As TWRA enters its eighth year of elk hunting in Tennessee, this year’s permit winners will have some expanded opportunities.
Tennessee began its first elk hunt in 2009 and up until this year, hunters were limited to the elk hunting zones at the NCWMA. New for 2016 however, hunters will have the option to hunt on either the North Cumberland WMA, or with permission on private lands within Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan, and Scott counties.
Also new for this year, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the addition of an archery only elk hunt which will be held Oct. 3-7. Selected for the archery only hunt were Dennis C. Edwards (Brentwood), Travis L. Brown (Telford), William Scott Taylor (Murfreesboro), Donald Alvin Jackson (Cleveland), and James A. Millwood (Chattanooga).
The selections for the regular hunt set for Oct. 17-21 were Kevin Hart (Yuma), Austin L. Burks (Waynesboro), Timothy C. Copeland (Crossville), and Bryan C. White (Harrison).
The fifth permit for the elk hunt was presented to a non-governmental organizational, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation. The permit was auctioned and Wade Roberts (Leoma) was the high bidder at $9,000. Fund-raising proceeds from the auctioned tag are designated for the elk restoration program. The youth tag permit winner is Jordan Redmond (Oakdale). This will be the fifth year for the tag, which is designated for youth ages 13-16.
TWRA is also interested in hearing from landowners within Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan, and Scott counties who have elk on their property and are interested in allowing permitted hunters to hunt. This will allow hunters and interested landowners to make contact. For more information, contact TWRA Elk Program Coordinator Brad Miller at 423-566-8557 or Brad.Miller@tn.gov.