Over 15,000 Sandhill Cranes spend the winter at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge on the Tennessee River in this file photo.Hunting Sandhill Cranes
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission again wants to institute a sandhill crane hunt.
This comes after TWRA, a state agency, has spent thousands of dollars in taxpayers money on fields of corn to feed the cranes and other waterfowl that migrate to the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge and similar refuges and wildlife management areas here and around the state — all billed previously as efforts to attract and preserve the majestic birds with six-foot wingspans.
So, TWRA, aside from the shift in message, isn’t this like hunting on baited fields? Remember that part of the title in many TWRA lands is spelled R-E-F-U-G-E?
TWRA spokesman Dan Hicks said TWRA hunts would not be allowed on refuges, but could sometimes be allowed on TWRA wildlife management areas, as well as on private land.
This is the second time in three years state wildlife officials have pushed this plan, and they are accepting public comment until Aug. 10 on the proposal before the commission votes in August.