Those who attended the recent wildlife commission meeting may have been in for a little surprise. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) informed its governing board, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission and others in attendance at their regularly scheduled March meeting of possible legislation that could affect the future of the TWRC and the agency. This information came during the legislative update portion of the meeting, concerning legislation that would sunset the TWRC and/or the TWRA.

The Agency said every state governmental entity has a statutory termination date, generally referred to as a sunset provision. Each of these entities must periodically go through a process of review and their termination date extended by the legislature. On Thursday, March 11, the House Calendar and Rules Committee took action to stop the legislation (HB 2460) that would have given the normal four-year extension to the existence of the TWRC.

Without passage of this legislation in both the House and Senate, the TWRC will go into a one-year period of wind down to termination, beginning July 1, 2010. During this period of wind down/termination, the entity continues to operate, unimpeded by its impending termination.

"We felt it is important to make all those affected by the operation of the TWRA and the TWRC aware of what could possibly happen," said Ed Carter, TWRA Executive Director. "We did not want our constituents or anyone else to find out about this at the 11th hour.

"Knowing where we stand with both the House and the Senate at this moment, our agency felt an obligation not only to the sportsmen of Tennessee, but all citizens who enjoy boating and wildlife watching, to let them know of the situation and the potential consequences regarding the future of the TWRA and its governing body, the TWRC. When the original Game and Fish Commission was formed in 1949, many state wildlife agencies across the country adopted what has become known as the Model Game and Fish Act and adopted the North American Principles for Wildlife Conservation.

"This model, considered sacred ground by some, was conceived to allow the management of fish and wildlife by trained professionals, governed primarily by a board of interested citizens. This model over time has served our state well and has allowed wildlife agencies across the country to make decisions regarding wildlife resources based on science and biology. The restoration of deer, turkey, and the bald eagle in Tennessee are prime examples of the many success stories."

In other business at the meeting, Information and Education Division Chief, Don King, presented an overview of agency outreach programs across the state. A video presentation, "TWRA Today" was also made, depicting many of TWRA's functions and includes economic data relating to outdoor participation.

"This review of the rich history of the agency and commission and all they have accomplished over the past 60 years makes me proud to have the privilege to serve our state in this way," said TWRC Chairman Mike Chase, at the conclusion of the video presentation. "It's obvious to me that members of this commission who serve, those who have served before us and agency employees past and present, have been motivated to do great work because they truly believe in the future of wildlife and fish in Tennessee and want to make a positive impact."

An overview of the Tennessee Angler Recognition Program that recognizes anglers for their outstanding catches, who may not qualify for the state record fish program, was made by Bobby Wilson, assistant chief of the Fisheries Division.

The TWRC received an update on the White Nose Syndrome (WNS). White Nose Syndrome is a fatal fungus that impacts bats in the eastern United States and has spread into Tennessee with its first confirmed cases two bats have tested positive while hibernating in Worley's Cave in Sullivan County.

WNS was first discovered in the United States in 2006 in New York.

Mortality rates for bats that contract WNS can exceed 90 percent. Richard Kirk, TWRA's Nongame and Endangered Species Coordinator, gave an update to the TWRC.

Tim White, TWRA Waterfowl Coordinator, gave a status report on the sandhill crane. Tennessee is a member of the Mississippi Flyway Council, which provides recommendations to the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service on regulatory issues concerning migratory birds. The flyway's technical section recently completed a management plan for the eastern population of sandhill cranes. The management plan lays the necessary groundwork for how sandhill cranes will be managed and monitored by the flyway, and is a prerequisite to the establishment of any hunting season for cranes.

Brett Dunlap, USDA Wildlife Services Director for Tennessee and Kentucky spoke to the commission concerning the progressing feral hog problems. Feral hogs continue to generate damage problems for private landowners across Tennessee and many states across the southeast, and they are also reservoirs for diseases that are of significant concern for agricultural livestock producers. Dunlap reviewed possible strategies and solutions to better address feral hog problems, such as ways to control the growing population.

The TWRA said the results of the Spring Turkey WMA Quota Hunts applications are now available and posted on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Web site. The results can be obtained by going to the TWRA Web site and clicking on Spring Turkey Quota Hunt Application & Status located under the Hot Topics section on the front page.

Permits were mailed to successful applicants. The TWRA apologizes for any confusion or inconvenience that may have been caused by the initial posting of incorrect draw result information.

"Incorrect priority points were applied to applicants which produced incorrect results in the first draw," according to Greg Wathen, TWRA Wildlife Division Chief. "Once the error was discovered, the decision was made to nullify those results and conduct the draw again, using the proper priority point data."

Persons who have questions about their applications may contact the TWRA Quota Hunts office at (615) 781-6621. Remember, the 2010 wild turkey young sportsman hunt (ages 6-16) is today and Sunday. The statewide spring turkey season runs from April 3-May 16, beginning next Saturday.

The TWRA will accept applications from April 1 through May 31 for participation in Tennessee's second-ever managed elk hunt. The elk hunt will be held Oct. 18-22, 2010 at the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, located off I-75, north of Knoxville. Once again, there will be five Elk Hunting Zones designated at the WMA.

As in the first hunt, five individuals will be selected to participate. Four of the participants will be selected through a computer drawing conducted by the TWRA. The fifth participant will be the recipient of a permit that is donated to a Non-Governmental Organization which this year will be the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Fund-raising proceeds are designated to the TWRA Elk Program. In the inaugural hunt, all five participants harvested an elk. Four came on the opening day of the hunt.

There is no application fee for current Tennessee Annual Sportsman License holders, Lifetime Sportsman License holders, or senior citizen hunters (Type 166) with an Annual Senior Citizen Permit (Type 167). All other applicants will be charged a $10 non-refundable permit fee, a $2 internet usage fee (if applying online) and $0.50 drawing fee (the internet and drawing fees are charged by the internet provider). For those applying at a license agent, there is a $1 agent fee in addition to the $10 non-refundable permit fee.

Persons may apply at any TWRA license agent, TWRA regional office or online at http://www.tnelkhunt.org . Persons may begin applying at 9 a.m. on April 1 and the deadline is 1 a.m. on May 31. Mailed applications will not be accepted.

The successful applicants will be announced at the June meeting of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission. Applicants will not be allowed to reapply for an elk quota permit for 10 years following a successful draw.

Tennessee law requires that anyone born on or after January 1, 1969, beginning at age 10 must possess proof of satisfactory completion of an approved hunter education course before hunting any species in Tennessee.

In order to enroll in a hunter education class, the student must be at least 9 years of age. Persons ages 6-9 may participate in Young Sportsman and WMA hunts without hunter education, but they must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age. Participants need to bring a pencil and their Social Security Number to class.

The next hunter safety course will be held by Lisa Fawbush at White Sands Guns & Ammo. The course begins on April 12, 2010 at 6 p.m. on the first night. The class will be limited to 25 students. To pre-register, call 423-636-1970.

Turkey season started this weekend for the young guns and next weekend for the rest of us. Watch for next Saturday's Outdoor Report and a look at the top turkey hunting counties in the state.