An effort to dramatically change the commission which oversees the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency failed Tuesday. The panel that regulates hunting and fishing is due to expire this summer after coming under fire recently for new rules on hunting wild hogs.

Republican Frank Nicely of Knoxville says the restrictions made hunters angry. He says they think it is unreasonable to ban what species they hunt or how they hunt it.

“I went to a meeting the other night with 600 bear hunters, bear and hog hunters, and they’re mad at the commission. They want to have something that’s more responsive. They feel like they’re trying to do away with hunting with hounds.”

Nicely wants to end the 13-member TWRA commission and replace it with a single commissioner to oversee the agency. But his effort was blocked by the chairman of the panel reviewing the proposal.

The House subcommittee instead approved legislation that keeps the current TWRA framework and merely renames the commission. Members would also be barred from consecutive terms.

Tullahoma Republican Judd Matheny’s a plan goes before the full House Conservation and Environment Committee next week.

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Matheny’s proposal is HB2776 Matheny, Harwell/SB3590 Faulk.

Matheny says his bill should address any problems with the TWRA.

“Any shortcomings that have been identified or might be identified in the future through our negotiations I have no doubt the commission’s going to take those up and work very well with legislature.”

A bill to allow separate counties to opt out of the Wildlife Resources Agency’s new rule – no hog hunting – was deferred until February 21. That is HB3153 Windle/SB2984 Burks.

The Tennessee Hunter’s Alliance is petitioning the TWRA’s current big game rule.

The feral hogs cause an estimated $1 billion in agricultural damage across the U.S. each year.