The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has locked in the dates to decide on the upcoming year's hunting and trapping seasons, and it's all going down at the historic Carnegie Hotel. On April 18, committee meetings are first up at 1 p.m., with the full Commission taking the floor the next day at 9 a.m., according to a release on the official Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website.

Bringing a potpourri of public feedback collected since last month's gathering, Division Chief Joe Benedict is set to lay out the 2024-25 hunting and trapping blueprints. Committee members, hunters, trappers, and wildlife enthusiasts—get ready. Benedict, along with Assistant Chiefs Wally Akins and Mark McBride, will be leading the charge on presenting proclamations, as stated on the Agency's website. Staying informed on aquatic life, an update on Upper East Tennessee Tailwater Fisheries will also reel in attention, a haven for those anglers eager to cast their lines.

Highlighting the behind-the-scenes heroics of the state's wildlife officers, Lt. Col. Matt Majors is all set to take a moment to shine a light on their contributions far beyond the enforcement line. They keep our natural playground safe, but they’re doing much more than checking licenses and keeping poachers at bay.

And adding a bit of brass to the badge, the yearly nod from the Shikar-Safari Club International will be bestowed upon one deserving officer. Handed out by the conservation-minded group, this award salutes an officer who's outperformed and outshined the rest over the past year in law enforcement, at least that's what the TWRA statement suggests.