NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is reminding Tennesseans and visitors to take part in the 2026 wild turkey summer observation survey. The survey is open to the public and continues through Aug 31.
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is finalizing a process to develop a statewide Black Bass Management Plan and is inviting the public to provide input on the Tennessee Black Bass Management Plan. This plan builds on the work of previous plans and incorporates all stakeholders' values. The Tennessee Black Bass Management Plan is designed to provide broad guidance on policies for addressing the complex management challenges and issues related to producing desirable bass fishing experiences in Tennessee.
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is seeking fields to lease for the upcoming 2026 dove hunting season. The first segment of dove season opens at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Campbell County have completed the installation of a new courtesy dock at the Davis Cemetery Access Area. The partnership is the conclusion of a project that has been in the works for several years.
NASHVILLE — Chris Wood, Program Director of the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Director of eBird, has been selected as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Tennessee Biodiversity Summit. Over the past two decades, Chris has helped build eBird into one of the world's largest biodiversity data resources, with more than two billion bird observations contributed by over one million participants worldwide.
NASHVILLE — The new Deer Bait Privilege License will be available on GoOutdoorsTennessee.com and in the TWRA On the Go App, starting July 22, 2026. The cost will be $50 for a resident of Tennessee and $100 for a non-resident. Public Chapter No. 444, allowing hunting over bait for white-tailed deer, was initiated by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee in the 2025 Legislative Session.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is seeking public comments on the 2027-28 fishing regulations. This comment period, open from Wednesday, July 15, through Thursday, August 16, 2026, allows anglers and stakeholders to share feedback and suggestions with TWRA staff. Proposed regulation changes will be presented at the December meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC).
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is pleased to report there were no boating-related fatalities over the Operation Dry Water (ODW)-July 4th holiday weekend. The TWRA Boating and Law Enforcement Division compiled the holiday statistics after receiving reports from the Agency’s four regions.
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is once again participating in Operation Dry Water (ODW), a year-round boating under the influence (BUI) and enforcement campaign. ODW’s heightened awareness and enforcement annually takes place around the July 4th holiday, and this year is July 3-5 (Friday-Sunday).
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is informing off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders on North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) of important updates taking effect July 1, 2026, following the enactment of Public Chapter No. 1120, an amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 9, related to OHV use on NCWMA.
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) are announcing that ABR will resume rehabilitation of orphaned black bear cubs from Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Big South Fork National Recreation Area. Initially, ABR will have capacity to accept six black bear cubs in newly constructed pens at their facility in Townsend, TN. As the Agency responsible for management of wild bears in Tennessee, TWRA will continue to determine which cubs are viable candidates for rehabilitation at ABR.
NASHVILLE --- The winning entries for the 2026-27 Tennessee Wildlife magazine photo contest have been selected by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and will appear in the annual calendar, starting in August.
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) reports the state’s spring turkey hunting season resulted in a harvest of 34,990 birds, the fourth-highest reported harvest on record. It is the best harvest since the 2020 COVID record season and ranks behind only the 2006 and 2010 seasons overall.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has announced the second annual Tennessee Biodiversity Summit will take place on October 21, 2026, at Middle Tennessee State University. All wildlife enthusiasts, including experts, birdwatchers, hunters, and anyone interested in nature, are invited to participate in this experience packed with opportunities to learn about wildlife diversity, habitats, and conservation in Tennessee.
NASHVILLE --- The application period for the 2026 Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Big Game quota hunts for deer, turkey, and the Cherokee party hunts for bears is June 10 through July 22. Mailed applications will not be accepted. Entries must be submitted before midnight (CDT) July 22.