Proposed Changes to the 2006/07 Hunting Seasons

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission took final action on the hunting season proposals from the TWRA today in Nashville during their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The proposals, along with supporting justifications, were presented to the Commission and public last month. These changes will take effect in August and will be in the new 2006/07 Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Manner and Means of Hunting and Trapping
Legalize all centerfire rifles for hunting deer, bear and boar (presently only .24 caliber and larger are legal).
Allow hunters who have already filled their bag to accompany other hunters in the woods.
Legalize Sudden Valley Supply trap pads for use on offset jaw traps.
Allow hunters on private land to hunt from a stationary ATV or other vehicle that cannot be licensed to operate on the state of Tennessee's highways.

Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Seasons
Extend the otter trapping season in East TN to Jan 31.
Remove the river otter bag limit of four per season in East TN.

Big Game Hunting Seasons
Move Franklin and Smith counties to Unit L.
Increase or adjust quota and /or non-quota hunts in Anderson, Blount, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Hawkins, Houston, Knox, McMinn, Meigs, Overton, Rhea, Roane, Stewart, and Sullivan counties.
Redefine antlerless hunting boundaries in Anderson county.
Eliminate hog hunting with dogs in Greene, Unicoi, and Washington counties
Add early season weekend bear hunts to Carter, Johnson, Polk, and Sullivan counties.
Adjust the bear and boar seasons in Blount, Cocke (South of I-40), and Sevier counties.
Added two hunts, Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery (Dogs permitted): Nov. 13-16 and Nov. 30 - Dec. 8.
Add a bear dog training season on private lands in Blount, Carter, Johnson, Monroe, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties.
Add or increase fall turkey seasons in Decatur, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Putnam, White, and Williamson counties.

Spring Turkey Seasons
Clarify bag limits - One bearded turkey per day, not to exceed four per season with no more than two per season on Wildlife Management Areas and Refuges except turkeys taken on all quota hunts are bonus turkeys.
WMA date changes and liberalizations.

Wildlife Management Areas - Changes from last year
All hunt dates on WMAs adjusted from last year to fit 2006 calendar.
Added four WMAs: Charlotte Ann Finnell Neal (Bradley County), Cummings Cove (Hamilton and Marion counties), The Boils (Jackson County), and Three Rivers (Obion County).
Removed three WMAs: Cove Mountain (Sevier County), Doe Mountain (Johnson County), and Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park (Benton County).
Prohibit the release or possession of pen raised game birds on WMAs unless otherwise specified.
AEDC WMA - Allow the use of air rifles for small game hunting except for migratory birds. Prohibit the use of rimfire and centerfire rifles and all handguns including muzzleloading pistols.
Bear Hollow Mountain - Split deer season into 12 hunts with a separate bag limit for each hunt. The antlered bucks count toward the statewide bag.
Cheatham Firing Range - Opens at noon and closes one hour after sunset.
Cheatham Lake (Pardue Pond and Dyson Ditch Refuge) - Access by boat only.
Cherokee WMA (Ocoee Unit) - Extend the raccoon hunting season one week to close Jan. 20.
Chickasaw State Forest - No antlerless deer may be taken during the Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery hunt on Chickasaw.
Edgar Evins State Park - Deleted the Safety Zone archery hunt.
Foothills - Changed proposed Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery bear hunts to Nov. 13-16 and Nov. 30-Dec. 8. Dogs will be permitted on these hunts.
Gallatin Steam Plant - Free Gallatin Steam Plant Permit required from TWRA Region II Office. Deer season same as statewide but closes Nov. 15.
C. M. Gooch - On Gooch Unit E, no waterfowl hunters allowed on the unit or access area from two hours after legal shooting hours have ended until 4:00 a.m. the following day during the late duck season(s). No permanent blinds. All decoys, temporary blinds, blind materials, and boats must be removed from Unit E daily.
Hiwassee Refuge - Dove: Sept. 1, 4. Noon to sunset only on Sept. 1. Viewing area open year-round.
Kyker Bottoms Refuge - Motorized vehicles and horseback riding prohibited.
Laurel Hill - Deer/Turkey (Archery): One 16-day hunt. Sept. 23-Oct. 8. No hunter quota. Three deer, either sex (bonus deer). Three turkey, either sex.
North Chickamauga Creek - Dove: (Hixson Unit) (Young Sportsman and Wheelchair-bound hunters only), each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday during the statewide season from noon till sunset only. Adult accompanying youth may also hunt. One assistant to wheelchair-bound hunter may hunt. Wheelchair-bound hunters may drive their vehicles directly to the field. (Varner and Rogers units), Sept. 2 and each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday during the statewide season. Hunting from staked positions only on Sept. 2. Staked positions will be assigned by a hand-held drawing on Aug. 26 at the Varner parking area. Signup for drawing will be from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Successful applicants must be at their assigned staked positions by noon on Sept. 2. Hunters must check-out at the conclusion of their hunt on Sept. 2. Only one hunter assigned per stake except adult hunters may be accompanied by a youth hunter. Bag limit 10.
Oak Ridge - Deer: Raised quotas and limits on most hunts. Canada Goose: Sept. 2, 9, closes at noon. Harvested geese must be checked out by 1:00 p.m.
Old Hickory Lock 5 Refuge - Closed to all hunting south of the Cumberland River.
Tellico Lake - Dog Training Seasons: McGhee Carson - Daylight hours only. Chota Refuge - Sept. 1-Oct. 31 and Feb. 15-Mar. 15. Dove: Niles Ferry - Sept. 4 and Sept. 9-10 Young Sportsman Only. Deer: Niles Ferry - Add to TWRA Quota Hunt drawing Deer Young Sportsman Hunt.
Three Rivers - Same as statewide hunting and trapping seasons. No waterfowl hunters allowed on unit or access area from two hours after legal shooting hours have ended until 4:00 a.m. the following day during late duck season(s). No permanent blinds. All decoys, temporary blinds, blind materials, and boats must be removed daily.
White Oak - Closed to Jan. 13-14 Young Sportsmen Hunt. Waterfowl hunting closes at 3:00 p.m. (CST) during the late duck season(s) and all types of water traffic prohibited after 5:00 p.m. No waterfowl hunters allowed on the area from 5:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. the following day during the late duck season.
Wolf River - Extended the rabbit hunting season to close Feb. 28.
Yuchi at Smith Bend - Dog Training: Sept. 1-Mar 15 in Upland Zone. Sept. 1-Nov. 14 and Mar. 1-15 in Wetland Zone. Daylight hours only. No fox or coyote chasing.