Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - Region 4

TWRA’s Region 4 Wildlife Officers enforce boating, hunting, fishing and trapping laws, but may also enforce all other Tennessee State laws. There are full time Wildlife Officers located in each county and more than 15 part-time Wildlife Officers who assist with boating enforcement. We need your help to report violations.

TO REPORT A VIOLATION OR BOATING ACCIDENT PLEASE CALL OUR POACHING HOTLINE FROM 7:00 AM TO MIDNIGHT (not for information calls)

EAST TENNESSEE - POACHING HOTLINE: (800) 831-1174

Area 41 - middle East TN

Area 42 - lower East TN

Area 43 - upper East TN

TWRA Rules and Regulations

TWRA Proclamations

Boating enforcement

Legal hunting methods

Career as a Wildlife Officer

DUTIES OF A WILDLIFE OFFICER:

Patrols lakes, streams and forests in an assigned area to enforce laws governing the taking, possessing, transporting and disposal of wildlife.
Draws and serves warrants for wildlife law violations and makes arrests.
Inspects hunting, fishing and trapping methods used by sportsmen.
Investigates suspected violations of wildlife laws, rules and regulations.
Checks licenses, tags and bag limits of sportsmen.
Enforces state boating and water safety regulations.
Seizes and disposes of illegally possessed or taken wildlife.
Inspects cold storage plants, restaurants and other facilities where wildlife may be stored.
Seizes and disposes of illegal fishing or hunting gear.
Investigates reports of damage done to crops or timber by wildlife and issues control permits.
Assists in the control of nuisance wildlife and humanely disposes of injured wildlife as required.
Inspects facilities used in propagating wildlife for commercial purposes.
Inspects facilities for holding wildlife and/or exotic animals and/or dangerous animals.
Submits recommendations on hunting seasons, bag and creel limits.
Prepares detailed quarterly plans for wildlife and boating enforcement.
Inspects and vaccinates imported wildlife as required.
Reports and makes investigations pertaining to pollution violations.
Assists in investigating fish and wildlife kills.
Trains and supervises the work of new officers and assistants.
Supervises and coordinates imposed penalties on wildlife, boating and litter offenders.
Conducts surveys of fish, game abundance and nesting success.
Takes and records biological data on game and fish taken.
Stocks farm fish ponds, determines farm pond balance and makes management recommendations to landowners.
Draws up farm game management plans for landowners.
Conducts browse and mast surveys.
Completes land acquisition surveys and dove call counts.
Assists on wildlife management areas during scheduled hunts.
Distributes wildlife seed mixtures and planting materials.
Makes direct habitat improvements through food plantings and the construction of nesting boxes.
Works with state and private foresters in the management of public hunting areas for wildlife.
Submits field bag check reports on hunter success.
Assists in conducting creel census in selected waters.
Assists in wildlife feeding programs during unusual weather
Instructs boating safety education classes.
Develops and maintains a hunter and firearms safety education program in assigned county or district.
Investigates hunting and boating accidents.
Assists in or teaches wildlife management and wildlife law enforcement at schools, clubs and universities.
Works with Boy Scouts, 4-H Clubs and others in promoting and assisting in wildlife related projects.
Participates in Project CENTS as instructor or facilitator.
Works with radio, television and press media and records radio and TV programs.
Attends and speaks at meetings at local schools, sportsman clubs and civic organizations.
Maintains contact with license agents and county big game checking stations and furnishes information to them.
Conducts limited research within assigned area on specific biological or management problems.
Checks access areas and camping sites to enforce regulations.
Participates in forest fire patrol and forest fire suppression.
Participates in the search for lost persons.
Participates in the recovery of drowning victims and controls boating traffic in the vicinity of search and rescue operations.
Assists in the development of slide show and the production of films for information and educational purposes.
Conducts maintenance on vehicles, boats, motors and other equipment.
Assists in nuclear and other disaster exercises in cooperation with other emergency services.
Assists as needed with the state marijuana task force.
Exercises general law enforcement authority on public property, managed lands, and waters.
Assists other law enforcement agencies such as the State Police and Sheriff Departments.