adding 2 more days of either sex deer hunting to the first segment of the Unit B muzzleloader season so season will be Nov. 3-7
All proposed changes will be officially acted upon by the TWRC during their next meeting, scheduled for May 23 and 24 at the Region II, Ray Bell Building in Nashville.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Big Game Biologist, Daryl Ratajczak, presented information regarding the pros and cons of implementing a Tele-Check system for big game harvest reporting in Tennessee, along with alternatives that would improve the convenience and accessibility of the current system. Ratajczak reported that the Agency did not recommend moving to a Tele-Check system at this time, but did put forth the option to consider extending the required time to check in big game to 36 hours after the first kill.
Don King, Chief of the TWRA Information and Education Division, presented information regarding new efforts underway to distribute news-story length segments from the agency television program, Tennessee’s Wild Side, to commercial broadcast TV stations for use during news and sportscasts. Tennessee’s Wild Side currently airs weekly on public TV across Tennessee and Kentucky.
The TWRC is the governing body of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). The public is invited to attend all Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC) meetings and voice their concerns.
Hunting changes recommended by TWRA Staff
1. MANNER AND MEANS - Legalized all shotgun sizes for hunting turkey, which includes 28 gauge and .410.
2. SMALL GAME - Put the pigeon (rock dove/rock pigeon) on the list of unprotected species.
3. FURBEARER - Expanded the river otter hunting and trapping seasons in East Tennessee (Region IV) to be the same as the rest of the state-Friday before thanksgiving to February 15.
Region 4 otter season will match rest of the state (extended 1 month).
4. BIG GAME - Deer
Add Cumberland County to Unit A.
Add Decatur, Gibson, Houston, McNairy, and Stewart counties to Unit L.
Add 2 more days of either sex deer hunting to the first segment of the Unit B muzzleloader season so season will be Nov. 3-7.
Made hunter quota changes in the special season antlerless deer seasons in units A and B.
Feral Hog
Add Blount and Sevier counties to the Nov. 12-15 and Nov. 29-Dec. 12 hunts (dogs permitted).
Add two hunts, Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 20-21, in Monroe County (dogs permitted).
Black Bear
Expand mid-Nov. bear season in Carter, Cocke (entire county), Monroe, Polk (E. of Hwy 411) counties to be Nov. 12-15. Season in Blount and Sevier counties will also be Nov. 12-15.
Add two hunts, Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 20-21, in Monroe County (dogs permitted).
Add three archery hunts (no dogs) in Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Polk, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties–Sept. 22-Oct. 26, Oct. 29-Nov. 2, and Nov. 10-16.
Wild Turkey
Turkey Season for Fall 2007: 11/10-11/16 and 12/10-12/14.
Add Washington County to fall turkey hunting–Nov. 10-16, hunter quota 50.
Lewis County to be open during both hunting seasons.
Increase permit bag limit from 2 to 3 for counties open to the second segment of fall turkey hunting–Dec. 10-14.
WMA bag limits clarified and defined for each WMA.
Counties open during the both seasons (i.e., 11/10-11/16 and 12/10-12/14) will have 3 birds, either sex, per permit.
2008 Spring Turkey Season
Bag Limit–One (1) bearded turkey per day, not to exceed four (4) per season. Turkeys taken on all quota hunts and specially designated WMAs are bonus birds. Young Sportsman hunt — One (1 bearded turkey. Turkey counts toward the statewide bag unless taken on a WMA where turkey is listed as a bonus bird.
Young sportsmen hunt 3/22-3/23, regular season 3/29-5/11.
Big Game Tagging and Check-out Requirements
All animals harvested must be accompanied by one tagged animal and must be taken together to the nearest big game checking station by the most reasonably direct route within thirty-six (36) hours of last kill where one new temporary kill tag will be issued. Evidence of species and sex must be available for inspection by Wildlife Officer or Agency designated personnel prior to issuance of permanent game tag.
5. WMA
1. Waterfowl hunting from temporary blinds - no blinds, blind materials, boats, or decoys left overnight unless otherwise specified by rule or proclamation.
2. On all WMAs open to the late duck season, the statewide Youth Waterfowl Season is open, unless exception is noted. On all WMAs, the legal hunting hours during the Youth Waterfowl Season comply with federal regulations for migratory birds (30 minutes before official sunrise to sunset), unless exception is noted.
3. Tellico Unit of the South Cherokee — Added an additional party dog hunt.
4. Tellico and Ocoee units of the South Cherokee — Made concurrent hunt dates to also correspond to same hunts in the county off the WMA.
5. Chickamauga WMA — Made a 3:00 p.m. waterfowl hunting closure on the Candies Creek, Rogers Creek, Yellow Creek, and Johnson Bottoms units.
6. Open the Bomprezzi Unit of Eagle Lake Refuge to specified small game and to waterfowl, deer, and turkey hunting. The area is opened to shogun and archery equipment only.
7. Edgar Evins State Park — Added deer Safety Zone (Archery Only) hunt, Oct. 9-10. Hunter quota is 200. There will be a hand held-drawing at Park Office at noon on Sept. 12.
8. North Chickamauga Creek — Dove is same as statewide season. No dove hunters or hunting equipment on field prior to 7:00 a.m. on opening day during the first segment. Waterfowl hunting closes at 3:00 p.m.
9. Oak Ridge WMA — Reduced bag limit from 3 to 2, and removed the antler restriction (4 points on one side or a 15″ outside spread).
10. Bear Hollow Mountain, Williamsport, and Yanahli — Added special regulations for horseback riding and the prohibition of alcoholic beverages.