The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission will be traveling to Knoxville for the September meeting.

Commissioners will consider a proclamation banning all decoys which simulate waterfowl wing movement.... not just battery-operated decoys, but even "manually or wind-powered devices."

The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Select at the Cedar Bluff (Exit 378) off I-40.

The Committee meetings will start at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, September 28, with the Commission meeting following on Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.

Recently a number of our personnel traveled to New Orleans to assist in rescue efforts. We want to recognize those employees and have invited them to attend the Thursday morning session. We will show video footage taken in the New Orleans area.

On Thursday morning, Safari Club International wishes to make a monetary contribution to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation for assistance in the Elk Program.

The Agenda has a number of items for Commission action and discussion. They are as follows:

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Commercial Fishing Proclamation 05-22 – Agency recommendations to change regulations on the paddlefish commercial fishery will be presented.

Sport Fishing Changes for 2006 – We announced earlier this year that we would skip 2006 sportfish proclamation changes, however, two issues have surfaced that will need to be addressed for the upcoming year. Both involve minor changes to the Gatlinburg trout fishing permit/regulations.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Waterfowl Hunter Survey – Dr. Mark Fly, Professor in Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries at U.T. Knoxville, will present the final results of the TWRA Waterfowl Hunter Survey. Part of the presentation will include opinions of Tennessee hunters on the use of spinning wing decoys.

Proclamation 05-24 – Amending Proclamation 05-09 Manner and Means – At the August meeting, the Commission requested the Agency develop a proclamation amendment to prohibit the use of spinning wing decoys while waterfowl hunting. Should the Commission enact a restriction on the use of spinning wing decoys, the TWRA suggests the following language as wording:

“Any electronic, mechanically operated, wind powered, or manually operated device that mimics waterfowl wing movement is prohibited and may not be used to take waterfowl, effective September 1, 2006.”

Proclamation 05-25 – Amending Proclamation 05-16-Importation of Cervid Carcasses – We have just recently been advised that a case of Chronic Wasting Disease has been detected in West Virginia. We recommend amending our proclamation to require carcasses coming into Tennessee from West Virginia be in accordance with our rules.

The New Electronic REAL Big Game Check-in System – Within a few short weeks, the much anticipated electronic big game check-in system will go LIVE in Tennessee for the first time ever. The new check-in process will utilize the R.E.A.L. system which is currently in use by TWRA licensing agents. Instead of continuing with the paper tag system, which calls for the collection of kill tag books and the cumbersome task of data entry, the electronic system will capture all the data with just a few simple keystrokes. These transactions will take place at the point-of-sale, or in this case, at the check station. Although the Tennessee deer hunter will barely notice any difference at all in the check-in process, the new system promises to give the Agency the necessary tools to increase the efficiency and accuracy of biological data collection. It will also equip wildlife officers with instantaneous access to harvest information to assist in the prosecution of wildlife offenses.

BOATING COMMITTEE

We will be introducing two resolutions thanking Brunswick/Mercury Motors and Triton Boats for their contributions to TWRA for the hurricane disaster relief effort.

BUDGET, NONGAME & ENDANGERED SPECIES COMMITTEE

The Agency will have a small adjustment to the FY05/06 Budget to convert part-time positions to full-time and to establish a wetlands position that had previously been abolished when we lost wetlands funding.

The Tennessee Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) – Over the last five
years, state wildlife agencies have received additional congressionally appropriated funding to plan for and manage rare wildlife in their states. A mandate to develop a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) accompanied the new funding. The TWRA, assisted by The Nature Conservancy and other conservation partners, has completed Tennessee’s CWCS. Deadline for submittal of the CWCS to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is October 1, 2005.

The Financial Report and Real Estate Report will also be presented.

Contracts and Grants Review – The Contracts and Grants List is included for Commission review and discussion.