Dance backs push for dedicated wildlife funding

9:50 a.m. Feb. 4, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Lynchburg native and outdoor legend Bill Dance is lending his unmistakable voice to a growing push for dedicated state funding to sustain and strengthen Tennessee’s fish, wildlife, and public lands.

Dance, known around the world for his love of fishing and the outdoors, spoke in support of a legislative effort that would ensure stable, long-term financial backing for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the state agency charged with managing fish, wildlife, habitat, and public access to natural spaces.

“For decades, Tennessee’s hunters and anglers have paid to maintain wildlife operations,” Dance said, noting the tradition of conservation that they’ve led. “But sportsmen and women can no longer carry this burden alone.”

New Funding Model

Currently, TWRA receives roughly 81% of its funding from license sales and federal excise taxes tied to hunting and fishing, even though millions of Tennesseans enjoy outdoor recreation without directly contributing financially.

The proposed dedicated funding plan would allocate a portion of existing state revenue to wildlife conservation, providing a reliable, ongoing funding stream that is not tied to license sales or economic cycles. Supporters argue this approach:

Helps wildlife managers keep pace with rising costs, inflation and expanded public use of parks and waterways;
• Keeps public lands open, safe, and well-maintained;
• Encourages long-term planning rather than short-term fixes;
• Reflects conservative fiscal principles and stabilizes a key state agency’s budget.

“Tennessee’s wildlife belongs to everyone, and its care should be a shared responsibility,” the Tennessee Wildlife Federation states in its policy guide, noting the economic impact of outdoor recreation, which generates billions annually in jobs, tourism, and quality-of-life value statewide.

Balancing Tradition with Broad Support

Dance emphasized that dedicated funding would not replace the role of hunters and anglers in conservation but protect them by preventing an unfair financial burden on only a portion of those who benefit.

“When hunters and anglers have carried most of the cost for this work, they’ve done it proudly,” said the Federation, “but that model no longer reflects how wildlife and public lands are used today.”

Gov. Bill Lee and members of the Tennessee General Assembly have been discussing how to implement dedicated funding as part of a broader wildlife and conservation policy for 2026. The effort marks a strategic shift toward stable conservation financing – a move supporters say is essential to keep Tennessee’s woods, waters, and wildlife thriving for future generations.

“Tennessee folks are gonna find it mighty hard to live without fish and wildlife,” Dance said. “Let’s work together to keep Tennessee wild.”