Rep. Niceley: "Pants on Fire" Rating from Politifact
 

It appears that Rep. Niceley's war against TWRA has gained national attention. He has now received a "Pants on Fire" rating from fact-checking site www.politifact.com, regarding his claims that TWRA stocked coyotes in Tennessee to control the deer herd:

http://www.politifact.com/tennessee/...-agency-deliv/

Rep. Niceley's claims are completely false.

bd

I sure hope this guy doesn't mke us and the agency a laughing stock across the country.

TWRA is very well respected coast to coast.

I read some where about a month or two ago That TWRA stocked Mountain Lions to control the deer heard. A friend of mine has seen two on his farm in the last several years. His place is in eastern Maury county. Not too far from rt 431.

http://www.wsmv.com/story/16357088/m...ught-on-camera

here is a link for sightings.
https://www.uu.edu/forms/cougars/sightings.cfm

the article I read, " which I can't find" said that TWRA stocked the cats and are now refusing the existence of the big cats. If TWRA said there is evidence of mountain lions they would have to declare large tracts of land for them as it would support endangered species. Personally I think it is all a crock. There might be some big cat around but TWRA did not stock them. They came here with Bigfoot !!!!

Mtn lions have been spreading east for some time. There have been numerous articles in mags such outdoor life, field & stream, etc. With deer populations at or near the levels they were when Columbus landed here thanks to stocking and hunting regs, it isn't hard to imagine why lion populations are rising. The more cats, the more room they'll need.


Chris

"TWRA stocked mountain lions" falls under the same category as "TWRA stocked coyotes" and "TWRA stocks rattlesnakes." It's silly.

It's not like they're the CIA - they couldn't conduct a large animal reintroduction program in total secret on some sort of "off books" budget that isn't known to the public.

Anyway, I'm pretty convinced that at least 99% of the mountain lion sightings I hear about are total hooey. It would be kind of neat if they were around, but it's funny how every third guy in East TN has seen multiple lions and yet nobody ever gets a picture, none show up as roadkill, they leave no tracks, etc.

bd

Would it be "legal" to shoot one?

No.

It is only legal to shoot a wildlife species in Tennessee if there is a listed hunting season for that species in the hunting regs. Some species (coyotes for example) are listed with a year-round season, but it's still a listed season. No listing in the hunting regs means it's illegal to shoot the animal.

I guess there are narrow exceptions for self-defense and things like that, but I think in Tennessee, you're as likely to need to defend yourself against a sasquatch attack as you would against a mountain lion attack. :)

bd