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Senate committee advances bid to toughen poaching penalties and asks agency to study drone use for wounded‑game recovery
Summary
The committee voted to send a measure increasing penalties for taking wildlife while trespassing to finance and to calendar a separate bill directing the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider rules allowing drones to locate wounded deer; members debated landowner access and tracking across leases.
The Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee advanced legislation that would increase penalties for taking wildlife while trespassing and separately directed the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission to study whether drones can be authorized under rules or proclamations to locate and retrieve wounded deer.
Senator Wally, sponsor of the penalties modernization bill (Senate Bill 14), said many landowners in his district report poaching and trespass that goes unpunished because current penalties are low. The bill would raise the maximum penalty for removing wild animals while trespassing…
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