Outdoors note
* Evening the preying field: Georgia’s Board of Natural Resources recently approved a statewide policy for deer hunting on private land. For the 2018-19 season, hunters on private property throughout Georgia can get as close as they want to supplemental feed attracting deer. Since 2011 that already was the case in the southern part of the state, but in the northern zone hunting had to be at least 200 yards from the supplemental feed. Placing feed on state or federal land still is not allowed.
Fresh air calendar
* Soddy-Daisy chapter of Tennessee Trails Assn. hikes: Saturday, Falling Water Falls State Natural Area, moderate 3 miles (meet at 8 a.m. at Food City parking lot in Red Bank; contact George Bonneau at george.r.bonneau@gmail.com or 842-3619); Tuesday, Reflection Riding loop, easy 3 miles (meet at 8 a.m. at Food City in Red Bank or 8:30 at nature center at Reflection Riding; call Trish Appleton at 332-6517); July 14, Prentice Cooper State Forest, Snoopers Rock to Natural Bridge & back, moderate to strenuous 6 miles (meet at 8 a.m. at Food City in Red Bank; call John Politte at 304-8327); July 17, Fall Creek Falls, easy to moderate 4-5 miles, or 2.5-mile option from Caney Creek visitors center (call Appleton); July 21, Snow Falls, moderate 5 miles (call Politte); July 24, Greater Falls day loop, moderate 3.2 miles with 2 waterfalls (meet at 8 a.m. at Food City in Red Bank; call Appleton).
* Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge kayak tour: Sunday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; paddle around Hiwassee Island with Outdoor Chattanooga guides in 14- & 16-foot sea touring kayaks; ages 16-up, youth accompanied adult; $45, registration & payment required in advance. Email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call 643-6888.
* Rapid Learning intro to kayak & skills practice: Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m., Chester Frost Park, far end of beach by first boat ramp; family-friendly for ages 8-up; first-timers free; equipment provided, reservations not required. Email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call 643-6888.
* Local Tennessee Ornithological Society meeting: July 12, 7 p.m., Ascension Lutheran Church, 720 S. Germantown Road. Contact David Stone at rockturf@epbfi.com or 413-7033.
* Fall Creek Falls astronomy weekend: July 13 & 14, late afternoon till 10 p.m. or later; free, discussions of constellations & solar-system spatial relationships plus night-sky viewing with telescopes, weather permitting. See www.CumberlandAstronomicalSociety.org or email Lloyd Watkins at watkinslk@comcast.net.
* Hiwassee/Ocoee fishing tournament: July 14, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., third in a series of 3; most-weight-caught winner gets light-action spinning rod & reel; $10 entry. Call H/O Scenic River State Park at 423-263-0050.
* Kayak the Tennessee River Gorge: July 14, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; paddle with Outdoor Chattanooga guides in 14- & 16-foot sea touring kayaks; ages 16-up, youth accompanied by adult; $45, registration & payment required in advance. Email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call 643-6888.
* Dam sunset kayak tour: July 14, 6:30-9 p.m.; beginner-friendly guided trip including a lockdown at Chickamauga Dam, ages 14-up, youth accompanied by adult; $35, registration & payment required in advance. Email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call 643-6888.
* Family Funday MicroAdventure Series: July 15, Lula Lake guided hike, 9-11:30 a.m., pre-registration required through Eventbrite; July 22 & 29, 4-7 p.m., canoeing ($25) & archery (free) at Greenway Farm; email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call 643-6888.
* Chattanooga Bicycle Club meeting: July 16, 6-7 p.m. Outdoor Chattanooga, Coolidge Park; for recreational cyclists.
* Paddle Smart Chattanooga class: July 18 & 25, 6-8 p.m., Chester Frost Park; led by Outdoor Chattanooga for people with their own boats & equipment but wanting instruction in flatwater paddling; $10; youth 10-up OK with adult; pre-registration required at 643-6888.
* Chickamauga Battlefield free bike tour: July 21, 9:30-11:30 a.m., leisurely 3- to 4-mile ride from visitors center with history talks; adults & kids ages 8-up (with adult) welcome; helmets required. Bicycles can be reserved by calling 706-866-9241.