The selling of duck blinds may have been a reason for the new system, but, it was a minor reason. The impetus came from the agency and the Commission continually hearing from hunters in Regions 3 and 4 about having virtually zero public waterfowl hunting opportunities in their regions. It was a continual gripe for decades.
So, rather than trying to spend the millions of dollars they didn't have in the budget to make new waterfowl areas in those regions, they explored trying to give those hunters, and others who where not interested in a year long blind and the trouble/expenses for a hunt or two a little better access to the current waterfowl areas. A scientifically done survey confirmed the interest.
When it came time to make the change, the input they got from the public was pretty much evenly split from the ones for and against. So, they went ahead with the project.
I have been on record from the start of not liking the new system. I still don't. There are a couple of areas where I think it might work OK. But, there are some others where I think it may lead to some deaths due to some potentially very dangerous issues in accessing the draw blinds at times.
I guess I am at the point that I am really tired of the continual bashing of the Agency and/or the Commission over decisions they made in good faith. They didn't do this to try to screw over local waterfowl hunters. They thought they could give a segment of their license buyers a piece of the pie. I totally don't like the fact that some of the best blinds were lost, but, I can also understand the thought process of why they located them where they did in most cases.
And, if someone does have info that there have been kickbacks in the process, here is the anonymous reporting link to the State Comptrollers office to report it:
https://apps.cot.tn.gov/ANTS/Submission/Submit
It will be investigated by folks with zero ties to the agency or Commission, and, it they find something, it will be dealt with. I have seen it in action over the years. If all it is slinging mud because you are pissed like I am about the whole deal, then maybe take a step back and think about how you would feel about someone saying bs towards you.
YMMV