I know this is not a deer topic..but knew this would get a lot of views on this page. It seems that some crooked politics are brewin' with some commissioners & special interst groups working under the table to ELIMINATE the Archery Bear season that was put in place a couple of years ago. Seems that several of the Bear Dog Hunting clubs have set up a PRIVATE meeting with some TWRA commissioners as well as other key TWRA personnel at the John Sevier Firing Range in the Knoxville area this Monday night (March 15th) with out ANY public notice what-so-ever. This meeting will be completely illegal & will have the purpose of taking away the opportunity for the legal harvest of black bears during the early archery season. The "Dog Hunters" are trying to Strong-arm the TWRA into doing this because they want ALL the bear hunting for themselves (plain & simple). They DO NOT LIKE HAVING ANY COMPETITION for the bears on PUBLIC (OUR) land. ALL archery hunters need to STAND UP and BE HEARD!!!!!! If we lose this privilege, we will NEVER get it back! This issue has NOTHING to do with management. It's "GREED" & nothing else. We already have to put up with a shorter season on public land due to their strong-arm tactics in the past. These "Bear Hunting Clubs are nothing but organized "BULLIES" and they are pushing on EVERY bowhunter in this state. We pay the same price for our license as these guys & we deserve a fair shake from the TWRA & our commissioners! Whether you bear hunt or not you should have the OPPORTUNITY to bear hunt in the National Forest with archery equipment. Everyone with-in driving distance of the firing range should show up tommorrow night and bust up their little shin-dig.
Commissioners involved include:
Todd Shelton - Greeneville: 423-639-5183
Eric Wright - Elizabethton: 423-213-9514 (BEARHUNTER)!!!!
Everyone is encouraged to call the Region 4 office on Monday & ask for John Gregory to confirm this meeting. This could cause them to abort this meeting since it IS illegal. Clubs involved are: East TN BearHunters Association
Doe Valley Hunting Club
We should demand a federal investigation if these people succeed in there plan. Everyone needs to call their local news agencies and get them on this story.