I am also new to hunting. I also live in the tri-cities. First year for both our dog and myself doing upland bird. Start talking to people friends that hunt and start driving around. You will find that there is tons of free to hunt land in our area. Probably the closest release site is Big Flats. Also Ringold I believe is a release site. I have been told that they plant birds for Thanks Giving weekend also. I have been looking for wild birds in our area and have had some luck finding them but no luck in actually killing any yet. We flushed up a hen today but no roosters.