Animals and Fish - Historical Notes

The following is a listing of acts that at one time affected, but no longer appear to have any effect on, hunting, fishing or animal control in Maury County. They are included herein for reference purposes. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Public Acts of 1869-70 (2nd Ex. Sess.), Chapter 19, prohibited seining, netting, either with set or dipnet, basketing, or trapping, in any stream, pond, or reservoir in the Counties of Maury, Rutherford, Davidson, Robertson, Montgomery, Cheatham, Williamson, Stewart, Cannon, Marion, Warren, and Dickson, and provided for fines for violation of the act.
2. Public Acts of 1871, Chapter 9, repealed Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 19 as the law applied to Maury, Dickson, Warren, Marion, Benton, Humphreys, and Cannon Counties.
3. Public Acts of 1873, Chapter 83, made it unlawful in Montgomery, Robertson, Davidson, and Maury counties from the first of February to the first of September to hunt, kill, or capture any song bird, any game bird, or any bird which feeds on the insects which destroy fruit trees, and provided for fines for violation of the act.
4. Public Acts of 1877, Chapter 25, made it unlawful in Robertson, Montgomery, Maury, Gibson, Madison, Stewart, Franklin, Loudon, Monroe, Hawkins, Henry, and Crockett Counties, except that part of Crockett formerly in Dyer County, to fish with seines, nets, traps, or gigs, or by any other means than hook and line and trotline, or to place nets across the mouth of any stream to prevent free passage of fish. Violations of the act were declared to be misdemeanors.
5. Private Acts of 1897, Chapter 272, made it lawful to catch fish with one's hands in Maury County during the months of June, July, and August of each year.
6. Public Acts of 1899, Chapter 229, made it a misdemeanor for any person to kill or capture partridges, quail, or any other game birds in Maury County for a period of two years after the passage of the act. Violators were subject to a fine of from $5 to $50.
7. Acts of 1901, Chapter 234, made it unlawful for any person to capture, kill, shoot, wound, or destroy partridges, quail, or any other game bird in Maury County from the 1st day of March to the 1st day of November each year. The act declared it unlawful to hunt, pursue, kill, or capture with dog or gun, any game of any kind, except foxes, upon the enclosed lands of another without the landowner's consent. Justices of each civil district were made game wardens and were to report and enforce any violations of the act. All fines imposed and collected would be placed in the school fund.
8. Acts of 1909, Chapter 72, prohibited professional fishermen from taking fish for sale in any manner regardless of permits or licenses under penalty of fines of $25 to $50. Citizens could take fish for their own use with rod and line, trotline, or with their hands at any time in all streams; nets and seines of certain types were permitted in Duck River but banned in all other streams during April and May of each year. The act was to be enforced by the County Game Wardens.
9. Acts of 1909, Chapter 227, repealed Acts of 1901, Chapter 150, as it applied to Maury County. The act had prohibited the running at large or trespassing of hogs, sheep, goats, or geese.
10. Acts of 1909, Chapter 487, permitted the sale of catfish caught by nets, baited basket, and baited traps, but without the use of dams or other obstructions and by grabbing by the hands.
11. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 104, also repealed Acts of 1901, Chapter 150, as it applied to Maury County.
12. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 143, prohibited in Maury County professional fishermen from taking fish for sale, except catfish. Maury County citizens could take fish for their own use.
13. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 390, was a comprehensive fish protection act for Maury County which fixed the closed fishing season, with some exceptions, as the period of May 1st to June 15th. Private pond fishing and the catching of minnows for bait were exempted from the act. Penalties for violations were fines of between $25 and $50 and up to thirty days in jail.
14. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 681, made it unlawful for any person to hunt, wound, or kill quail in Maury County except during December and January.
15. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 891, made it unlawful for any owner or keeper of horses, mules, jack stock, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, or any kind of livestock to permit the animals to run at large. The penalty for violation of the act was a fine of from $2 to $10. The act granted a lien upon any livestock at large causing damage in favor of the person damaged.
16. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 702, was the first "Dog Law" for Bedford, Montgomery, Maury, and Wilson Counties. A schedule of licensing fees was set up for the owning and keeping of dogs, part of which went to the State, part to the County Trustee for collecting the fees if he were not on salary, and part for damages to persons who had animals killed by dogs. Dogs caught killing, chasing or worrying sheep could be killed on sight. Those running at large without a license tag, whose owners were known could be killed only after notice and hearing. A Game and Fish warden was required to kill a dog on sight which was caught harming sheep or any domestic animal. If he failed to perform his duties assigned in the act, a warden or a County Trustee could be charged with a misdemeanor.
17. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 30, recognized that the Trustee of Maury County possessed $1,624.36 in undistributed funds collected as a result of the operation of the "Dog Law". It authorized the funds to be distributed one-half to the Trustee for his services rendered and one half to the satisfaction of unpaid claims of persons entitled to damages under the "Dog Law".
18. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 31, repealed the "Dog Law", Private Acts 1927, Chapter 702 as it applied to Bedford, Maury, and Montgomery Counties, leaving only Wilson under the Act. It was repealed as it applied to Wilson County in 1931.
19. Private Acts of 1937 (3rd Ex. Sess.), Chapter 41, dictated that all general fish and game laws were to be upheld except that open season for water fowls would be October 15 to January 1 in Maury County.
20. Private Acts of 2000, Chapter 131, amended Private Acts of 1977, Chapter 62, relative to the Maury County Animal Control Board. Private Acts of 2000, Chapter 131, was repealed by Private Acts of 2008, Chapter 65.