Seven whooping crane chicks arrived June 25 at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin to begin preparation for their fall migration behind ultralight aircraft. The seven chicks are members of the “Class of 2008”, which will be the eighth flock of endangered juvenile whooping cranes to take part in a reintroduction project conducted by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP), a coalition of public and private organizations.  Thanks to the efforts of WCEP’s members, there are now 72 wild, migrating cranes in eastern North America, which was part of their historic range.

Applications for the 2008 special season quota antlerless deer hunts and quota fall either–sex turkey hunts are now being distributed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). 

NASHVILLE, TENN., June 24, 2008 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports that as the grouting program at Wolf Creek Dam progresses, the Corps is in the final stages of evaluating a major contract for the installation of a concrete barrier wall.  Meanwhile, visitation at Lake Cumberland continues to rise as the summer recreation season gets underway.

There is an error on the 2008 WMA Youth portion of the WMA Big Game Quota Hunts Application.

The Wildlife Management Quota Hunt application period will be June 18 through July 23, 2008. The Special Season Quota Hunt application period will be July 24 through September 23, 2008.

The new Tennessee boating registration fees are effective as of July 1, 2008, marking the their first increase since 1998, according to Ed Carter, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Boating Chief.

With negotiations over a new Farm Bill ongoing in Washington, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind Tennessee producers that sign ups for USDA conservation programs continue year round. District Conservationists can help landowners develop a conservation plan that preserves wildlife habitat. Once a plan is developed, it could be implemented as soon as funding becomes available.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission has finalized the 2008-09 state hunting seasons. The action was taken at the TWRC’s regularly scheduled meeting May 21-22 at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Region II Ray Bell Building.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, May 20, 2008 – The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Boating Division announced today that it will partner with the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Safe Boating Council, and other national groups to increase life jacket wear among recreational boaters in Central Tennessee.  The campaign – dubbed “Wear It Tennessee!” – will launch on Memorial Day weekend.  A similar initiative, now entering its second year in the San Joaquin Delta region of California, resulted in a near-doubling of life jacket wear rates last summer.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is reminding interested persons that it will accept the purchase and registration of Reelfoot Waterfowl Blind Permits (personally assigned) Type 025 and Reelfoot Waterfowl Sign-on Permits Type 026 through July 31, 2008.