Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission heard a report on the public input on the new deer and turkey management process and an invasive carp update during its first 2024 meeting last week.
New process being implemented
The TWRA held public meetings and solicited online input for comment on draft regulation packages related to the new deer and turkey management process.
This new approach better utilizes science and improved data sources for setting annual hunting seasons from a set of pre-developed regulation packages.
Mark McBride, TWRA assistant chief for the game species section, made the presentation.
The TWRA will present its full recommendations for the 2024-25 hunting season at the March meeting.
The commission will vote on the proposals at its April meeting.
Invasive carp
removal discussed
Cole Harty, aquatic nuisance species coordinator for the TWRA Fisheries Division, presented the update on invasive carp in the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers and Reelfoot Lake.
Invasive carp refers to four species: silver, bighead, grass, and black carp.
In addition to the current distribution of carp, the prevention and management actions being implemented by TWRA and partners were discussed.
There are two major tools to prevent and control carp, including removal and deterrents.
Through the Tennessee Carp Harvest Incentive Program, 28 million pounds have been removed since September 2018.
In fiscal year 2023, more than 8 million pounds were removed. Experimental deterrents are also showing approximately 50
percent effectiveness for preventing carp from traveling upstream.