Newsroom

The Ashtin Grimes Youth Squirrel Hunt in Wayne County marked a major milestone in February, celebrating its 10th year of bringing young hunters together for a day in the woods.

Students in the Wildlife and Fisheries Science class at Cumberland Gap High School recently participated in a unique educational program focused on furbearer trapping and predator control.

The TWRA has been presented the National Wild Turkey Federation's (NWTF) prestigious “Diamond Legacy Award” for its long-standing partnership.

Robertson County wildlife officer Jason Shapton recently partnered with the city of Springfield and Hero Hunt Inc. to organize a special goose hunt at a local city park.

Micheala Bass-Zaidan recently completed survey work on a 3-year research project focused on eastern box turtles in Middle Tennessee’s Central Basin. Her study examined both micro- and macro-habitat use to better understand how these turtles move and behave across a changing landscape.

Four wildlife officers were honored by the Tennessee State Chapter of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation (NWTF) as “Wildlife Officer of the Year” for their respective regions.

A group of high school students from Shelbyville Central High School spent an afternoon at the Normandy Fish Hatchery enjoying hands-on learning about wildlife and conservation.

The 35th Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival was successful, as a near record crowd of 5,200 attended the event held Jan. 17-18 at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, and Birchwood Community Center.

Members of the TWRA Honor Guard recently participated in a two-day training session at the John Sevier Range alongside the University of Tennessee ROTC Dragoons.

Wally Akins has retired as Assistant Chief for the Wildlife and Forestry Division, Field Operations. Wally had been serving in the position since the summer of 2020.

After an impressive 32-year career with the Agency, Capt. Tim Sain has retired. Capt. Sain began his journey in 1993 as a wildlife officer in Unicoi County, an area known for its rugged terrain and pristine waters within the Cherokee National Forest. He thrived in the mountains, often working late into the night to ensure compliance with wildlife laws.

The TWRA was represented at One Health Day hosted by the Nashville Zoo. TWRA was among the state, federal, universities, and non-profit organizations participating in the event which is celebrated annually and held for the first time at the Nashville Zoo.

In a unified effort to conserve an endangered species, the TWRA joined forces with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to reintroduce one of the rarest freshwater mussels in North America—the Appalachian Rockshell— into the Clinch and Powell rivers of upper East Tennessee and Virginia.

TWRA Deputy Director for Field Operations, Brandon Wear, was among those who had the privilege to participate in Bosslift 2025. Sponsored by the Employer Support for the Guard & Reserve (ESGR). Bosslift is an annual event for area employers of National Guard and Reservists to see how their employees, who also serve in the military, train for deployment.

The 2025 Mississippi River Monsters Championship recently took place in Memphis, attracting hundreds of anglers from across the country who competed for the title.