Now, more than ever, Tennessee needs new, sustainable funding sources for wildlife conservation.
For decades, hunters and anglers have footed the bill for the conservation work that benefits all Tennesseans. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)—the state agency responsible for managing game and nongame wildlife, managing and conserving habitat, and providing public education—relies almost entirely on revenue from hunting and fishing licenses to carry out its mission.
On June 18, an effort to increase those license fees failed. The failure of this increase to go into effect clearly demonstrates these fees have reached a tipping point and cannot continue to rise. This fee increase also clearly demonstrates it is time for Tennessee to invest in wildlife conservation.
Our license dollars have made a difference. TWRA’s programs have helped restore populations of wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and countless other species while ensuring access to quality hunting and fishing opportunities across the state. That’s why Tennessee Wildlife Federation supported the proposed fee increase as a temporary fix.
But with that fix off the table, the need for alternative funding is more urgent than ever. States like Missouri and Arkansas have already taken action—establishing dedicated conservation funding streams, keeping license costs lower, and achieving stronger long-term support for wildlife. Tennessee should look to those states as a model of how we can invest in our wildlife—for the benefit of sportsmen and non-sportsmen alike.
Without action, we risk losing the programs and progress that have made Tennessee a leader in wildlife conservation.
Featured photo by Janice Kirkpatrick
