TWRC to Meet Feb. 25-26 in Nashville
Monday, February 22, 2010 | 10:15am
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission will hold its monthly meeting Feb. 25-26 at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Region II Ray Bell Building.
TWRC committee meetings will begin at 1 p.m. on Feb. 25 and the regular commission meeting will start at 9 a.m. on Feb. 26.
Following last fall’s successful elk hunt, the first since elk were reintroduced in the state, TWRA officials will present their plan for the 2010 statewide elk hunting season. If approved by the TWRC, the 2010 will be held Oct. 18-22, 2010 with five permits available for antlered bulls only. Four of the elk permits will again be randomly selected through a drawing conducted by the TWRA while the fifth permit will be donated to a Non-Governmental Organization, this year the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to help raise funds for Tennessee’s elk program.
TWRC members will be updated on the elk program with an in-depth overview of our elk census methods and results, and information on other factors that influence the elk population. The information is used in developing population models that provide TWRA’s decision making concerning the elk program.
During the January meeting, the TWRC approved the process to move forward toward developing a reciprocal agreement between Tennessee and Virginia on South Holston Lake to enable fishermen from either state to fish the entire lake if they so choose. Specific details on the agreement will be presented, including possible implementation dates.
An overview of current legislative activity that affects TWRA will be presented. Also, the TWRC will be asked to give specific guidance on legislative issues related to hunting over bait; and, increased penalties for boating under the influence. Also, the proposed constitutional amendment regarding “The right to hunt and fish” will be discussed.
In preparation for an agenda item on the legislative update, TWRA’s Boating Division will give an informational update regarding how the agency enforces the BUI law and how the agency officers are trained.
The Commission Nominations Committee will give its report to be followed by the election of officers for the 2010-11 term.
The TWRC serves as the governing body for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The public is invited to attend.
---TWRA---