Area Manager Archie Whitehead prepares to announce the lucky hunters selected in TWRA's annual duck blind drawing on Woods Reservoir in Middle Tennessee. Photo by Richard Simms
Who says Tennessee doesn’t have a lottery? If you’re a duck hunter, you probably know all about Tennessee Duck Blind Lottery.
Waterfowl blind drawings were held on TWRA Wildlife Management Areas across the state on Saturday (8/4).
At the AEDC WMA on Woods Reservoir, Area Manager Archie Whitehead said it was the largest turnout ever for an AEDC duck blind drawing. “Last year we had between 450 and 500 people here," said Whitehead. "I’d guess we’ve got nearly 600 here today.”
Six hundred people all praying their name would be drawn from the box. There are 45 duck blind locations available on the Woods Reservoir area. That means for every hunter fortunate enough to be selected, about a dozen go home disappointed. Factor in the fact that many of the blind locations are known to be poor producers, and the odds were more like 1 in 20.
Of course regulations do allow licensed hunters present at the drawing to “sign on” to a blind. In other words, if Hunter A’s name is drawn, he can allow other hunters there with him to sign up on to the blind as well. They have to decide right away, and if they sign on to a blind, their names are eliminated from the remainder of the drawing.
There’s been much criticism of the waterfowl blind drawing system. There are widespread claims across the state that people frequently buy and sell the rights to sign on to a blind even though it’s against the law. “No person shall buy, sell, or barter, or offer to buy, sell or barter the privilege of signing on a draw blind.” Violation is a Class B misdemeanor, but most TWRA officers admit it’s a tough law to enforce.
It’s also well known that some groups “stuff the ballot box,” at drawings. Everyone who participates in the drawing must have a valid waterfowl-hunting license. Some folks, often business owners, go out and buy licenses for their sons, daughters, cousins, aunts, uncles, employees or anyone else they can drag to the Saturday morning drawing with them.
If an individual buys licenses for a large group, he or she increases the odds of someone in the group being drawn immensely. It’s a gamble, but not illegal. And apparently it’s a gamble some are willing to take. At Saturday morning’s AEDC drawing, it seemed obvious that some people there had never set foot in a duck blind in their life.
But, it’s a party atmosphere with an air of anticipation and excitement rippling through the crowd. And it boils down to whether or not your name gets drawn from the box.
Many have suggested that TWRA should use the same system for waterfowl blinds as is used for quota deer hunts. That everyone should have to submit applications in advance, as individuals or a designated group (eliminating “sign-ons”), and let a computer do the drawing. Such a system would eliminate, or at least reduce, the probability of people “stuffing the ballot box,” and it would cut out the option of buying or selling sign-ons.
But old habits die hard. Where the AEDC blind drawing attracted 600 people... the drawings on some West Tennessee areas attracted THOUSANDS of people. In West Tennessee there are some powerful politics involved in the duck hunting business. And five of the nine Tennessee Wildlife Commissioners are from West Tennessee. Fair or not, the current duck blind lottery system will probably continue for years to come.
The 2001 – 2002 waterfowl seasons will be set when the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission meets at Paris Landing State Park on August 21 and 22, 2001. Paris Landing State Park is located east of Paris, TN on US Hwy 79 at Kentucky Lake. Committee meetings will be conducted starting at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) in the afternoon on August 21st, and the Commission meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on August 22. The meetings are open to the public and all hunters and anglers are encouraged to attend.
On Saturday Whitehead said Tennessee is probably looking at another 51-day split season running until January 31, as in the past. The only change he suggested is the possibility of a reduced season on canvasbacks. And he said the Youth Hunting days might be held either before the regular season, or during the split.
TWRA has advised some West Tennessee duck hunters to expect possible water level problems during the upcoming season at the Gin Creek and Big Sandy WMA.
Last year the 1960-vintage pump used to flood those areas died. TWRA purchased a new electric pump to replace the old diesel-powered pump. The Agency thought they’d made the proper arrangements to get power to the new pump until the Paris Board of Public Utilities checked and determined the pump was 100 yards out of their designated service area.
Now TWRA is scrambling trying to get another utility company to run power for them, but says the line will have to cross private property. They’re not sure they can get the easements and power service in time for the upcoming season.
"Our major concern is the time it will take to get power to the site," said Area Manager Dan Fuqua. "If electrical service is not available by the second week of August, we are going to try to find an alternative power source, but a generator of the size required to run a pump of this magnitude will not be easy to find."
Officials estimated there were nearly 600 hunters taking part in Saturday's duck blind drawing at AEDC. Photo by Richard Simms