These are just a few of the problems, as I see it. We did get the restrictions on Foxes taken with centerfires changed. TWRA is backwards on many of their game management policies. My e-mail is at the bottom. I'm interested in the group largely from the standpoint that we stand a better chance of affecting change as one voice.
Blake
Monday, March 03, 2003
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Hunting Regulations Committee
Dear Committee Members,
I am writing on behalf of several Tennessee sportsmen with similar concerns and interests. I respectfully ask that you review the following suggestions for change in current regulations regarding hunting for coyote, fox, and bobcat.
Currently, regulations prohibit the use of centerfire cartridges for hunting fox. While fox can be successfully taken with rimfire cartridges, the effective range is very limited and clean kills are often difficult at medium ranges. We ask that you consider a change in regulations to include the use of centerfire cartridges for the pursuit of fox.
Second, current regulations prohibit the use of larger than #4 shot for fox and bobcat, and prohibit the use of shot larger than BBB for coyotes. Again, although we acknowledge that these game animals can be taken with the currently approved shot sizes, range is severely limited and clean kills are commonly next to impossible at all but the closest ranges . As you know, fox and bobcat can often reach twenty pounds, with coyote being significantly larger. Most waterfowlers are hard pressed to make clean kills on geese at thirty yards with BBB shot. We ask that you consider a change in regulations to include the use of buckshot for the pursuit of coyotes, foxes, and bobcats.
Third, current regulations prohibit the possession of centerfire firearms and the possession of shot containing multiple pellets during muzzleloading and archery deer season. Additionally, current regulations prohibit the possession of a centerfire rifle smaller than 6mm or .243 during deer season when firearms are legal, as well as the possession of shot containing multiple pellets. The notion of removing caliber restrictions for deer has been debated time and again, and other states have included .22 centerfire cartridges as legal deer calibers. In fact, many of our neighboring states allow all centerfires for deer. I am not advocating the use of .22 centerfires for use on deer, but it certainly seems like there could be a provision to allow the pursuit of coyote, fox, and bobcat with these cartridges during deer season, especially muzzleloader and archery deer season. The same could be said for the use of buckshot for the pursuit of the above mentioned predators during deer season, even though this also opens up the debate of legalizing buckshot for deer, as many other states have. With current regulations, sportsmen in pursuit of these predators in the state of Tennessee, are excluded from a large portion of the prime hunting season, i.e., November through early January. While we have the option of using “deer legal” calibers, this is somewhat unrealistic because of the amount of damage to the fur often associated with the use of these calibers on “small game.” We ask that you consider incorporating such a provision that would allow predator hunters hunting “privileges” during deer season (especially archery and muzzleloaders) with .22 centerfires and buckshot loads, and incorporate the use of buckshot as legal throughout the respective coyote, fox, and bobcat seasons outside of deer season.
Fourth, Tennessee sportsmen are blessed with a multitude of Wildlife Management Areas. Many of these WMA’s have their own unique regulations for hunting. Since the TWRA manages these areas, we respectfully ask that the above mentioned requests, if approved, be incorporated in the hunting regulations pertaining to these lands.
In an effort to provide some comparative information, I contacted hunters and Wildlife Resources officials from several neighboring states with four questions: 1.) Is it legal to hunt fox with centerfire rifles in your state? 2.) Is buckshot legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat? 3.) Are .22 centerfire rifles legal for deer? 4.) Are there any caliber restrictions in your state during deer season? My findings for these questions are:
Kentucky – Fox can be taken with centerfire rifles. Buckshot is allowed for coyote, fox, and bobcat, but not for deer. All centerfire rifles are legal for deer and there are no caliber restrictions during deer season.
Georgia – Fox cannot be taken with centerfires. Buckshot is legal for coyote, fox, bobcat, and deer. All centerfires are legal for deer. No caliber restrictions during deer season. The only legal rifle calibers for fox and bobcat are rimfires.
Alabama – Fox can be taken with centerfire rifles. Buckshot is legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. Deer can be taken with all centerfires. There are no caliber restrictions during deer season.
Arkansas – Fox, coyote, and bobcat can be taken with centerfires smaller than .30 caliber. T shot is the maximum shotgun load for coyote, fox, and bobcat. Buckshot is not legal for deer. All centerfires are legal during deer season.
Mississippi – Fox can be taken with centerfires. Buckshot is legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. Deer can be taken with any centerfire and there are no caliber restrictions during deer season.
Virginia – Fox can be taken with centerfires in most counties. Buckshot is legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. Legal deer calibers are any caliber .23 and larger.
North Carolina – Fox can be taken with centerfires. Buckshot is legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. Deer can be taken with all centerfires and there are no caliber restrictions during deer season.
In my search for this information, in the above mentioned states, there have been no detrimental effects to the game animals, nor has there been any increase in legal violations pertaining to the questions asked above. In lieu of this data, it appears that Tennessee is much more restrictive in its regulations concerning deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. While we acknowledge that each state is unique, many TWRA officials have assured me that none of our requests, if granted, would jeopardize the populations of these animals or create unethical hunting scenarios. That being stated, we believe that these requests will create a set of more ethical hunting regulations that are reflective of today’s hunting landscape allowing our game to be taken more humanely in the spirit of fair chase, while at the same time, allow hunters to take advantage of prime hunting seasons. Lastly, it is most always sportsmen who devise the most fair and reasonable regulations pertaining to our beloved outdoor activities. As a whole, sportsmen are highly unlikely to violate laws regulating these activities. Deviants who would tread on the law have no regard for “fair chase ethics” and will violate any regulations in spite of Wildlife Resources efforts to thwart any such activities. They are not sportsmen.
Please take into consideration these proposed changes. I will be providing a petition in the near future with the signatures of many Tennessee Sportsmen who share the same desire to see the restrictive regulations recede concerning these requests. Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss these requests or other matters. I look forward to seeing many of you in Nashville this May.
Sincerely,
Blake Phillipy
11701 Crystal Brook Lane
Knoxville, TN 37922
865-675-0164 hm 865-548-9424 mobile
blakephillipy@charter.net
Blake
Monday, March 03, 2003
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Hunting Regulations Committee
Dear Committee Members,
I am writing on behalf of several Tennessee sportsmen with similar concerns and interests. I respectfully ask that you review the following suggestions for change in current regulations regarding hunting for coyote, fox, and bobcat.
Currently, regulations prohibit the use of centerfire cartridges for hunting fox. While fox can be successfully taken with rimfire cartridges, the effective range is very limited and clean kills are often difficult at medium ranges. We ask that you consider a change in regulations to include the use of centerfire cartridges for the pursuit of fox.
Second, current regulations prohibit the use of larger than #4 shot for fox and bobcat, and prohibit the use of shot larger than BBB for coyotes. Again, although we acknowledge that these game animals can be taken with the currently approved shot sizes, range is severely limited and clean kills are commonly next to impossible at all but the closest ranges . As you know, fox and bobcat can often reach twenty pounds, with coyote being significantly larger. Most waterfowlers are hard pressed to make clean kills on geese at thirty yards with BBB shot. We ask that you consider a change in regulations to include the use of buckshot for the pursuit of coyotes, foxes, and bobcats.
Third, current regulations prohibit the possession of centerfire firearms and the possession of shot containing multiple pellets during muzzleloading and archery deer season. Additionally, current regulations prohibit the possession of a centerfire rifle smaller than 6mm or .243 during deer season when firearms are legal, as well as the possession of shot containing multiple pellets. The notion of removing caliber restrictions for deer has been debated time and again, and other states have included .22 centerfire cartridges as legal deer calibers. In fact, many of our neighboring states allow all centerfires for deer. I am not advocating the use of .22 centerfires for use on deer, but it certainly seems like there could be a provision to allow the pursuit of coyote, fox, and bobcat with these cartridges during deer season, especially muzzleloader and archery deer season. The same could be said for the use of buckshot for the pursuit of the above mentioned predators during deer season, even though this also opens up the debate of legalizing buckshot for deer, as many other states have. With current regulations, sportsmen in pursuit of these predators in the state of Tennessee, are excluded from a large portion of the prime hunting season, i.e., November through early January. While we have the option of using “deer legal” calibers, this is somewhat unrealistic because of the amount of damage to the fur often associated with the use of these calibers on “small game.” We ask that you consider incorporating such a provision that would allow predator hunters hunting “privileges” during deer season (especially archery and muzzleloaders) with .22 centerfires and buckshot loads, and incorporate the use of buckshot as legal throughout the respective coyote, fox, and bobcat seasons outside of deer season.
Fourth, Tennessee sportsmen are blessed with a multitude of Wildlife Management Areas. Many of these WMA’s have their own unique regulations for hunting. Since the TWRA manages these areas, we respectfully ask that the above mentioned requests, if approved, be incorporated in the hunting regulations pertaining to these lands.
In an effort to provide some comparative information, I contacted hunters and Wildlife Resources officials from several neighboring states with four questions: 1.) Is it legal to hunt fox with centerfire rifles in your state? 2.) Is buckshot legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat? 3.) Are .22 centerfire rifles legal for deer? 4.) Are there any caliber restrictions in your state during deer season? My findings for these questions are:
Kentucky – Fox can be taken with centerfire rifles. Buckshot is allowed for coyote, fox, and bobcat, but not for deer. All centerfire rifles are legal for deer and there are no caliber restrictions during deer season.
Georgia – Fox cannot be taken with centerfires. Buckshot is legal for coyote, fox, bobcat, and deer. All centerfires are legal for deer. No caliber restrictions during deer season. The only legal rifle calibers for fox and bobcat are rimfires.
Alabama – Fox can be taken with centerfire rifles. Buckshot is legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. Deer can be taken with all centerfires. There are no caliber restrictions during deer season.
Arkansas – Fox, coyote, and bobcat can be taken with centerfires smaller than .30 caliber. T shot is the maximum shotgun load for coyote, fox, and bobcat. Buckshot is not legal for deer. All centerfires are legal during deer season.
Mississippi – Fox can be taken with centerfires. Buckshot is legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. Deer can be taken with any centerfire and there are no caliber restrictions during deer season.
Virginia – Fox can be taken with centerfires in most counties. Buckshot is legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. Legal deer calibers are any caliber .23 and larger.
North Carolina – Fox can be taken with centerfires. Buckshot is legal for deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. Deer can be taken with all centerfires and there are no caliber restrictions during deer season.
In my search for this information, in the above mentioned states, there have been no detrimental effects to the game animals, nor has there been any increase in legal violations pertaining to the questions asked above. In lieu of this data, it appears that Tennessee is much more restrictive in its regulations concerning deer, coyote, fox, and bobcat. While we acknowledge that each state is unique, many TWRA officials have assured me that none of our requests, if granted, would jeopardize the populations of these animals or create unethical hunting scenarios. That being stated, we believe that these requests will create a set of more ethical hunting regulations that are reflective of today’s hunting landscape allowing our game to be taken more humanely in the spirit of fair chase, while at the same time, allow hunters to take advantage of prime hunting seasons. Lastly, it is most always sportsmen who devise the most fair and reasonable regulations pertaining to our beloved outdoor activities. As a whole, sportsmen are highly unlikely to violate laws regulating these activities. Deviants who would tread on the law have no regard for “fair chase ethics” and will violate any regulations in spite of Wildlife Resources efforts to thwart any such activities. They are not sportsmen.
Please take into consideration these proposed changes. I will be providing a petition in the near future with the signatures of many Tennessee Sportsmen who share the same desire to see the restrictive regulations recede concerning these requests. Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss these requests or other matters. I look forward to seeing many of you in Nashville this May.
Sincerely,
Blake Phillipy
11701 Crystal Brook Lane
Knoxville, TN 37922
865-675-0164 hm 865-548-9424 mobile
blakephillipy@charter.net
