Oak Ridge quota hunts

[Realtree56]

Don't shoot the messenger, but I called the TWRA agent over the Oak Ridge hunts to ask a couple of questions yesterday and was told that the DOE was canceling all 3 Oak Ridge hunts this year. Haven't seen it posted anywhere yet, I'm hoping it's not true, but I'd say that's about as reliable of source as there is.

 

[Antler Daddy]

Why? War, pandemic, civil unrest?

 

[rmmonty32]

I put in for it. Glad I wasn't drawn.

Sent from my SM-S111DL using Tapatalk

 

[JeepKuntry]

Wouldn't surprise me. This year has been nothing short of a clusterhump. The one push has been doing outdoor activities. I fail to see how this really exposes somebody anymore than say eating out.

 

[kamml]

Thanks for the update, but I didn't find anything on the website yet.

 

[TNGunsmoke]

https://www.seviernewsmessenger.com/202 ... -canceled/


Oak Ridge Quota Hunts Canceled Due to COVID-19 Risk to Facility Personnel

Posted by: Candice Fitzgibbons in Lifestyle September 23, 2020 0

The U.S. Department of Energy canceled all big game quota hunts scheduled on Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area due to the coronavirus pandemic.

All 12 big game quota hunts scheduled for November 7-8, November 14-15, and December 12-13, 2020 at Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area are canceled. The cancellation is due to the risk of COVID-19 transmission to Oak Ridge personnel from hunters accessing the facility grounds. Licensed hunters were chosen to receive one of the limited quota hunt permits by entering a randomized drawing earlier this year.

"We will be sending communications out to the 3,150 impacted customers to explain the situation as quickly as possible," said Megan Loope, quota hunt coordinator for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. "I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause our customers."

With the cancellation of these quota hunts, individuals who were successfully drawn will have their priority points reinstated and will be awarded one (1) additional priority point to their priority point total for the WMA Big Game application.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be celebrating 2020 National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, September 26.

While there will be no large events or gatherings due to COVID-19, TWRA encourages enthusiasts to get outdoors and take part in your favorite recreational activity. The day also coincides with the start of the statewide fall archery season for deer and the fall archery season for turkey in selected counties in the state.

National Hunting and Fishing Day was established by the U.S. Congress in 1972 and recognizes hunters and anglers for their contributions to wildlife conservation. The event is celebrated in all 50 states annually on the fourth Saturday in September.

Together with federal aid programs, wildlife conservation efforts are funded mainly by the money sportsmen and women spend on their license fees, as well as the taxes they pay on certain types of outdoor recreational equipment that includes firearms, ammunition, and fishing gear. These funds support conservation programs, habitat acquisitions, and outdoor recreation opportunities in Tennessee and throughout the nation.

 

[Shanman]

Thanks for the link.

 

[mike243]

That's a bunch of BS the only people who could possibly be around somebody are folks who work there and have a badge in order to access off limit areas . the rest of the areas as far as I know are not gated , I reckon if twra don't post it on their website or send letters to the unlucky hunters there might still be a hunt.

 

[Antler Daddy]

That should help increase non-quota pressure at Catoosa and other places. 3000 people is a lot of folks.

If I were in east TN, I would get a KY license and head north up the interstate. You can be hunting some good areas only 2-2.5 hours from Knoxville in the Daniel Boone NF.

 

[CrossVolle]

That's ridiculous. I have literally had 10 seconds of interaction with any DOE personnel every time i have ever hunted the place and that was simply handing over my license and permit. There are so many other ways it could have been done outside of just banging the whole thing. They are painting with a broad brush when they don't really have to here.

 

[arctic_cat]

I do not agree with this decision but this COVID-19 crap is on the labs absolute top priority right now and does not surprise me at all that they canceled the hunts. When they made the decision to cut the work force on site we went from somewhere around 8,000 people entering threw the gates on a Friday and was down to around 3,000 entering the next Monday. Everyone that could work from home was doing so and they did not allow contractors or any other visitors on site. We were also the only National Lab in the county that stayed running threw all of this and they are very proud of it. They are just now within the last month or so starting to bring some of the employees back. I'm on self quarantine now due to someone in my building testing positive. I should be going back Monday. I will say parking on site has been great since everyone is working from home but that's about the only positive that I've seen

 

[waynesworld]

I don't agree that it would likely increase the risk of transmission of COVID but knowing of the hyper sensitivity of DOE right now because of some things going on now at the facilities they would get roasted if something would happen and an outbreak would happen because of a hunt. Their primary focus is the safe production of electricity for us.

 

[Rakkin6]

Fort Campbell did the same thing during turkey season. And our check-in for game is online. You might see someone else hunting but if you are like me if I see someone I keep moving. You might get stopped by a game warden but that is it and that is rare. People are having knee jerk reactions to this. And they act like it is going away. We are stuck with this it is just another (maybe more dangerous to those with issues or the elderly) form of the flu.

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

 

[Realtree56]

It's officially off, got the email just now

 

[mike243]

waynesworld, they are into a lot of stuff and most of it use to go bang , electricity is probably at the end of a long list of stuff going on out there

 

[Rakkin6]

I know it is I am from over by there in Morgan County and half my dad's side of the family work there.

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

 

[waynesworld]

waynesworld, they are into a lot of stuff and most of it use to go bang , electricity is probably at the end of a long list of stuff going on out there

Well I would bet the decision is coming from DOE not the facility and DOE is not caring about what goes bang right now. There are some big things going on at DOE in TN now.

 

[Bullit]

Yeah I got my E-mail also . The cancelled the turkey hunt's this year also so maybe a year off will let them grow.

 

[mike243]

Throwed my permit away today, 2 years waiting lol

 

[eightpointoutdoors]

I waited three years to get drawn. Thankfully we received out Priority Points back, plus a bonus priority point.

 

[BlasterPits]

That sucks

 

[kamml]

There's talk that a lot of DOE is working from home and they may stay that way indefinitely. Something is up for sure.

 

[Antler Daddy]

I wish I had the points to draw a tag at Oak Ridge for fall 2021. This would be a great year to be in the woods. There should be plenty of does and some nice bucks running around.

 

[mike243]

No such thing as a bonus point, you got another point because you were not drawn plus you didn't use what you had, we will see soon if they allow the hunts this year

 

[JeepKuntry]

Lords willing I get the first hunt. If so I will be in the killing tree early and ready. Probably will hold out for a wallhanger. This spot has tons of traffic through it.