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Committee approves state guide license for Reelfoot Lake waterfowl guides
Summary
Senators approved a bill to create a waterfowl guide license specific to Reelfoot Lake and authorized TWRA to set rules and qualifications, including an exam; the measure moves to the calendar.
Senator Stevens presented Senate Bill 8-63, proposing a Reelfoot Lake–specific waterfowl guide license and authorizing the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to promulgate rules establishing qualifications, testing and safety standards for guides.
Stevens said Reelfoot Lake’s shallow, root-filled waters and unique hazards require experienced guides. He said the license would help assure visiting hunters and anglers that guides meet minimum training and safety standards and could support economic development and tourism in the area.
Senator Pote asked whether the license would require testing and how qualifications would be set; Blair Beatty, legislative director for TWRA, told the committee that the commission would adopt rules, including an exam and criteria to address the lake’s unique hazards. Beatty compared the approach to the TWRA’s permitting framework for commercial outfitters on the Ocoee River.
Action: A motion by Senator Wally, seconded by the chair, moved SB 8-63 to the calendar. The committee recorded eight ayes and no nays; the measure will return to the full Senate calendar for further action.
Supporters said a Reelfoot-specific license will improve safety and provide assurance to out-of-state visitors; no amendments were adopted in committee.
