Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wma Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee hears concerns about crowded WMAs and how quota hunts and the commission set turkey season
Summary
Members pressed TWRA on overcrowding at popular wildlife management areas; TWRA said quota hunts are used to limit users and that the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission sets turkey season after a public preview in March and a vote in April.
Representative Doggett asked whether TWRA considered allocating zones or acreage-based quotas to reduce overcrowding on popular WMAs. Jason Maxon said increasing land costs and demand are pushing more hunters toward WMAs and that TWRA uses quota hunts in some areas to manage user numbers: "So we have quota hunts in place that take care of the thing that Representative Dog is asking about."
On the turkey season, Maxon explained the season-setting process is handled by the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission: March is the public preview when citizens may comment and the commission takes a binding vote in April. He urged constituents to comment during commission meetings if they want season changes considered.
Maxon also noted that hunting leases and land-price pressure are changing user behavior and that TWRA expects quota hunts to become more common in areas close to metropolitan centers where demand is highest.
