TWRA Executive Director Offers Invitation to Aug. 10-11 Land Wildlife Expo

From TWRA's ED Carter

"Summer is off to a great start and before we know it, the Land and Wildlife Expo will be in session once again at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center (in Nashville). I wanted to take a moment and let you know how excited we are as an agency to be a partner in this event. One of the main focuses of the LWE is habitat enhancement for wildlife. Having worked in this field for over 40 years, I know the importance of habitat, especially on private lands. Since over 90 percent of property in Tennessee is in private ownership, it’s even more important for us as an agency to help equip land owners with the information, concepts and incentives they need to be successful. When they are successful, wildlife is the big winner.

"Please come visit our booth where our land managers and biologists will provide technical assistance and even help develop custom habitat plans for your property. They are experts at helping land owners navigate through the maze of federal and state incentive programs designed to help this effort. We’ll have real world examples of food plots and native grasses on the ground just a short shuttle ride away.

"We also plan to play a big part in putting on the Big Buck Contest.

"We look forward to seeing you at our booth at the Land and Wildlife Expo, August 10 - 11."

- Ed Carter, TWRA Executive Director

Darryl Worley Rendition of “The Andy Griffith Show” Theme Song Remains Available to Aid in Disaster Fund-Raising Efforts

From TWRA  

NASHVILLE --- Country music artist Darryl Worley is continuing his efforts as an ambassador for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and other state organizations across the country who manage the nation’s natural resources and their efforts to aid those affected by recent natural disasters.

What began as a simple idea to use the song to promote fishing grew to include a music video and a national fund-raising effort. The campaign, spearheaded by TWRA and the Franklin, Tennessee based record label, Outdoor Music, was built around the song known as “The Fishin’ Hole” which happens to be the theme song for the old Andy Griffith Show.
It features Darryl and long-time songwriting buddy, Wynn Varble, (co-writers of one of Darryl’s biggest hits, “Have You Forgotten”) enjoying a day on the lake with a surprise ending featuring some well-known pro fishermen, Elite Pro anglers Terry Scroggins, Gerald Swindle, Kota Kiriyama, and Brent Chapman.
"Everyone knows that melody, and it will stick in your head for days if you're not careful," said Worley at the time the project was launched. "Even though I'm a huge Andy Griffith Show fan, I did not know the song had lyrics. They are clever and give the song brand new life."
The music video, which was filmed near Darryl’s home in his native Hardin County, Tenn., was released late last fall during the Southeaster Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies conference. During concert appearances, Darryl has performed the song and invited his audience to pull out their cell phones and text the word FISH to 50555. This allows a $10 donation to be added to the user's phone bill.
These funds are received by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation. As a thank you gift, a link to a free ringtone of the song is sent to the donor's phone. The net proceeds are then used to help restore levees, replace equipment lost or damaged in the disasters and re-stock fish in waters affected by tornadoes and flooding. Donations from other parts of the country are distributed back to the state of origin's wildlife agency.
"The Fishin' Hole" music video was produced and directed by Jon Ward (Jonny Grand Films & Media) and Richard Prather (Dalia Entertainment Group) with executive producers, Eric Rhodes (All Star Cast) and Craig Brinks (Dalia Entertainment Group). "The Fishin' Hole" song is available on iTunes and at OutdoorMusic.com.
Additionally, pro anglers Terry Scroggins and Gerald Swindle, who appear in the music video, have contributed by recording a Public Service Announcement for the campaign.
The song is available on iTunes and at Outdoormusic.com.

New Law Aimed at Controlling Expansion of Invasive Wild Hogs From TWF    NASHVILLE, TENN. - A new law strengthening the penalties for illegal translocation of wild-appearing swine goes into effect July 1, thanks to an effort supported by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF) and the state wildlife resources agency, along with statewide agriculture and public health interests.   Under the provisions of the new law, a person who illegally transports or releases wild hogs (i.e., wild-appearing swine) into the wild without documented approval from the state Department of Agriculture can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, fined as much as $2,500 and sentenced to up to 11 months and 29 days in jail for each wild-appearing swine illegally translocated. State Rep. Ron Lollar (R-Bartlett) and Sen. Steve Southerland (R-Morristown) sponsored the legislation. Earlier this year, TWF and TWRA joined into a Memorandum of Understanding with the state Farm Bureau Federation, Soybean Producers, Pork Producers and departments of health and agriculture to work towards the eradication of wild hogs where practical, and to control populations elsewhere.   "Something needed to be done to address the proliferation, which is reaching epidemic proportions in parts of the state," said Rep. Lollar, who served as chair of the House Conservation and Environment Committee.   "This new law is another tool to protect farmers and landowners from the destruction the pigs cause, and hopefully it gets the attention of anyone who is considering the illegal transportation and release of this invasive species."   Last year, TWRA announced new measures to combat the growing hog problem, removing the non-native wild pigs from big-game status and marking them for eradication through aggressive trapping, and working with landowners to facilitate their removal by virtually any means necessary.   "These pigs can wipe out agricultural crops and wildlife habitat with amazing efficiency," said Mike Butler, CEO of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. "The evidence shows that wild hog populations are popping up in non-contiguous areas, which suggests that they are being transported and released illegally. This new law is a much stronger deterrent." Wild hogs are prolific reproducers, with a sow capable of bearing a litter of 12-15 piglets every 115 days. They do massive damage to the land through feeding and wallowing; they are also omnivorous, and will eat just about anything they can find. Studies have clearly shown that the hogs eat turkey eggs and poults, and even the occasional fawn or other unsuspecting mammal.   Other ground-nesting birds, amphibians and reptiles can suffer population decreases, and the pigs serve as a reservoir for diseases that can affect both livestock and humans.   Wild hogs also root up acres of land, which requires significant time and money to repair. In the U.S., damage caused by wild hogs is conservatively estimated at $1.5 billion annually.   Founded in 1946, the not-for-profit Tennessee Wildlife Federation's mission is to champion the conservation, sound management and enjoyment of Tennessee's wildlife and natural resources for current and future generations through stewardship, advocacy and education. For more information, visit www.tnwf.org.