emphasis on developing young shooters. Youngsters will be allowed to use the complex for free, paying only for such expenses as clay targets.
The significance of Odom's success story is this: it is an example of what one person, with energy and vision, can accomplish.
If Odom was able to save 600 acres of wildlife habitat in Cheatham County from developers, might others be inspired to attempt similar efforts in other counties where open space is rapidly disappearing?
"I hope so," Odom said. "I've proved that it can be done, and if I can do it anybody can do it. It's important to get hunting and conservation groups behind you, and those groups exist in every community. We just have to get them united and working together on these projects.
"As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing more important than preserving our
natural areas. If we lose
them now, they'll be lost
forever." •
Reach Larry Woody at lwoody@tennessean.com or 615-259-8019.
Odom preserves hunting
TWRA officer raises money to purchase land
By LARRY WOODY
Staff Writer
While most of us wring our hands and fret about Tennessee's declining wildlife habitat, Jereme Odom decided to roll up his sleeves and do something about it.
About 18 months ago the 30-year-old Tennessee Wild-life Resources Agency officer came across 600 acres of land for sale in Cheatham County. He decided to try to acquire it to protect it from runaway development that is sprawling throughout Middle Tennessee.
Odom scouted the acreage, researched the deed and got a price quote from the owner. Then he moved to Step 2: Figure out how to pay for it.
So far Odom has raised $406,000 to secure the property, which includes a 145-acre public shooting complex scheduled to open Saturday. The rest of the property will be reserved for hunting and other wildlife activities.
"It's really satisfying to see it all come together," said Odom, in his seventh year as a TWRA wildlife officer.
"Obviously I couldn't have done this alone. David Adkins, who was my hunter education instructor, has been with me every step of the way. I've had great support from the TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and such organizations as the National Wild Turkey Federation, which contributed $75,000."
Along with the big donations have come hundreds of smaller ones, generated by Odom "literally going door-to-door at times" as well as speaking to civic clubs and other community organizations to solicit contributions.
"It's something I'm very committed to," said Odom, the father of three young daughters. "The way land is being developed in our area, if we don't take steps now to preserve some of it there won't be any around for our kids. That's really what drives me."
Odom grew up in rural Houston County "hunting and fishing. I remember how much I enjoyed it — and still do. I want to make sure that it's available to future generations."
The shooting complex will place a special emphasis on developing young shooters. Youngsters will be allowed to use the complex for free, paying only for such expenses as clay targets.
The significance of Odom's success story is this: it is an example of what one person, with energy and vision, can accomplish.
If Odom was able to save 600 acres of wildlife habitat in Cheatham County from developers, might others be inspired to attempt similar efforts in other counties where open space is rapidly disappearing?
"I hope so," Odom said. "I've proved that it can be done, and if I can do it anybody can do it. It's important to get hunting and conservation groups behind you, and those groups exist in every community. We just have to get them united and working together on these projects.
"As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing more important than preserving our
natural areas. If we lose
them now, they'll be lost
forever." •
Reach Larry Woody at lwoody@tennessean.com or 615-259-8019.
posted by Tim Baumgartner at
6:21 PM
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