State: TN

By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director On February 27, several wildlife conservation groups from the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, sent a letter to the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency supporting the proposed Importation of Wildlife Carcasses, Parts, and Products rule (number 1660‐01‐ 15‐.02)…

On February 6, the bipartisan and bicameral Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted an inaugural Wild Game Dinner in the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The event, with support from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation (TWRF), served as a fundraiser for the Sportsmen’s Caucus and specific youth programs…

On May 9, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Bill Haslam signed Senate Bill 454, which will allow the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to be reimbursed for the issuance of free or partially discounted combination hunting and fishing licenses to persons on or after January 1, 2017. The measure is not retroactive and does not…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The Volunteer State's 994,000 hunters and anglers spend $1.8 billion annually and support 26,389 jobs. Working with CSF in a coordinated effort to protect and promote the sportsmen’s traditions in Tennessee are nine members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, as well as the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. 2013 Sportsmen’s Economic Impact Report – Tennessee

Sportsmen and women in Tennessee annually spend more than the cash receipts for cattle, broilers, and cotton- the state’s top three agricultural commodities ($1.3 billion vs. $1.2 billion). Every five years in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey on hunters and anglers, CSF produces a report on the economic impact hunters and anglers…