Tennessee

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: Conner Barker

Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus

Senator Marsha Blackburn Representative Tim Burchett Representative Scott DesJarlais Representative Charles Fleischmann Representative David Kustoff

Tennessee Governors Sportsmen's Caucus Member

Governor Bill Lee

Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Leadership

Representative Jesse Chism Senator Paul Rose Senator Steve Southerland Representative Chris Todd

Tennessee Policy Highlights

In 2023, the Caucus worked to protect the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency’s ability to make wildlife management decisions based on the best science available, consistent with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, to protect against the
further spread of Chronic Wasting Disease and other threats

Three hunters with dog in field

The Caucus has been instrumental over the years defeating bills that would have negatively impacted sporting dog owners and trappers as well as leading efforts to prohibit drones from interfering with hunters and anglers and allowing firearm carry permit holders to possess a firearm in a refuge, public hunting areas, or Wildlife Management Area.

In 2017, thanks to the leadership of Senator Mike Bell and other Caucus Members, Tennessee became the first state to enact legislation that would reimburse the state fish and wildlife agency (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) for free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses.

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Paid Hunting License Holders

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Paid Angling License Holders

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0
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Generated for Wildlife Conservation

Tennessee Policy Briefs

No-Net-Loss

“No-Net-Loss” of public lands has become increasingly important to ensure access to public lands and waterways for current and future generations of sportsmen and women.… Read more.
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Tennessee Latest News

November 2, 2026

The Need for Increased Conservation Literacy Among Young People 

Why It Matters: America’s conservation legacy depends on ensuring the next generation understands the importance of responsible natural resource management. As young people become increasingly disconnected from the outdoors, expanding conservation literacy is essential to building public support for science-based conservation and protecting our shared outdoor traditions.  Highlights:  Conservation literacy goes beyond building an appreciation […]

October 26, 2026

New Deer Drone Recovery Rules in Effect in Tennessee

Why It Matters: Year after year, there are new and innovative technologies impacting all aspects of life, and hunting is certainly no exception. Unmanned aerial vehicles, known as drones, have increased in popularity and have crept into the hunting community where many hunters seek their use in tracking wounded game.   Highlights:   Regardless of your age, […]

September 28, 2026

When License Fees Aren’t Enough: Exploring Other Opportunities for Conservation Funding 

Why It Matters: The cost of managing resources held in the public trust, maintaining public access, and delivering conservation programs continues to increase while hunting and fishing license revenues are failing to catch up. As a result, agencies in several states have considered implementing license fee increases to help close budget gaps. While license fees […]

September 14, 2026

Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Kicks Off Hunting Season with Annual Dove Hunt

Why It Matters: The Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) is a bipartisan group of state legislators that is housed under the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) umbrella and serves to protect our time-honored outdoor traditions. The Caucus does a great job of keeping members engaged both during the regular and interim sessions, allowing members […]

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Tennessee Reports

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Impact You Can See

Penalties for poaching were increased in CT and TN.

State agency authority was defended and/or enhanced in AL, CO, IN, MD, ME, MO, MT, NH, ND, NM, SD, TN, TX, and WA.

250,000 acres of wetlands that provide critical wildlife habitat were protected in TN.

Hunters in MD and TN may now use new technologies to assist in the recovery of wounded game while maintaining the Fair Chase Ethic central to our outdoor traditions.

Legislatures in AL, AR, DE, GA, IL, KY, LA, MS, NH, NV, NY, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VT, and WV celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Sportfish Restoration Program and formally recognized the crucial role that sportsmen and women play in funding conservation efforts through the “user pays, public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding.