On Feb. 14, House Bill 1674 and Senate Bill 1839 were officially withdrawn. These two bills would have transferred ownership of 12,000 acres of a state wildlife management area (WMA) within an hour of Nashville to county authorities.
Because of its proximity to Tennessee’s largest metropolitan area, the loss of Yanahli Wildlife Management Area would have removed a popular and valued public area from sportsmen throughout the region. These bills offered no rationale for the transfer but would have resulted in reduced hunting, fishing, trapping and shooting opportunities for the public. In addition to effective fish and wildlife programs, the area also has a heavily frequented shooting range.
“We are grateful that these bills were withdrawn. The number-one issue for recruitment, retention and reactivation of American sportsmen is access to quality places to hunt, fish, trap and shoot. As urbanization and development continue to squeeze sportsmen out, public areas remain extremely valuable destinations for many,” said Dillon Barto, manager of state services at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Without public land to engage in our cherished traditions, many simply give up – and that was the exact problem with these bills – they would have reduced public opportunities just when many need them most.”
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
