Let me say, I've thought from the "get-go" the creation of the "trophy" velvet buck hunt in August would overall do more harm than good, and I still think that.
If my memory serves correct, it was mainly a single West TN commissioner pushing for the August velvet hunt. Whether it was ever allowed on public WMAs was of zero concern to him.
And as others have stated, this was not a recommended idea of any TWRA deer biologist.
IMO, it is a legitimate argument that this August hunt, same weekend as the long-term traditional opening of squirrel season, pushes more hunters away from squirrel hunting than actually participate in the "trophy" velvet buck hunt. This adds to the reasoning of NOT having this on most public lands. Never mind that a super-majority of TN's deer hunters have ZERO interest in deer hunting in August.
The "trophy" velvet buck hunt also doesn't bode well with the non-hunting general public, a majority of whom accept other people deer hunting so long as someone eats the venison, but frown on any type "trophy" hunting. I suspect most of the "velvet" bucks will not be consumed by humans. We may disagree with non & anti-hunters, but they greatly outnumber us, and ultimately, the future of hunting will likely be in the hands of non & anti-hunters. Actually, it already is.