Joining the Union in 1796, Tennessee, originally settled by the Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes, has an important and unique history encompassing the rise of country music and harboring some of the largest manufacturing and shipping industries in America. Home to the most visited national park in America, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee is a thriving state for sportsmen and women with a variety of opportunities. For anglers, the Volunteer State is perhaps most well-known for its abundance of lakes and tailwaters, which produce some of the largest brown trout in the Southern U.S. Hunters will also be impressed by the variety of species that call the Volunteer State home including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, and various species of waterfowl.
For more information on the elected officials protecting and promoting the sportsmen’s traditions in Tennessee, please contact:
Tennessee State Caucus Fact Sheet
Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus
Senator
Marsha Blackburn
Representative
Tim Burchett
Representative
Scott DesJarlais
Representative
Charles Fleischmann
Representative
Mark Green
Representative
David Kustoff
Tennessee Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member
Governor
Bill Lee
Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Leadership
News Alerts
Dec 09 2024
Conservation Funding Receives Much Needed Boost in Tennessee
Why It Matters: The well known “user pays – public benefits” structure of the...
Aug 05 2024
Taking a Closer Look at Reimbursement to Fish and Wildlife Agencies for Free and Discounted Licenses
Why It Matters: Each year, legislators look at ways to recognize and thank certain...
Jun 17 2024
Recapping a Busy, but Successful Legislative Session in the Volunteer State
Why It Matters: With no shortage of bills this year having the potential to...
Feb 20 2024
CSF Actively Working both Pro and Anti-Sportsmen’s Bills in Tennessee
Why It Matters: (1) Efforts to end the Sandhill Crane season in the Volunteer...
Feb 05 2024
Misguided Legislation to End Sandhill Crane Season Introduced in Tennessee
Why It Matters: The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is widely recognized as...
Oct 30 2023
Tennessee Seeking Comments on Draft Deer and Turkey Management Plans
Why It Matters: Regarded as the most successful model of wildlife conservation in the...
Oct 10 2023
Governors Across the Southeast Recognize the Contributions of Sportsmen and Women to Conservation
Why It Matters: On September 23, 2023, sportsmen and women across the nation celebrated...
Jun 05 2023
Tennessee Legislative Session Recap – Important Wins for Sportsmen and Women
Why It Matters: Protecting and maintaining access and opportunities for hunters and anglers while...
Mar 06 2023
CSF Weighs in on Numerous Hot Button Bills in Tennessee
Why It Matters: (1) The TWRA is tasked with conserving Tennessee’s fish and wildlife,...
Nov 07 2022
What Mississippi’s Youth Deer Season Means to Me
Why It Matters: States have recognized the importance of providing positive outdoor recreation experiences...
Sep 20 2022
Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Gathers for Annual Dove Hunt – Recognizes Mike Bell
Why It Matters: The dove hunt provided an opportunity for Caucus members, sportsmen’s groups, and...
Feb 14 2022
Tennessee Bills Threaten to Transfer Wildlife Management Area Ownership to County
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States CoordinatorWhy It Matters: Lack of access is one of the biggest...
Sep 20 2021
Tennessee Quail Habitat Restoration Project Meets Opposition - Public Meeting Scheduled
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States CoordinatorHighlightsWhy it Matters: The establishment of an oak/pine savanna...
Sep 28 2020
Asian Carp Advisory Commission Established in Tennessee
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant DirectorOn September 23, Governor Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor...
Sep 08 2020
Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Annual Dove Hunt
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant DirectorOn September 2, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus...
Sep 23 2019
Tennessee: Sportsmen’s Caucus Adds New Leader
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States ManagerRecently, the bicameral and bipartisan Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s...
Sep 09 2019
Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Dove Shoot
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States ManagerOn September 3, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus...
Jun 03 2019
Tennessee: Fish and Wildlife Commission Approves Regulations to Combat Chronic Wasting Disease
Contact John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States ManagerOn May 24, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife...
May 06 2019
Tennessee: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Wild Game Dinner
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States ManagerOn April 23, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus...
Apr 29 2019
Tennessee: Governor Bill Lee Joins Sportsmen’s Caucus
Contact: Bee Frederick, Southeastern States DirectorRecently, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee joined the Governors Sportsmen’s...
Mar 11 2019
Tennessee: Sportsmen’s Caucus Holds First Meeting of 2019
By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Senior DirectorOn February 26, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus...
Jan 28 2019
Tennessee: Additional Cases of Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States ManagerAs of January 24, over 90 deer in...
Apr 20 2018
Tennessee: Caucus Chairmen Send Letter Supporting Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to Congressional Delegation
By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States DirectorOn April 4, the Co-Chairmen of the Tennessee Legislative...
Mar 01 2018
Tennessee: Fish and Wildlife Commission Passes Rule to Help Prevent Chronic Wasting Disease
By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States DirectorOn February 27, several wildlife conservation groups from the...
Feb 08 2018
Tennessee: Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Holds Inaugural Wild Game Dinner
On February 6, the bipartisan and bicameral Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted an inaugural...
May 11 2017
Tennessee: Governor Signs Licensing Measure to Protect Future State Agency Funding
On May 9, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Bill Haslam signed Senate Bill 454,...
Apr 13 2017
Tennessee: Caucus Co-Chair Senator Mike Bell Receives Prestigious National Award from SCI
Senator Mike Bell, Co-Chair of the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, was recently named “Legislator...
Feb 23 2017
Tennessee: Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Informational Meeting
On February 15, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its first meeting of the...
Apr 07 2016
Tennessee: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Event in Nashville
On March 23, the bipartisan and bicameral Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their annual...
Jan 28 2016
Tennessee Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Pre-Session Meeting
On January 20, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their first meeting since formally...
Apr 16 2015
Tennessee Sportsmen’s Caucus Concludes the Legislative Session
On April 8, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their annual year-end legislative reception...
May 08 2014
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam Joins Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus
On April 29, Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee officially joined the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s...
Apr 17 2014
Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Reception Celebrating Successful Legislative Session
On April 9, Tennessee sportsmen-legislators gathered at the War Memorial Building in Nashville to...
Latest policy updates
Opportunities to expand angling access throughout the country have become increasingly limited...
Many sportsmen and women depend on federal lands managed by agencies such...
“No-Net-Loss” of public lands has become increasingly important to ensure access to...
In recent years, Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) use has increased rapidly across...
Introduction Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a progressive, fatal, degenerative neurological disease...
Properly managed wildlife habitat is essential for supporting sustainable and healthy wildlife...
Poaching stands as one of the greatest threats to both the social...
During the 1990s, 13 countries, including the United States, developed and agreed...
Revenue from sporting licenses is a crucial element for funding state fish...
Classified as a nuisance species in many states and not native to...
The vast majority of states in the nation now have a system...
Knife industry and advocacy groups have successfully worked with the U.S. Congress...
In recent years many local governments have enacted vague, outdated laws banning...
As with many Constitutional protections, the court system has created carve-outs and...
Though hunting, fishing, and harvesting wildlife (including by trapping) have long been...
Several states have passed legislation that allows non-resident, full-time college students to...
The vast majority of states throughout the nation offer an online component...
Reports and Data
Jan 01 2013
2013 Sportsmen's Economic Impact Report - Tennessee
The Volunteer State's 994,000 hunters and anglers spend $1.8 billion annually and support 26,389...
Jan 01 2007
2006 Economic Impact Report — Tennessee
Sportsmen and women in Tennessee annually spend more than the cash receipts for cattle,...
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Advocate for policies impacting your state. Contact your States Program Team Member to learn how you can help make a difference and protect outdoor traditions.
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