The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) appeared before the Joint Government Operations Committee on June 18, 2025, to present the license fee increase previously approved by the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC). After hearing numerous verbal commitments from committee members to seek alternative funding for wildlife conservation, TWRA Executive Director Jason Maxedon decided to …
Free Fishing Day in Tennessee is happening on Saturday, June 7th. Don’t miss out on the fun! Anyone of any age can fish for free without a license in Tennessee’s public waters. From the Bill Dance Signature Lakes to rushing rivers, our state parks have a fishin’ spot for you. Plan your visit at tnstateparks.info/Fishing. …
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is pleased to report that there were no boating-related fatalities over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The holiday weekend extended from 5 p.m. on Friday through midnight on Monday and is considered the unofficial start of the summer boating season. One injury was reported, resulting from a tubing incident …
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will participate in the 2025 National Safe Boating Week, taking place from May 17 to 23, to remind all boaters to refresh their boating safety skills and prepare for the upcoming summer boating season. This observance week is the annual kick-off of the Safe Boating Campaign, a global awareness effort …
The March 17 deadline for entry into the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 2025-26 photo contest for publication in the Tennessee Wildlife annual calendar is quickly approaching. All interested photographers are invited to submit up to 10 of their best photos of wildlife species native to the Volunteer State. Hunting, fishing, and boating photos are also welcome. The …
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency biologists have proposed a dramatic change in the regulations for smallmouth bass on Chickamauga, Nickajack and Guntersville (downstream from Nickajack Dam to the Alabama state line). Currently, in an effort to protect and encourage the number of trophy smallmouth bass, bass fishermen on those lakes are only allowed to keep one …
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is reminding hunters to remain vigilant and take appropriate precautions as reported cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza increase among wild birds, backyard domestic flocks, and commercial poultry flocks in the Southeast. HPAI is highly contagious among bird populations and is known to be deadly for domestic fowl. “Numerous states …
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has released a video urging boaters to exercise extra caution near dam spillways. The agency has released a video demonstrating the potential dangers of getting too close to these areas. Watch: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3927790437509163 The TWRA reported that more than 15 deaths have occurred over the past decade due to boaters …
As expected, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC) voted to raise hunting and fishing licenses in the state and boat registration fees. The increased fees will take effect July 1, 2025. The last such increase was in 2015. Wildlife officials said that the Consumer Price Index has increased by more than 31 percent since …
Tennessee’s 2024-25 statewide gun hunting season for deer opens Saturday, Nov. 23. The season traditionally opens each year on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving. During gun season, sportsmen may also use muzzleloaders or archery equipment. The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is two. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day, …
