NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is pleased to report no boating-related fatalities over the Labor Day holiday weekend. The TWRA Boating and Law Enforcement Division compiled the holiday statistics after receiving reports from the Agency’s four regions.
NASHVILLE--- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) biologists held their second annual Benthic Blitz covering 123 sites from 10 watersheds within the Upper Cumberland River Basin. They included the Caney, Collins, and Calfkiller Rivers. A benthic blitz is critical for maintaining wildlife diversity and aims to fill data gaps and targets rare animals such as bottom-dwelling snails, mussels, crayfish, and fish. Healthy aquatic ecosystems should have a wide range of species.
NASHVILLE--- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has announced the return of Mike Bell to the Agency as Special Assistant to the Executive Director after a two-year stint as the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Assistant Commissioner for Fire Prevention. Prior to his previous role with the state, Bell served as TWRA’s Legislative Director from 2022-2024.
NASHVILLE --- The final major weekend of the 2026 summer boating season is approaching with the upcoming Labor Day holiday, Sept. 5-7. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is reminding all Tennesseans and its visitors to wear life jackets and boat safely and responsibly.
DICKSON, Tenn. --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the University of Tennessee Extension are hosting an informational meeting to address questions regarding recent chronic wasting disease (CWD) detections in Middle Tennessee. Hunters and landowners who wish to know more about CWD in Tennessee are invited to attend a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the Dickson County Government Building. Wildlife managers and a wildlife veterinarian will provide information on the disease, current management practices, surveillance, and incentive programs, while answering questions from attendees.
NASHVILLE --- The application period for the 2026-27 Sandhill Crane quota hunt, the 2026-27 Bobwhite Quail quota hunt, and the Game Warden Deer Hunt will be open Sept. 2-30.
CROSSVILLE, Tenn.---Boat ramps at the 411 Bridge and Patty Bridge on the Hiwassee River will remain open with limited parking during an improvement project taking place at each location. Construction will start on Monday, Aug.31.
NASHVILLE --- Tennessee’s 2026-27 mourning dove season opens on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at noon (local time), and is one of the state’s longest-standing hunting traditions. The season opener is the start of three hunting segments for the popular game bird.
NASHVILLE --- The 2026 Tennessee three-day archery antlered-only deer season will be held Aug. 28-30 for private lands only and select Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Deer Management Unit 1. Hunters will need to check the 2026-27 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Guide for individual WMA regulations.
ALEXANDRIA, Tenn. --- A Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) investigation into the illegal harvest of wild turkeys has led to the discovery of years of wildlife violations and the lifetime revocation of hunting privileges for a Smith County man.
NASHVILLE---The 2026 Tennessee Biodiversity Summit’s final agenda has been announced. The theme of this year’s event, Moving the Needle, Wins in Conservation, will celebrate many positive conservation accomplishments from across the state.
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC) unanimously approved the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s (TWRA) operational budget for 2027-28. The Commission also heard the Tennessee Black Bass Management Plan and passed rules on a new license structure and fees, including TWRA shooting ranges, at its August meeting.
NASHVILLE --- Mr. Kenneth Langston Brown was a supporter of the work of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), and his last wish was to show his appreciation, which came in the form of a very generous display.
NASHVILLE --- Tennessee residents will be able to hunt without a license on Saturday, Aug. 22, which also marks the opening day of squirrel season. Free Hunting Day is an annual event provided by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) in hopes of increasing interest in hunting.
NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will return to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Region II Ray Bell Building in Nashville for its Aug. 20-21 meeting. The committee meetings begin Thursday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m., with full Commission proceedings continuing Friday at 9 a.m. To watch both days of the meeting, visit the TWRA YouTube Channel.