TWF Provides Professionally Processed Venison Donations to Hungry Families

Hunger relief agencies statewide are seeing record numbers of individuals and families seeking food assistance, and the demand is stretching limited resources. The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is helping to meet this need with a renewable resource in plentiful supply – venison, donated by hunters.

TENNESSEE BRINGS HOME SEVEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM SCHOLASTIC SHOOTING EVENT
TN Scholastic Clay Target Program’s Teams Outshine 36 Other States with 23 Top Five Finishes

SPARTA, Ill. – Twenty one teams from the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program competed in the sport’s national championship event, held July 12-16 in Sparta, Ill. The result was seven national championships, 23 top-five finishes across all divisions, and the high overall shooter of the tournament.

Shooters Compete for Chance at National Junior Olympics Championship In August

PARIS, Tenn. – More than 125 youth trap and skeet shooters competed in the 5th Annual Tennessee Junior Olympic State Championships, an event of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program held May 17th – 22nd at the Holly Fork Shooting Complex in Paris, Tenn.  The competition was held in conjunction with the Henry County Youth Shooting Sports Association and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Athletes reaching the qualifying score of 110 out of 125 targets broken in the trap or skeet divisions automatically receive an invitation to compete in the National Shotgun Junior Olympic Championships August 2nd – 8th  in Colorado Springs, Colo. On Sunday, two skeet and two trap shooters had earned automatic invitations to the National Junior Olympic Championships.

The following statement was issued by Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell on May 21, 2011:

Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) today assured sportsmen across the state that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC) will be extended until 2016.

Tennessee’s "Sunset Law" requires that each agency, board and commission be reviewed at certain intervals by the legislative Government Operations Committees. The reviews and subsequent approvals take the form of a bill, which then extends the entity. In 2012, the TWRC will be extended to 2016.

"I can confidently assure Tennesseans that the TWRC will continue to lead the way for outdoorsmen and conservationists in our state," said Speaker Harwell. "The legislature appreciates hearing from concerned sportsmen and constituents. I look forward to continuing this dialogue between the legislature, the TWRC, and citizens."

She continued, "The commission will not shut down, and will continue to serve Tennesseans. The State House will be acting in January to ensure the extension of the TWRC," Speaker Harwell concluded.

Fifteen-year-old artist Joanna Rush of Chattanooga won the Best of Show in the 2011 Tennessee Federal Junior Duck Stamp art contest. Her winning acrylic, colored pencil and water color artwork titled Let’s Get Together depicts a male and female cinnamon teal with stunning realism.

Founder of Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Great Outdoors University First in State to Win Award

RESTON, Va. –  The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has named the first Tennessean ever as its national Volunteer of the Year.

Andrew Peercy to Oversee Nationally Recognized SCTP, with 105 Teams Statewide

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF) has named Andrew Peercy as Manager of its Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (TNSCTP), one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind in the nation. Peercy has served as the head coach of the TNSCTP team at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin since 2006.

“Andrew served this past year as the Region 2 trap director and did an exemplary job,” said Chad Whittenburg, TWF’s director of outreach. “With more than 100 teams statewide, the program has grown to the point where it deserved a statewide manager, and we’re excited to have Andrew’s leadership as we continue to build this sport in Tennessee.”

Phillip Fulmer to Join Advisory Board

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF) announced today that L. Daniel Hammond, a long-time TWF board member and benefactor, will serve as chairman of the organization’s board of directors in 2011. Hammond founded American Hometown Publishing in 2007, where he serves as chairman and chief executive officer.

“The Tennessee Wildlife Federation has a 65-year track record of success in protecting the interests of wildlife, habitat and those who care about them, and I have been honored to be a part of it for the last decade,” Hammond says. “In 2011, we look forward to the continued expansion of our award-winning programs in advocacy, education and stewardship.”

Young Hunters Treated to Scholarships, Prizes and the Thrill of Mass Waterfowl Migration

More than 160 student-athletes from Tennessee’s Scholastic Clay Target Program assembled in Dyersburg the evening of February 4 with their parents, coaches, sponsors and guides to kick off the 3rd Annual Tennessee Wildlife Federation Davis P. Rice Youth Waterfowl Hunt.

TWF, in partnership TWRA, the Tennessee Forestry Association, the U.S. Forest Service, Project CENTS and the Tennessee State Chapter NWTF will sponsor an educators workshop at the National Wild Turkey Federation's Annual Convention in February.  

Educators will have the opportunity to participate in the day-long seminar at the Gaylord/Opryland Resort and Convention Center.  Attendees will receive over $75 worth of educational materials including a Wild about Turkey Education Box, hands-on curriculum based activities for teaching about wildlife conservation, and a Project WILD K-12 Activity Guide.  The workshop is limited to 25 participants on a first come first serve basis.  For more information or to register, download a flyer by clicking here.

The new TWF Hummingbird license plate is now available at your local county clerk's office!  Thanks to a generous gift to the Capital Campaign by TWF board member Dan Hammond, TWF  pre-sold the required 1,000 plates to place our new hummingbird plate into production. The artwork was generously provided by renowned wildlife artist Phillip Crowe of Franklin, TN.  The featured ruby-throated hummingbird is one of the most beautiful and commonly found varieties of the species found in Tennessee. 

For more information on getting a specialty plate, click here.  Thanks to all of you that helped support wildlife by pre-purhasing this plate! 

With TWF's free E-newsletter, you will learn more about work that TWF is conducting, wildilfe and conservation issues across Tennessee, and current events taking place.

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is proud to present its latest Special Report titled, "Development, Land-use Policy, and the Future of Agriculture, Forestry and Hunting in the Southeast Cumberland Plateau." Please click here to download the report.

Appendicies will be uploaded soon.

Learn all about the establishment and management of native warm season grasses and managing early successional habitat for wildlife in this feature article from TWF's Tennessee Out-of-Doors Magazine (TOD). TOD is one of the many benefits of membership you can receive by joining TWF. Click here to read the article.