TFWC to increase OHV permit fees and other state fees

Around 15 Campbell County leaders, business owners attended Friday’s meeting held at Memphis

By Charlotte Underwood

MEMPHIS, TN (WLAF)- On December 6, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC) voted to raise permitting fees across the state, including Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) fees on the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. However, after listening to public comment from Campbell County leaders on the proposed OHV fees for the North Cumberland WMA, the TFWC voted to set a three-year incremental permit increase with options for daily, three-day, seven-day, and annual permits.

Originally, TWRA officials had proposed OHV permit fees of $200 for residents and $500 for non-residents. After listening to statements from county leaders and suggestions from the Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association (CORA), the TFWC modified its proposal on OHV permit fees on the WMA to $100 for residents, and $250 for non-residents for this first year, with a gradual increase scheduled. Those prices will go up again next year, and again the year after, reflecting the incremental price increases that the modified proposal included.

That modified proposal passed on Dec. 6 with an eight to four vote of TFWC in favor of the gradual price increase.

Around 15 Campbell County members attended the 2024 meeting held at the Ducks Unlimited National Headquarters in Memphis on Thursday and Friday. During Thursday’s meeting, Campbell County citizens made statements to the TFWC Commission regarding the “detrimental economic impact” the original proposed fee increase would have on county. Those attending the meeting and making statements included several members of the Campbell County Commission, County Mayor Jack Lynch, members of the Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association (CORA) and business owners that are directly affected by the OHV fee increase.

Both the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Director Jason Maxedon and TFWC members thanked Campbell Countians for attending the meeting, saying they appreciated “them traveling across the state to speak on an issue that is important to Campbell County.”

Prior to attending the meeting, the Campbell County Commission had passed a resolution opposing the proposed ‘price hikes” and CORA submitted a letter to the TFWC Commission on November 18^th as well.

In the letter drafted to TWRA officials, CORA asked the agency to consider a more “middle stream proposal” that put a resident annual permit at $100, not $200 and puts nonresident at $250, rather than $500” which the agency was originally proposing.

CORA had also suggested the agency add a 7-day permit option, a youth permit option, among other suggestions. Stanley said CORA felt having that 7-day permit option was important for the tourism industry in the county that depends on OHV riders who come on vacation to the area.

Campbell County Commissioner Rusty Orick addressed TFWC members, telling them that “normally he was on the other side of the table, sitting where they were.” Orick spoke about how the county is “dependent on the hotel/motel tax” and how it is tied to recreation and OHV trails. Orick explained that if the fees were increased as proposed, it would affect the tourism dollars that the trail system brings into the county.

County Mayor Jack Lynch spoke briefly, thanking them for their time and echoing Commissioner Orick’s comments on how the OHV increase could hurt the county economically. Lynch said the “proposed increases would have a detrimental effect on the county.”

Ride Royal Blue Campground owner Justin Jones and Ride Royal Blue Campground Founder Sheila Westray also spoke on the negative impact it would have on business owners that are “dependent upon the riding community.” They also said they supported the proposal set by CORA.

Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association Chair Bill Stanley closed out the comments on the much-discussed topic at Thursday’s meeting.

Stanley told TFWC members that “the mountain was important to Campbell County” and that CORA understood the trail system had maintenance needs, and that the money had to be generated to sustain the trails, however, “the trick is to do it in such a way that it doesn’t hurt the revenue of Campbell County or negatively impact the rider experience on the trail systems.”

Stanley also stressed “transparency” and asked the TFWC to “share the plan every year” and “to show what was done with the money” saying that would “keep everyone satisfied, informed and engaged.”

Stanley said County Commissioner Rusty Orick and others did a “phenomenal job” on addressing the TFWC and explaining the “riding community will take a hit if you put in the rates as they are proposed.”

He also said that CORA was appreciative that the TFWC had been attentive to the statements and requests made by Campbell County.

“We deeply appreciate the Wildlife Commission’s consideration of our proposed points and rates and appreciate they have adopted something very close to what we proposed, in terms of the initial year and the following year two and year three incremental increase. It is our hope that they will revisit this after a year and see if additional modifications are warranted based on learning how much money the permits will bring in for the maintenance of trails on the wildlife management area,” Stanley said.

In other permit fee changes, the new boat registration fees will increase by 22 percent and most of the hunting and fishing license prices by 28 percent. Sportsman and Lifetime license fees were increased by 12 percent.

The increased fees will take effect July 1, 2025. A complete list of the permit and licensing fees will be made public on the TWRA website prior to implementation in 2025. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-12/09/2024-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF CORA CHAIR BILL STANLEY)