Senator Mike Bell, Co-Chair of the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, was recently named “Legislator of the Year” by the Safari Club International (SCI). An avid outdoorsman and champion-legislator for sportsmen, Senator Bell was chosen for the prestigious award from 11 finalists and over 15,000 state legislators across the country. The award will be formally …
On February 15, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its first meeting of the 2017 legislative session. Legislators, legislative staff, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) personnel, and conservation organization representatives attended the informational meeting. Attendees heard from Stephen Tucker from Sumner County, Tennessee who recounted the story of recently harvesting a new world record whitetail buck …
Tennessee: Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Informational Meeting Read More »
On March 23, the bipartisan and bicameral Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their annual legislative reception in the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. With support from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation, the event served as a venue for interaction between legislators, staffers, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) staff and commissioners, and representatives from …
Tennessee: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Event in Nashville Read More »
On January 20, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their first meeting since formally reorganizing as a caucus in 2016. The meeting was held to gather members of the Caucus and to discuss the legislative priorities for Tennessee’s sportsmen and women in the 2016 session. The informational and organizational meeting was led by Caucus Co-Chairs …
Tennessee Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Pre-Session Meeting Read More »
On April 8, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their annual year-end legislative reception at the War Memorial Building in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Sponsored by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation (Foundation), the event provided a time for legislators, staffers, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency personnel, Foundation staff, and representatives from sportsmen’s organizations to gather and reflect …
Tennessee Sportsmen’s Caucus Concludes the Legislative Session Read More »
On April 29, Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee officially joined the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) bringing the total to 28 member governors. The Volunteer State is home to approximately 1 million hunters and anglers who spend an estimated $1.8 billion annually on associated costs and support over 26,000 jobs each year. Governor Haslam joins …
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam Joins Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Read More »
On April 9, Tennessee sportsmen-legislators gathered at the War Memorial Building in Nashville to enjoy a reception hosted by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation and Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus member Representative Ron Lollar. As the session winds down in the state, the reception offered a time for legislators, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation staff, Tennessee Wildlife …
Summary Opportunities to expand angling access throughout the country have become increasingly limited in recent years due to increases in private ownership along waterways and attendant riparian rights limiting new access construction. State authorities often have the opportunity to expand fresh water angling access through the establishment of access points when state highway transportation departments …
Considering Recreational Angling Access in Transportation Projects Read More »
Summary Many sportsmen and women depend on federal lands managed by agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for access to activities like hunting, fishing and recreational shooting. As these agencies develop strategies to manage federal lands, it is critical for those who support these …
Summary “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. Sometimes referred to as “Hunting Heritage Protection Acts,” these policies limit the loss of access to hunting and fishing opportunity by establishing a minimum acreage of publicly- owned areas …