The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission met in Nashville Thursday and Friday to review the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s federal framework for the 2013-14 waterfowl hunting seasons and several questions were raised concerning the proposed seasons. First, the federal framework provides for a possible sandhill crane hunting season for Tennessee. The USFWS has recommended a potential 60-day season with 775 permits (three birds per permit) available. The sandhill crane hunting zone would be restricted to the southeastern portion of the state (south of I-40 and east of Tennessee Highway 56) where the majority of the birds migrate.
Sandhill cranes are hunted in other states, including Kentucky, and they are considered excellent table fare, being described as the “flying rib eye of the sky.”
A detriment to sandhill crane hunting is that they resemble the highly endangered whooping crane and the loss of even one bird is considered a setback for the whooping crane recovery program. A portion of the wild whooping crane population passes through Tennessee each fall on their annual migration flight to Florida and they rest in the Hiwassee Refuge which is located in the proposed sandhill crane hunting zone.
The results of a public opinion poll conducted by Responsive Management was presented to the commission. The poll revealed the vast majority of Tennessee residents favored hunting in general, but a sandhill crane hunt was not strongly supported. Most residents were not aware of sandhill cranes and often confused them with great blue herons, but the majority agreed that sandhill crane viewing and hunting could co-exist.
Before making a decision on the sandhill crane hunting season, the commission wants public input on the proposal. Comments can be emailed to: TWRA.Comment@tn.gov with the subject line “Sandhill Crane.”
The USFWS will also have a 10-day public comment period once the recommendation is published in the Federal Register in late July.