History

In its 25th year, the Federation’s Hunters for the Hungry program had its most successful year to date, with more than 148,000 pounds of venison donated, equaling 592,044 servings of protein distributed to Tennesseans in need.

Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program, a program of the Federation, partnered with the National Scholastic Clay Target Program to expand opportunities for shooting sports athletes in Tennessee.

Restored nearly 100 acres of poor-quality agricultural land to functioning wetland habitat in Stewart County.

In collaboration with the Southern Environmental Law Center and The Nature Conservancy, the Federation helped state officials reach a settlement to limit water withdrawals on the Duck River.

Organized support to prevent the transfer of Yanahli Wildlife Management Area from state to county ownership, which could have negatively impacted public access to outdoor recreation.

Mike Butler, CEO of the Federation, testified to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) about the state’s growing litter problem. This was part of an ongoing litter study, which TACIR completed in 2023.

Our Hunting and Fishing Academy expanded to offer virtual classes for both new and seasoned outdoorsmen to learn practical skills for all kinds of outdoor recreation.

Our Hunting and Fishing Academy program launched its first-ever, adult-only experiences for those looking to pursue an outdoor lifestyle for the first time could try their hand at hunting.

150,000+ purple martins were roosting around Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center, creating an expensive mess. Bird lovers, music lovers, and conservation groups came together and donated tens of thousands, saving the symphony grounds and the purple martin migration.

To keep outdoor enthusiasts informed during Tennessee’s 2020 U.S. Senate race, the Federation interviewed candidates Marquita Bradshaw and Bill Hagerty about their opinions on conservation in Tennessee.

Supported the effort to pass The Great American Outdoors Act. The Act provides 5 years of funding, up to a total of $9.5 billion, to address the national parks’ maintenance backlog and provides full and dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Federation helped secure the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) which authorizes $25 million to manage and prevent the spread of Asian carp in the Tennessee and Cumberland river basins.

Tennessee Wildlife Federation began work on a project to restore and enhance 5,400 acres of shortleaf pine forests on the Cumberland Plateau.

With other organizations nationwide, the Federation secured the permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Federation assembled a delegation of anglers, paddlers, and fishing guides that reached out to legislators about the critical need for basic rules and data collection for paddle craft rental companies that have rapidly grown on our rivers.

The Federation helped facilitate the expansion of a rare dragonfly habitat in Hardin County. In that West Tennessee paradise are 407 plant species, 132 bird species, 58 butterfly species, and 45 dragonfly and damselfly species.

Hunters and anglers pay for the vast majority of wildlife conservation in Tennessee. The Federation’s Hunting and Fishing Academy works to grow the number of sportsmen and women by providing hands-on instruction in the art of being an outdoorsman to first-time hunters and anglers of all ages.

Tennessee Wildlife Federation was the only organization to get Bill Lee and Karl Dean on the record about the great outdoors.

In 2018, the Federation was named Affiliate of the Year by the National Wildlife Federation for the fourth time. “Tennessee Wildlife Federation is one of the most effective conservation organizations in our nation. Period.” — Collin O’Mara, National Wildlife Federation CEO

The Federation plays an instrumental role in drafting legislation establishing fines for the poaching of big game.

The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission passes the state’s first sandhill crane hunting season. Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Board of Directors voted unanimously in support of the new season.

Led the passage of the 2012 Tennessee Prescribed Burning Act to reverse the negative impacts of fire suppression in the State.

The Federation halts the White-tailed Deer Breeding and Farming Act in 2011 and 2012 to battle the spread of chronic wasting disease to Tennessee’s wild deer herd.

The Federation led the successful campaign to amend the state constitution to secure the right of every Tennessean to hunt and fish.

The Federation writes and secures passage of legislation to ensure no-net-loss of public hunting lands.

The Hatfield Knob Elk Viewing Tower is constructed with the support of the Federation and numerous volunteers for the enjoyment of all Tennesseans.

The Federation adopts the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program, one of the largest youth shooting programs in the nation.

The Tennessee Conservation League changes its name to Tennessee Wildlife Federation.

The Federation teams up with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to reintroduce elk to Tennessee, releasing the first elk to inhabit Tennessee in more than 135 years.

The Federation restarts Hunters for the Hungry. The program has since provided more than 8.7 million meals to Tennesseans in need.

Led the campaign to pass the Wetlands Acquisition Act that has since conserved hundreds of thousands of acres of critical and sensitive wetlands and uplands across the state.

The Federation and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency jointly launch the Tennessee Deer Registry providing a database to help monitor the quality of Tennessee’s deer herd.

The Federation’s Project CENTS (Conservation Education Now for Tennessee Students) is initiated. Project CENTS helps hundreds of thousands of students learn math and science through conservation examples and became standard curriculum for that state’s school system for many years.

The Tennessee Legislature passes the Federation’s Mandatory Hunter Education Bill requiring anyone born after January 1, 1969, to complete an approved hunter education course. Today, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency administers hunter-ed courses where new hunters learn how to safely and ethically hunt in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Valley Authority begins a five-year project to bring eagles back to the Land Between the Lakes. The Federation takes over the project in 1982.

The Federation joined four citizens in a lawsuit to stop the channelization of the Obion and Forked Deer river basin to conserve critical waterfowl habitat.

As the Federation’s first employee—and the executive director of the organization for 23 years—Tony Campbell set the groundwork for what the Federation would accomplish in the decades to follow.

The Federation leads the writing and passage of the Tennessee Water Pollution Control Act.

The Federation proposes an umbrella organization, the Tennessee Environmental Council, to handle emerging environmental issues. The council was charted the following year.

For the first time in its history, the Federation is named Outstanding Affiliate of the Year by the National Wildlife Federation.

The Federation successfully campaigned for the passage of the law that established the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission, the precursor to the state’s first professional wildlife management agency.

Tennessee Wildlife Federation was founded on February 12, 1946, as the Tennessee Conservation League at Chattanooga’s historic Read House Hotel.