Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1660-01-08-.05 - PERMIT APPLICATIONS AND DRAWINGS

(1) Quota Big Game Hunt Drawings

(a) Each individual desiring to participate in a managed quota deer, bear, or turkey hunt, must apply only at locations and during periods as designated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), except as indicated in subparagraphs (i), (j), and (k) below.

(b) Applicants may submit only one application, except youths six (6) through sixteen (16) years of age may apply for one additional young sportsman hunt on management areas. If an individual's name (except youths applying for one additional young sportsman hunt as noted above) appears on more than one application, that individual will be rejected, the individual's permit fee forfeited, and the individual will be subject to prosecution.

(c) For quota big game hunts on wildlife management areas (WMAs), applicants must be at least six (6) years of age prior to the date of the hunt.

(d) All information requested on the application must be completed by the applicant. Failure to clearly specify all information will result in an invalid application.

(e) Applications must be received by the TWRA as specified on the application. Applications cannot be accepted after the deadline.

(f) Persons may apply as an individual or with up to 14 other individuals as a "party." Specific instructions to apply as a party will be available on the TWRA's website and available on the Quota Hunt Instruction Sheet, available at license vendors.

(g) Each application must be accompanied by a non-refundable handling fee for each applicant, except Sportsman License holders, Lifetime Sportsman License holders and persons possessing an Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman License.

(h) Priority drawings and procedures for qualifying with priority status will be established as indicated on applications.

(i) A drawing will be held to determine successful applicants. If unfilled hunt quotas exist after the regular drawing a vacancy drawing or drawings will be held to fill those vacancies. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mail.

(j) When vacancies exist following the drawing(s), quotas will be filled by issuing permits to any applicant, on a first-come, first-served basis at locations designated by the TWRA. Permits are not transferable. An individual may obtain only one (1) leftover permit per person and may obtain leftover permits for other individuals (limit of one leftover permit per person) if they provide the required information for individuals they are representing.

(k) Land Between the Lakes quota hunt drawings - Individuals desiring to participate in a quota hunt on Land Between the Lakes must submit an application as instructed by the USDA Forest Service.

(2) Allocation procedures for waterfowl hunting locations not allocated by quota, computerized procedures.

(a) Waterfowl hunting locations not allocated through a computerized quota procedure, as set forth in paragraph (3) below, will be allocated pursuant to procedures established by the TWRA.

(b) Site 22 on Woods Reservoir of A.E.D.C. WMA will not be allocated by any procedure. Site 22 is held by the TWRA and reserved for Arnold Air Force Base personnel pursuant to a wildlife management agreement between the TWRA and Arnold Air Force Base.

(c) No person shall buy, sell, barter, loan or transfer under any theory of law, or offer to buy, sell, barter, loan or transfer under any theory of law, a waterfowl draw blind site permit or the privilege of signing on a waterfowl draw blind site permit issued pursuant to this rule. Any person violating this rule and regulation is subject to have his/her permit and/or hunting privileges revoked in addition to other penalties as prescribed by law.

(3) Waterfowl quota hunt computer drawing and allocation procedures

(a) Permits will be issued via a computerized quota drawing for designated waterfowl hunt locations on WMAs chosen by the TWRA. Any designated waterfowl hunt locations deemed huntable after the end of the quota application period or locations that become available after the drawing has occurred will be issued pursuant to subparagraph (h) below.

(b) Applications to participate in a quota waterfowl hunt must be made at times specified and as per instructions supplied by the TWRA. All applications for a quota waterfowl hunt must be submitted with a party size of no less than four (4) applicants but no more than eight (8) applicants.

1. Applicants for Tier 1 waterfowl hunt locations must hold all required resident state and federal licenses and permits for hunting waterfowl at the time of entry, except that an individual is not required to have a valid migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp as described in 16 U.S.C. § 718 et seq. at the time of entry for the drawing.

2. Applicants for all other quota waterfowl hunts, at the time of entry, must possess the appropriate state and federal licenses and permits for hunting waterfowl, except that an applicant is not required to have a valid migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp as described in 16 U.S.C. § 718 et seq., or must pay a non-refundable handling fee.

(c) A person may only be a party member to one application. If a person is a party member to more than one application, the applications will be rejected.

(d) Only applicants sixteen (16) years of age or older on or before the day of the hunt may apply; however, at least one adult, of at least eighteen (18) years of age, must accompany any youth under sixteen (16) years of age in the hunt party. Youths six to fifteen (6-15) years of age may apply for youth-only waterfowl hunts. If successful, the youth party must be accompanied by at least one non-hunting adult at least eighteen (18) years of age. Party may not exceed eight (8) youths.

(e) All information requested at the time of application must be completed; failure to provide all information will result in the application being rejected.

(f) Any successful applicant or successful party member may bring seven (7) additional hunters to the hunt. However, the number of hunters may not exceed eight (8) hunters at any time during the hunt, one of which must be a successful applicant. The eight (8) person maximum party size limit does not apply to those drawn for Lick Creek Bottoms WMA, pursuant to paragraph (2) above, for which the hunt party size may not exceed four (4) hunters.

(g) Successful applicants must return a "notice of intention" to the TWRA by the deadline established by the TWRA. The notice of intention must indicate whether the successful applicant does or does not intend to hunt during the applicable quota hunt period. A confirmation number will be issued to the applicant.

(h) Successful applicants that fail to return the notice of intention to the TWRA prior to the established deadline will forfeit their permit and the permit will be allocated as a leftover permit. Any notice of intention returned to the TWRA indicating the successful applicant does not intend to hunt during the applicable quota hunt period will result in the quota permit being allocated as a leftover permit. Only members of a party that return a notice of intention will receive a permit for the waterfowl hunt location. If all members of a party fail to return a notice of intention, the waterfowl hunt location will be allocated as a leftover permit. Any leftover permits will be allocated by a drawing at a time and location specified and as per instructions supplied by the TWRA. Any license holder may enter for a leftover drawing, but any applicant drawn must be present at the prescribed time and location to claim the permit.

(i) Successful applicants must complete and submit a Post-season Waterfowl Quota Hunt Report to the TWRA by the deadline established by the TWRA. The TWRA must receive the Post-season Waterfowl Quota Hunt Report by the deadline, even if the permit holder did not participate in the hunt. Failure to submit a completed report by the deadline will disqualify the permit holder from entering into the following season's drawing.

(j) Successful applicants and the additional hunters in the party must also possess appropriate licenses and permits in order to participate in the hunts.

(k) Individuals holding a permit for a permanent registered blind site on Reelfoot WMA or West Sandy WMA are prohibited from applying, as an individual or in a party, for any waterfowl quota permit. Any permanent registered blind site holder applying, as an individual or in a party, for a Tier 1 Location, Tier 2 Location, or Tier 3 Location quota permit will have the individual's application denied and any associated handling fee will be forfeited.

(l) Successful applicants drawn for a Tier 1 Location are prohibited from applying for a Tier 2 or Tier 3 Location quota permit. Any Tier 1 Location permit holder applying for a Tier 2 Location or Tier 3 Location quota permit will have the individual's application denied and any associated handling fee will be forfeited.

(m) No person shall buy, sell, barter, loan or transfer under any theory of law, or offer to buy, sell, barter, loan or transfer under any theory of law, a permit for a designated waterfowl hunt location or the privilege of signing on to a designated waterfowl hunt location permit issued pursuant to this rule. Any person violating this rule and regulation is subject to have his/her permit and/or hunting privileges revoked in addition to other penalties as prescribed by law.

(n) Priority drawings and procedures for qualifying with priority status will be established by the TWRA.

(4) Cherokee Special Hunts (Cherokee WMA in Designated Areas).

(a) Cherokee special hunts consist of Party Dog Hunts.

(b) No person may apply on more than one application. If two or more applications are received representing one individual, all applications of that individual will be rejected, the permit fee forfeited, and will be subject to prosecution. Applications must be postmarked no later than the date specified. Persons applying for party hunts may also apply for quota big game hunts subject to rules found in paragraph (1). Quota big game hunt applicants may also apply for party hunts. Persons are limited to one party hunt vacancy permit per hunt year.

(c) The party application shall contain a minimum of fifty (50) members and a maximum of seventy-five (75). All information requested on the application must be completed for all party applicants. Each applicant must submit the applicable permit fee. All individuals without appropriate licenses/fees will be deleted from the party. Non-residents may purchase the appropriate license after arrival in Tennessee. If the number of valid applicants on a single application falls below the minimum of fifty (50), the entire party will be deleted from the drawing.

(d) A drawing will be held to determine the successful party applicants, hunt areas, and hunt dates. The first drawn and in subsequent order will be given their choice of the compartment and hunt date as specified on their application. Vacant hunts remaining after the drawing will not be issued and the area will be closed to big game hunting during that specific hunt.

(e) The party leader may request no substitutions for members of the party who cannot appear and may request vacancy permits providing the number does not increase the party beyond seventy-five (75) members. The party leader shall send all the hunter information requested on the vacancy application and the applicable fees for each permit requested. No blank permits will be issued. The deadline for requesting vacancy permits shall be fourteen (14) days prior to the hunt date.

(5) WMA Quota Hunts First-Come, First-Served Permits

(a) WMAs with specific compartments, as identified in proclamation, will have permits allocated through designated locations as authorized by the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission.

(b) Permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until all permits have been issued.

(c) No individual license holder may obtain more than one (1) permit per hunt.

(6) Elk Hunt Quota Permits

(a) Each individual desiring to participate in a quota elk hunt must submit an application at times specified and as per instructions supplied by the TWRA.

(b) Applicants may apply only once per year. If more than one application is received per hunter, that individual will be rejected, the individual's fee forfeited, and the individual will be subject to prosecution.

(c) A youth hunter at least sixteen (16) years of age, on or before the day of the hunt, may apply; however, the youth hunter must be accompanied by one non-hunting adult at least twenty-one (21) years of age or older who must remain in position to take immediate control of the firearm.

(d) Only one (1) person may apply per application.

(e) All information requested at the time of application must be completed; provided, failure to specify all information will result in the application being rejected.

(f) Each application must be accompanied by a non-refundable handling fee for each applicant, except Sportsman License holders, Lifetime Sportsman License holders and persons possessing an Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman License.

(g) Successful applicants must also possess appropriate licenses and permits in order to participate in the hunts.

(h) Successful applicants will not be allowed to re-apply for an elk hunt quota permit for a period of ten (10) years following a successful draw.

(i) Priority drawings and procedures for qualifying with priority status will be established as indicated by the TWRA.

(j) A computer drawing will be held to determine successful applicants.

(k) Successful applicants may be subject to hunting in specialized elk zones as designated by the TWRA.

(l) Non-resident applicants will be restricted to no greater than twenty-five (25) percent of the drawn permits.

(7) Issuance of miscellaneous quota permits not governed by existing regulations.

(a) Special hunts which require handheld drawings may be identified by means of annual Proclamation. Times, dates, and locations of these drawings will also be identified.

(b) All information requested on the application must be completed by the applicant.

(c) If an individual's name appears on more than one application, that individual will be rejected.

(d) A random drawing will be utilized to determine successful applicants.

(e) Applications will be drawn in order to establish priorities for choice of designated waterfowl hunt locations. All participants wishing to sign on with a successful applicant must do so when the successful applicant chooses the designated waterfowl hunt location. An individual's application for designated waterfowl hunt location selection is immediately voided when the individual signs on with another successful applicant. All individuals wishing to sign on must possess the necessary licenses and permits indicated in subparagraph (d). Individuals desiring to sign on must be present.

(8) Sandhill Crane Quota Permit Allocation Procedures.

(a) Permits will be issued by handheld drawing(s) and/or by a computer drawing to determine successful applicants.

(b) Each individual desiring to participate in a quota permit drawing must submit an application during the application period specified and per the instructions supplied by the TWRA.

(c) Applicants may submit one application per drawing. If more than one application is received per hunter, that individual's applications will be rejected. Successful applicants in one drawing are not eligible to participate in additional drawings. Each applicant must be at least thirteen (13) years of age to participate in the drawing.

(d) All information requested at the time of application must be completed; failure to provide all information will result in the application being rejected.

(e) If a handheld drawing is conducted, a current Hunting & Fishing license and Waterfowl license (or equivalents) are required to apply. If a computerized drawing is conducted, each application must be accompanied by a non-refundable handling fee, except Sportsman License holders, Lifetime Sportsman License holders and persons possessing an Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman License.

(f) If a computerized drawing is conducted, priority drawings and procedures for qualifying with priority status will be established as indicated on the application.

(g) When permits remain following a handheld drawing, the remaining permits will be added to a computerized drawing. When permits remain following a computerized drawing, leftover permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on the TWRA's website.

(h) Successful applicants must possess appropriate licenses and permits in order to participate in the hunt(s).

(i) Successful applicants are required to pass a bird identification test before their permit is issued; specific requirements will be outlined by the TWRA.

(j) Each Sandhill Crane Quota Permit holder is required to complete and submit a Sandhill Crane Post-season Hunt Report by the deadline established by the TWRA. The TWRA must receive the Sandhill Crane Post-season Hunt Report by the deadline, even if the permit holder did not participate in the hunt. Failure to submit a completed report by the deadline will disqualify the permit holder from entering the following season's drawing.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1660-01-08-.05

Original rule filed July 19, 1976; effective August 18, 1976. Amendment filed June 8, 1977; effective July 8, 1977. Amendment filed June 9, 1978; effective July 10, 1978. Amendment filed May 17, 1979; effective July 2, 1979. Amendment filed August 28, 1979; effective October 12, 1979. Amendment filed May 19, 1980; effective July 3, 1980. Amendment filed February 6, 1981; effective March 23, 1981. Amendment filed August 12, 1982; effective August 31, 1982. Amendment filed June 27, 1984; effective July 27, 1984. Amendment filed June 27, 1985; effective July 27, 1985. Amendment filed June 9, 1986; effective July 9, 1986. Amendment filed April 22, 1988; effective June 6, 1988. Amendment filed September 1, 1988; effective October 16, 1988. Amendment filed June 8, 1989; effective July 23, 1989. Amendment filed May 11, 1990; effective June 25, 1990. Amendment filed June 11, 1992; effective July 26, 1992. Amendment filed February 12, 1996; effective April 27, 1996. Amendment filed July 26, 1996; effective October 7, 1996. Amendment filed September 26, 1996; effective December 10, 1996. Amendment filed March 4, 1998; effective May 18, 1998. Amendment filed May 20, 1998; effective August 3, 1998. Amendments filed September 17, 1998; effective December 1, 1998. Amendment filed July 13, 1999; effective September 26, 1999. Amendment filed May 19, 2000; effective August 2, 2000. Amendment filed October 2, 2000; effective December 16, 2000. Amendment filed December 1, 2000; effective February 14, 2001. Amendment filed July 19, 2001; effective October 2, 2001. Amendment filed April 23, 2003; effective July 7, 2003. Amendments filed July 12, 2005; effective September 25, 2005. Amendments filed October 25, 2005; effective January 8, 2006. Amendment filed June 20, 2006; effective September 3, 2006. Amendment filed September 29, 2006; effective December 13, 2006. Amendment filed June 26, 2007; effective September 9, 2007. Amendment filed May 5, 2008; withdrawn June 5, 2008. Amendment filed June 11, 2008; effective August 25, 2008. Amendments filed January 5, 2009; effective March 21, 2009. Amendment filed April 1, 2009; effective June 15, 2009. Amendment filed June 16, 2010; effective September 14, 2010. Amendments filed November 17, 2010; effective February 15, 2011. Amendments filed April 4, 2012; effective July 3, 2012. Amendments filed December 9, 2014; effective March 9, 2015. Amendments filed March 16, 2017; effective June 14, 2017. Emergency rule filed July 1, 2020; effective through December 28, 2020. Emergency rule expired effective December 29, 2020, and the rule reverted to its previous status. Amendments filed May 4, 2021; effective August 2, 2021. Amendments filed April 6, 2022; effective 7/5/2022.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 70-1-206, 70-2-219, 70-4-107, and 70-5-101.