GREENEVILLE (WATE/AP) - A teenager from Greeneville will get a chance to bag an elk in Tennessee's first Young Sportsman Elk Hunt in October.
The winner, Jessica Parkins, 14, was selected over the weekend in a random computer drawing from a pool of nearly 300 applicants to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Parkins, a freshman at South Greene High School, has already started to prepare for the hunt. She says she has loved hunting since she was old enough to pick up a gun.
"It's just fun to do," said Parkins.
Her father put her name in for the lottery.
"I first heard about it when my dad asked me if I wanted to do it," said Parkins. "I said sure. I was excited. I really wanted to be part of it."
When her parents learned about her selection at the beginning of the month they kept it a secret. Jessica was presented the permit at a special ceremony in Nashville.
"Jessica, she's a real good girl," said her father Robert Parkins. "She makes real good grades, plays sports, never gave us any trouble. She deserves this. I'm happy for her."
For being chosen for the permit, Jessica was given several prizes including a Marlin rifle.
"It's a nice gun," said Parkins. "It's pretty snazzy."
One advantage Jessica will have over the other hunters is she will get to hunt in all five designated zones in the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area northwest of Knoxville. The other hunters will be limited to where they can go.
Jessica has only hunted turkey and deer in the past, so hunting elk will be a new experience. She has already purchased a lonesome cow call, which sounds like a female elk, as well as a DVD on how to hunt elk.
Since 2009, five hunters have been selected by lottery to hunt Elk in the state. This year a sixth hunter was added, but only for juveniles.
Jessica will be only the second female to ever hunt elk in the state of Tennessee. Another permit was given to another juvenile boy this year.
The state will conduct its fourth modern-era elk hunt for five adults during five days in mid-October. The youth hunt will follow it on Oct. 19-20.
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Reporter Josh Ault contributed to this report.
Jessica Parkins accepts her permit. (source: news.tn.gov)
