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TWRA COMMISSION
PROPOSAL UPDATE
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission approved several proposals by
the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for changes to public land duck
hunting and blind draw procedures at its two-day meeting which concluded
Friday at the Marriott of Cool Springs.
TWRA’s proposal for public land duck hunting is a significant effort to
increase access for hunters statewide and retain traditional
season-long, 60-day blind locations as offered currently. In addition to
the 414 season-long blinds, there will be 52 hunt locations designated
for quota hunts for 3, 4, or 7-day periods at a marked location or an
Agency-built blind. There are no changes proposed to
privately-owned/permanent registered blinds.
Other agenda items included a presentation on new research efforts
beginning on wild turkeys to better evaluate implications of harvest and
recent regulations changes. The goal is to gain information for future
management decisions.
A review was given of the Agency’s marketing tactics and successes from
2020 that assisted in creating a record year for new license buyers and
for getting more people involved in outdoors activities. The review
featured some of the tactics that have been successful which includes
the CWD campaign, boat ramp geofencing, and targeted social media ads.
The commission recently established a Legacy Award. The inaugural winner
is David Wright who has volunteered for years to help veterans get to go
on hunts after serving. The award was established to show appreciation
for service and dedication to the people and wildlife in Tennessee.
The Information Technology (IT) Division recognized its professional of
the year. Michelle Ray received the IT Professional of the Year honor.
The TFWC elected its new officers for 2021-22. Jim Ripley (Kodak) will
serve as chairman after serving as the vice chair. Angie Box (Jackson)
is the vice chairman and Tommy Woods (Piney Flatts) is the secretary.
The meeting was also the final scheduled for five commissioners.
Chairman Kurt Holbert (Decaturville), Dennis Gardner (Lebanon), Connie
King (Clarksville), Tony Sanders (Hixon), and James Stroud (Dyersburg)
were all recognized for their contributions.
TWRA PROPOSALS DRAW FIRE FROM HUNTERS/POLITICIANS
New proposals for wildlife management areas from Tennessee Wildlife
Resources Agency which the agency claims is based on surveys it received
has drawn fire from upset duck hunters, most of whom say they never were
surveyed and don’t know who many who were.
Furthermore, the proposals say the basis is to add additional
opportunities for public hunting in the various units that range from
Reelfoot Lake in the northwest portion of the state to wildlife
management units in the Kentucky Lake area such as West Sandy, Big
Sandy, Gin Creek, Camden Bottoms and others.
Waterfowlers say the devil is in the details as the proposals will not
increase opportunities but actually decrease them. And, the proposals
seem to have been put together without seeking hunter input, especially
from those who already have blinds in the units or others who know the
lay of the land as to access and other factors.
Upset duck hunters across the region have contacted many local and state
officials plus making efforts to voice their opposition to TWRA wildlife
commissioners prior to the forthcoming meeting in Franklin at the
Marriott Cool Springs on February 18-19.
Comments and complaints have been pouring in since the proposals were
announced and placed on TWRA’s website www.tnwildlife.org.
Here’s a few random samples from distraught duck hunters which have been
summarized due to length:
“Over the course of several weeks, I have been contacted by hundreds of
hunters in my district. Not only are they not supportive of this
proposal, none of them were invited to participate in the “survey” that
this is based on.”
“To gain access to the survey results, our hunters had to file Freedom
of Information Requests. I find that this proposal misses the entire
purpose purported by the TWRA. Increasing access to public lands is not
a difficult task, and in fact, it may be easier than changing the
system.”
“Hunter safety needs to be taken into consideration at some locations in
regard to the number of Tier 1, 60-day blind locations, such as Reelfoot
Lake. Tigrett WMA has a number of blinds that are difficult to access,
and this poses a safety and access concern.”
“I encourage the Commission to postpone the consideration of this
proposal.”… STATE SENATOR JOHN STEVENS
“I believe the proposal by TWRA to change duck blind drawings is a
mistake. I would rather have the CHANCE of me or one of my friends being
drawn to hunt for an entire season in a permanent blind than the chance
of being drawn for ONE 3 or 7 day hunt probably out of a boat or wading!
My main area of concern is the Camden and or Big Sandy units because
that is my preference to hunt. Hunters for years have spent thousands of
their own dollars building and or maintaining blinds. If drawn they make
sure blind is in good shape or in some instances, build completely new
blinds that have been burned by TWRA because they were deemed unsafe.
If the new proposal passes, in my opinion, all existing blinds will be
unhuntable in the next 2 to 5 years. Hunters will then have to hunt out
of boats or standing in marsh. That is extremely UNSAFE, especially for
someone like me that is older wishing to take our children or
grandchildren. As the proposal stands, only 9 blinds in these units are
available for a chance at full season. I believe they should leave ALL
the blinds available for everyone to have a chance to hunt for a full
season…. Glynn Mebane, Henry.
“I'm not sure who they surveyed to come up with the idea that there are
changes needed. I do not know a single person that was sent the survey.
I am against the idea of a quota type system.
The WMA's are not taken care of now. The gates that control the water
level at West Sandy and now at Big Sandy are perfect examples of WMAs
not being taken care of. The gates or pumps are broken and water is
allowed to stay in the fields year round. This means no crops can be
planted and the trees will eventually die out.
I see a real problem with the first come first served blinds too. I
could see this causing bad blood and heated tempers if more than one
group shows up to hunt a spot.
I do not see TWRA building and maintaining blind sites under their new
proposal. They are worried more about the buying and selling of blinds.
The computer draw seemed to take care of the majority of that issue.
I would like to see it remain a yearly draw and I am OK with it being
computer draw. I would rather see them put more of their time and effort
and money into properly maintaining these WMAs…Randall Neal, Paris.
“I know well that duck hunts on Reelfoot Lake on a daily basis can boil
it down to this: "We do not believe that people without personal
knowledge of duck hunting on Reelfoot Lake should make decisions about
things they know nothing about. We feel there is a lack of
representation.
Instead of TWRA sending out a few surveys to mostly the wrong people and
having meetings about duck season, during duck season, and hours away
from Reelfoot Lake they should give the general public (more localized
the better) an opportunity to submit a plan to help solve issues and
actually make a real effort to help regulate the places we use on a
regular basis.
Reelfoot Lake is extremely dangerous. The water is cold and the lake can
get extremely rough. This is not like a waterfowl set up you would have
in a field where you would walk to the blind. You will need a boat to
hunt Reelfoot Lake.
There are too many blind locations on Reelfoot Lake that are absolutely
pointless in terms of hunting success. There are very few locations on
the lake that you can have a successful hunt. People who draw these
"pointless" locations get excited and spend their money to prepare for a
duck hunt only to realize that the spot they have isn't worth going.
This plan is complicated and there will be an unusual amount of
confusion in the dark every morning because people from out of town are
in boats, in the dark, trying to find a location, and do this during the
coldest months of the year. It is not safe.
If this plan is designed to increase revenue, TWRA should be consulting
the people who own businesses at Reelfoot Lake for ideas. Business
owners have a common goal with TWRA in that their livelihood is based on
tourism.
Actually local business owners are more concerned with tourism than TWRA
because their household income is directly correlated with tourism. So
if the goal is to increase tourism and license revenue they should be
communicating with local business owners…Ben Parker, Outfitter, Reelfoot
Lake
“Too much at one time! These are drastic changes that I don’t think will
increase hunting opportunities and ultimately lead to confusion. I don’t
know of a single person who received a survey,”….Gerald Howard, West
Sandy Hunter, Paris.
“My concern here is, why did so few people receive a survey and why is
their input not considered? TWRA sent out a mass email a few days ago
regarding the TWRA comment section on their website. Why could they have
not done that with this survey?
It's not fair. You have people making decisions whom have no knowledge
of the areas from Camden all the way West to Reelfoot Lake. The folks
who live east of here believe that we are in a duck hunting mecca, and
that is simply not the case…Jason Brewer, Paris.
“These proposals are not going to increase opportunities but actually
diminish them. It’s a recipe for disaster and one that will tarnish
TWRA’s reputation and public relations. Hunters were not consulted in a
proper manner and the public doesn’t have faith in TWRA maintaining
blinds or coordinating first come first serve in the wee hours of the
morning when crowds show up. Believe me there are a lot of issues TWRA
hasn’t studied on these proposals so I am totally against implementing
this at this time.”….Jerry Price, Big Sandy.
These are just a sample of comments or calls this writer received within
the last week or so. Most had to be summarized due to space but it’s
easy to see there is a common denominator among the ranks of disgruntled
duck hunters who feel their wildlife agency is about to make a mistake.
At stake is not only public hunting opportunities but the reputation of
TWRA who may find out the cure was worse than the disease. Reasonable
minds can differ.
Meanwhile, duck hunters are hoping this isn’t a done deal and that
perhaps there’s a chance the wildlife commission will reevaluate its
position to make this many changes at one time without more input from
the hunters themselves!
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