NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In order to create a greater financial penalty for those who illegally kill or possess big game species, the Tennessee Legislature recently passed legislation that increases fines for those convicted of poaching.
The restitution fee is not less than $1,000 per animal for wild turkey, white-tailed deer with no antlers and antlered white-tailed deer with less than eight antler points that is illegally killed or possessed. There is a fine of not less than $1,500 for a wild elk with no antlers and antlered wild turkey with less than eight antler points.
For white-railed deer with at least eight, but not more than 10 antler points, the fine is $1,000 per animal plus $500 for each antler point. For a white-tailed deer with 11 or more antler points, the fine is $1,000 per animal plus $750 for each antler point that is illegally killed or possessed.
In regard to wild elk, the penalty is no less than $1,500 per animal, plus $500 per antler point with at least eight and none more than 10 points. For elk with 11 or more antler points, the fine is $1,500 plus $750 for each antlered point.
For bear, the fine is no less than $5,000 for each bear illegally killed or possessed and for each bear cub orphaned by the illegal killing or possession of a bear.
In addition to the authorized punishments, any court that convicts a person of killing or possessing a white-tailed deer, wild turkey bear or wild elk in violation “shall revoke any license that was issued until the person has paid in full all restitution that the court ordered the person to pay,” according to the new legislation.