The great outdoorsmen and women of Tennessee are gearing up for some crucial talks, as the state's Wildlife Resources Agency is set to reveal its recommendations for the 2024-25 hunting and trapping seasons at the upcoming Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting on March 21-22. This wilderness rendezvous will take center stage at the Buffalo Ridge Refuge in Humphreys County, where experts will propose changes and set the stage for the state's hunting enthusiasts.

A layer of anticipation may simmer down come Thursday, with committee meetings scheduled at 1 p.m., before things get down to serious business at the full commission session starting promptly at 9 a.m. on Friday. In a statement obtained by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Wildlife and Forestry Assistant Chiefs Wally Akins and Mark McBride are slated to present proposed regulations that could revamp the state's Wildlife Management Areas, and possibly reshape the furbearer season and raptor take for falconry, among other topics.

But it's not all hunt and games, as the Commission also plans to vote on these proposed regulations at a subsequent meeting on April 18-19 in Johnson City. By then, the aim is to finalize the new frameworks for deer and turkey management units, season dates, and a roundup of big game harvest summaries.

Adding to the list of updates, Matt Clarey, TWRA Outreach Assistant Chief/R3 Coordinator, will shed light on the Buffalo Ridge Shooting Range project, and the future education facility plans. Additionally, a report on fixes for the Stones River Shooting Range is in the chamber, with renovations for berm repairs. This shooting range isn't just a backcountry pastime—it's the hottest ticket among the state-owned ranges.

Beyond the scope, Giles County Wildlife Officer Ryne Goats is set to be lauded, having bagged the title of 2023 Tennessee Wildlife Officer of the Year—an honor he will formally grab hold of during the meeting. Goats stood as the TWRA's representative at the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' last fall convention and is a credit to his badge.

While the Tennessee Wildlife Federation has its sights set on the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), and the Hunting and Fishing Academy, attendees will also see the new Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission Chairman, Jimmy Granbery of Nashville, take the reins. Alongside him, Vice Chairman Chris Devaney of Lookout Mountain, and Secretary Greg Davenport of Brentwood, will also take their newly elected seats after the February meeting's decision.