Fish and Wildlife Commission to Meet Sept. 27-28 in Nashville

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Sept. 27-28 (Thursday-Friday) in Nashville with a variety of items on the September agenda. 

Among the items on this month’s agenda, will be a 2012 dove report. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency began its leased dove field program in the 1980s. The program has been successful in providing quality hunting opportunities. In addition to the leased fields program, many dove fields are provided on wildlife management areas throughout the state.

Tim White, TWRA’s Migratory Bird Program Coordinator, will provide the update. 

An assessment on the status of the Caney Fork River will be presented by Mark Thurman, TWRA’s Region III Fisheries Manager. A survey of results of a recent survey of the Caney Fork’s users will be in the presentation.

Brian Ripley and Tim Sain, Region IV Boating and Law Enforcement Division officials will provide information on the Annual Rainbow Family Gathering which was held this year on the North Cherokee WMA in Sullivan County. Since 1972, the national gatherings have been held around the country each year. 

Don Crawford, the Information & Education Division’s assistant chief, will give a report on the National Fishing in Schools Program (NFSP) that has been launched in several Tennessee schools. Tennessee was one of the states selected to receive a grant to help schools begin the program. 

Mike Butler from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation will give an update on the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) during the Retention and Recruitment Committee meeting.

There will be a presentation from Ducks Unlimited on the organization’s partnership with the TWRA. Dave Kostersky and Craig Hilburn will be present representing Ducks Unlimited.

Also, presentations will be made to the TWRA Wildlife Biologist of the Year and Wildlife Technician of the Year.

The committee meetings will be held on Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. while the formal commission starts Friday at 9 a.m.

---TWRA---