The establishment of the 2012 special elk hunting season and a recommendation to add bowfishing for Asian carp as an approved method of commercial fishing will be among the agenda items for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission at its February meeting.
The TWRC will meet Feb. 9-10 (Thursday-Friday) at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Region II Ray Bell Building in Nashville. Committee meetings will start at 1 p.m. on Thursday and the formal meeting is at 9 a.m. on Friday.
Currently, bowfishing is only allowed as a sport fishing method. The proposal will allow bow anglers the opportunity to shoot and sell Asian carp as incentive to reduce their numbers. Daryl Ratajczak, TWRA Wildlife Division Chief, will make the agency’s recommendation for the 2012 elk hunt. Also, as instructed at the January TWRC meeting, the agency had a period for public comments regarding the addition of a youth hunt. Those comments will be presented at the meeting.
The National Wild Turkey Federation Convention is scheduled for Feb. 9-12 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. The commission will be briefed on the opportunities to visit the NWTF events, The TWRA works with the NWTF to provide conference support and technical representation.
The commission will receive a presentation regarding the Off-Highway Vehicle issues at Cummings Cove Wildlife Management Area (Aetna Mountain) in southeastern Tennessee. A brief history, update and future plans for the area will be discussed.
A presentation highlighting recent engineering construction projects will be made. The commission will be informed about a new radio show on famed radio station WSM-AM 650.