New Headwaters WMA Officially Established at June TWRC Meeting

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission officially approved the proclamation to establish the Headwaters Wildlife Management Area in Cannon County. The approval came during the TWRC’s June meeting which concluded Friday at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Region II Ray Bell Building.

The Headwaters WMA becomes the TWRA’s 124th Wildlife Management Area and is comprised of eight tracts totaling 592 acres. The Headwaters WMA name comes from the Caney Fork, Collins, and Stones rivers that originate in that area of Cannon County. Another 400 acres involve tracts that will become part of the existing Pea Ridge WMA.

The acreage was given to the TWRA from the United States Justice Department as a result of convictions in a felony drug conspiracy case. The TWRA is going to develop a management plan for recreational use for the area. The TWRC also passed a proclamation to establish WMA statewide hunting seasons for the new WMA.

The area was dedicated on Wednesday as Headwaters WMA as officials from the TWRA, federal, other state and local agencies gathered at the site.

June’s meeting was the final meeting for TWRA’s governing body as the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission. On July 1, the governing body will be known as the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission.

During Thursday’s Wildlife Management Committee meeting, the names of four winners were announced to participate in Tennessee’s fourth-ever managed elk hunt to be held in October at North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. The four winners, all Tennessee residents, were selected in a computer drawing from 5,799 applicants. Tony William Fink of Crossville, Brian M. Rochelle of Franklin, William D. Marbury of the Haywood County community of Stanton, and Corbin M. Moore of Rockwood were the persons selected for the 2012 hunt. The winners were announced by Gray Anderson, TWRA Wildlife and Forestry Division Assistant Chief.

The fifth participant will be the recipient of a permit that is donated to a Non-Governmental Organization, which this year is the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation. That permit will be auctioned on eBay. The auction period will run July 19-29. Fund-raising proceeds are designated for the TWRA Elk Program.

The TWRC voted to establish a young sportsman elk hunt following the conclusion of the regular elk hunt, which will be held Oct. 20-21 with one young sportsman to be selected. The winner from the drawing will be announced in conjunction with the Second Annual Land and Wildlife Expo in August.

The commission also heard a report on quail in the state and approved a rule concerning special hunts provided by charitable organizations for children with severe health issues.

---TWRA---