The date and locations have been set for duck blind drawings in West Tennessee on TWRA’s Wildlife Management Areas. Drawings on all of the areas will be Saturday, August 7, 2004 and particpants must be there in person.

Last year the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency staff and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission passed a rule to hold duck blind drawings via computer. They felt that requiring hunters to be present for the drawings (that are mostly for areas in West Tennessee) was unfair for hunters from East Tennessee. And again, the TWRC did pass the change to computer drawings.

However, there was a huge backlash from West Tennessee hunters, who complained to their legislators. The politicians were successful in forcing the Wildlife Commission to reverse itself during an "emergency meeting" held via telephone conference call.

And we're back to drawings where hunters must be present to participate.

Registration will be 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. with the drawings to begin at 10:00 a.m.

To participate in the annual blind drawing, individuals must:

• Be at least 16 years of age.
  
• Appear in person.
  
• Not have applied for more than one area.
  
• Possess one of the following licenses and permits ( except at Reelfoot where only an annual Reelfoot Preservation Permit is required). No licenses or permits will be available at blind drawing locations.
  Residents:
  -Lifetime Sportsman License
  -Sportsman License (Type 04)
  -Type 01 License and Type 91 Permit
  -Type 166 License and Type 91 Permit or Type 167 Permit
  -Proof of age (residents born before March 1, 1926) and Type 91 Permit

  Nonresidents:
  -Type 71 License and Type 91 Permit
  -Type 73 License and Type 91 Permit

Drawings will be held at the following locations:
Gooch Unit A (35 blinds)
Location for drawing - Town of Obion - City Park. Take U.S. Highway 51 north from Memphis or south from Union City. Get off at Obion exit, turn east to City Park.

Reelfoot (42 blinds)
Location for drawing - Ellington Hall at Reelfoot State Park Visitors Center, Hwy. 22, 2.5 miles east of Tiptonville, TN. - across from Boyette’s Restaurant.

Kentucky Lake (Camden Units I&II, Harmon’s Creek, Big Sandy, and Gin Creek) (Camden-47 blinds; Harmon Creek-9 blinds; Big Sandy-18 blinds; and Gin Creek- 6 blinds) Location for drawing - Little League Ballfield in Big Sandy, TN.

Barkley Unit I (28 blinds)
Location for drawing - Dover Elementary School, 1 mile south of Dover, TN on Hwy. 49.

Tigrett (19 blind sites) Location for drawing- Dyersburg Fairgrounds (First Citizens Pavillion). Take Newbern/ Dyersburg exit (State Hwy 211) off U.S. Hwy. 412 at Dyersburg. Take Hwy. 211 west, towards Dyersburg, turn on Community Park Road. Fairgrounds will be on the right.

West Sandy (37 blinds) Location will be the Livestock Barn at the Henry County Fairgrounds in Paris, TN.

Cheatham WMA: Location will bet at Cheatham WMA headquarters (checking station) at 1299 Headquarters Road in Ashland City.

Haynes WMA: Location will also be at Cheatham WMA headquarters (checking station) at 1299 Headquarters Road in Ashland City.

Old Hickory WMA, Unit I and Unit II: Location will be Ward Agriculture Center in Lebanon--take I-40 to Lebanon-Watertown exit. Turn toward Lebanon; enter off of Tennessee Boulevard. Watch for signs for directions to drawing site at Ward Agriculture Center.

AEDC WMA (Woods Reservoir): Drawing will take place at AEDC Recreation Beach alongside Gossick Center. From I-24, take exit #117 and follow Wattendorf Highway past the third entrance to AEDC. Take a left at Pumping Station Road and follow Leadership Center signs.

TWRA would like to remind people attending the blind drawings that rules and regulations state - No person shall buy, sell, or barter, or offer to buy, sell or barter the privilege of signing on a draw blind. Violation of this is a Class B misdemeanor.