Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comment on our draft Migratory Bird Hunting Plan (Resident Canada Goose Hunt) and Environmental Assessment. The plans will be available for public comment for a period of 30 days beginning March 5, 2007.

The plan describes six alternatives for hunting on the refuge: (1) the no action alternative would continue the hunting program that is currently in place, i.e. no resident Canada goose hunting, (2) the proposed action would open a maximum of 40% of the refuge to the hunting of resident Canada geese during the September goose season for the West Tennessee Zone. The portions of the Big Sandy and Busseltown Units open to hunting would be non-quota. The Duck River Unit would be split into non-quota and quota hunt zones. The portion of the Duck River Bottoms open to hunting would be a quota hunt zone. The open area outside of the bottoms would be a non-quota hunt zone, (3) capture and euthanasia during molt alternative would round up resident Canada geese during the summer molt to be euthanized, (4) shooting for limited control alternative would involve the use of refuge staff to selectively target geese in problem areas, (5) disruption of nests alternative would involve the use of refuge staff to oil eggs or otherwise reduce reproduction, (6) scare strategies and harassment alternative would involve the use of refuge staff using pyrotechnics and other scare devices to scare resident geese out of problem areas.

A copy of the draft Hunt Plan and Environmental Assessment is available at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge headquarters in Paris, TN and sub-headquarters office in New Johnsonville, TN and on our web site at www.fws.gov/tennesseerefuge

Our address is:

Our business hours are 7:00 to 3:30 Monday through Friday. Also a copy can be requested by calling 731-642-2091.

Copies of the plans can also be found at the following libraries:

Henry County Public Library
Rhea Public Library
400 West Washington Street
Paris, TN 38242
731-642-1702

Benton County Public Library
121 South Forrest Avenue
Camden, TN 38320
731-584-4772

Humphreys County Public Library
201 Pavo Avenue
Waverly, TN 37185
931-296-2143

Decatur County Public Library
20 West Market Street
Decaturville, TN 38329
731-852-3325

Written comments will be accepted until April 5, 2007. We will address all comments concerning the draft Environmental Assessment and Hunt Plan on Tennessee NWR in the final Environmental Assessment and Hunt Plan. Comments may be emailed to clayton_ferrell@fws.gov. Please call us at 931-535-2465 if you would like a copy of the draft Hunt Plan and Environmental Assessment or if you have any questions.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.