Hunters in Tennessee can start marking their calendars as the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) opens the application period for the 2024 Mid-Season Waterfowl Quota Hunt on October 23. The window for hopefuls to throw their name in the hat stretches until November 12, as reported by the TWRA. Applications are exclusively digital this time around, interested parties are directed to submit through the various online channels, which include their official website, a mobile app, and regional offices.
As per TWRA's announcement, getting in on the action comes with a price tag—a $12 application fee on top of a vendor fee dependent on the submission method. This fee, however, can be dodged by hunters holding an Annual, Lifetime, or Senior Sportsman License. Restrictions apply to how applications work, as individuals, restricted to one application each, can list up to 48 unique hunting choices without repetition. Constructing a hunting party, that requires a minimum of four participants and can grow to a total of eight, begins with a party leader who chooses hunt options for the group. After submission, the leader will be assigned a party number for others to join in.
Fairness in the selection process is maintained through a priority drawing system which TWRA details, ensuring every year an applicant enters without success, they gain a priority point. Successful applicants from the previous year revert to a starting priority of zero. In the unique situation a party's members hold mixed priority statuses, the highest member’s status elevates the entire group's priority. The disappointment of not drawing a permit is mitigated by the consolation of each individual's priority increasing by one.
Claiming a successful spot means adhering to TWRA's tight deadline, with selected applicants receiving instructions via email to claim their permit before the evening of November 25. As directed by TWRA, each permit holder has the privilege to include up to seven guests per day at the hunt, pending no more than eight adults occupy a blind or pool simultaneously. Beyond this point, permit assignments are locked in; they cannot be transferred nor can new party members be added. Missing the claim deadline means relinquishing the individual permit yet still allowing participation as a guest.
For hunters who miss the initial draw, a second chance awaits at the leftover drawing scheduled for December 9. This draw, as well as additional rules and locations, are detailed on page 85 of the 2024-25 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Guide. Tennessee's waterfowl season beckons once again, with hunters eagerly waiting to fill their applications and, with luck, their hunting blinds as the season approaches.
