The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will establish the 2016-17 sport fish regulations during its October meeting. The meeting will be held in Chattanooga on Oct. 15-16 (Thursday-Friday) at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.
Committee meetings start at 1 p.m. on Thursday. The regular TFWC meeting begins at 9 a.m. on Friday.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Fisheries Division presented proposals to the sport fish proclamation during a preview at the August TFWC meeting in Morristown. The proposals will be presented to the commission for discussion and approval.
December 2015 will mark the 15th anniversary of the first elk release. This event marked the beginning of the elk restoration project. Steve Bennett, TWRA biologist at North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, will give an overview, which includes outlining the short-term goals as well as the desired long term direction of the program.
The TWRA will recognize the Tennessee Valley Authority, a long-time partner with the TWRA and TFWC. Recent significant topics include the financial assistance on access areas, birding trails, and the funding for two federal fish hatcheries in the state.
The annual awards for the Fisheries Division and the Wildlife and Forestry Division will each be presented at the October meeting. The biologist and technician for each of the divisions will be recognized. In addition, the TWRA’s part-time Boating Officer of the Year, Allen Herald, will be introduced as he was unable to attend the September meeting to receive the award.
The TFWC will also be given a presentation on the Quail Forever Farm Bill Habitat biologist. Also, an update will be presented on the Moment of Free project.
The meeting will be the TFWC’s last scheduled until a one-day meeting in Nashville on Dec. 11.