Grainger residents oppose hunting on preserves
By Bob Hodge (Contact)
Sunday, August 17, 2008


Clinch Mountain Hunting Adventures in Grainger County hasn't officially opened but it is already the best-known pay-to-hunt facility in the state. Located in the Thorn Hill community, Clinch Mountain has everything from hogs and elk to the cow-like watusi and zebra at the 64-acre facility.

A lot of people don't like it.

And not only don't they like Clinch Mountain Hunting Adventures, they don't like the other hunting preserves in the state either.

"I never knew this country had those kinds of things," said Debbie Rich, who lives about a mile from the hunting preserve. "We're not in a fight with the gentleman that has the facility; what we are about is trying to change the law."

Armed with petitions and online petitions Rich, 77, is going to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission meeting this week at Pickwick Landing State Park. She's wanting the commission to do something about facilities where, according to her, the hunting is not a fair chase.

Rich is quick to point out that the organization she and her daughter Pamela Bolden have formed, "Give Them a Chance," is not anti-hunting. It's about stopping the hunting of animals not native to Tennessee that are kept inside fences.

"We're not against the sportsmen," she said. "We would like to see the sportsmen, the people who really hunt, get out and ask that these laws be changed."

Haun, the owner of Clinch Mountain Hunting Adventures, did not return phone calls or answer an e-mail request for an interview. He has told other media outlets that he plans to proceed with his business and everything he's doing is perfectly legal under Tennessee state law.

He's right.

In Tennessee, hunting preserves are regulated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the state Department of Agriculture.

The TWRA sells permits to the preserves - no hunting license is necessary to hunt non-native species on preserves - and inspects the enclosures to ensure the animals can't escape. The animals on the preserves are under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture.

How much regulatory authority the TWRC has is an open question. The law allowing preserves is a legislative statute and the commission has no authority to re-write the law. On the other hand, the commission could possibly define how big the area being hunted has to be and possibly regulate the types of animals allowed on preserves.

It's against the law in Tennessee to hunt Class I animals - elephants, big cats, rhinos, etc. - on preserves. It's also illegal to hunt any species of bear.

There are 15 hunting preserves operating in the state.

"We would have to have our legal department look at what the commission can and cannot do," said Ron Fox, assistant director of the TWRA. "The commission does have authority to regulate some things."

Hunting preserves cannot import native species, but they are allowed to hunt deer or other native animals on their property during the statewide seasons. Hunters hunting native species on a preserve have to purchase a license to do so.

Rich's fight with Clinch Mountain Hunting Adventures has gotten nationwide attention. Some has come from groups like the Humane Society of the United States that are not just anti-hunting on preserves, but anti-hunting in general.

Rocky Farr, vice president of the Grainger County Humane Society said her organization has been involved with Rich, but echoes her pro-hunting sentiment.

"We're not against real hunting in any shape or form," Farr said. "Most of our volunteers know people who hunt or hunt themselves. But we are against this (pay-to-hunt preserves) type of hunting."

Mike Butler, executive director of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, said his organization just recently learned about the Grainger County operation. TWF's board of directors have begun deliberations on the topic.

"We don't consider these types of operations of having anything in common with hunting," Butler said. "They are shooting operations that don't respect the principles of fair chase.

"It is not hunting. People need to quit using the word hunting to describe these businesses."

Fox said hunting preserves have not always been regulated but have always been legal in Tennessee. Rich said she never knew it.

"Tennessee Wildlife Resources is so strict about local wildlife I'm surprised they would allow this," she said. "I can see it if it's birds and some other things, but these are big animals that can't get away."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

Can o' worms, Kathi.
Anytime one mixes money and wildlife, we get to see the worst of the human race and little regard for critters. I see the canned operation as the ruination of our sport. Every time one of these outfits gets publicity we are all tarred with the same stick.
Walt

It's amazing to me that anyone can go to one of these places, look around, and stay. But yet they do it all the time and then go back home and call it hunting.....pitiful.