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 Crockett 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 1877, Chapter 25, prohibited in several counties, Crockett inclusive, the taking or catching of fish with seines, nets, traps, gigs, or by means other than by angling with hook and line and trot line, from the waters of any running streams in the State.  Any owner of the land, covering or adjoining the waters where a violation occurs, may have an action against the violator.  The provisions of this Act were not applicable to navigable streams in the State below the point of navigation.  Also, the portion of Crockett County formerly belonging to Dyer County was exempt from the provisions of the Act.
2. Private Acts of 1897, Chapter 154, amended Public Acts of 1895, Chapter 127, which was a statewide law to protect fish.  Private Acts of 1897, Chapter 154, allowed the citizens of Crockett County to fish in any streams, lakes, or ponds in said County by hook and line, fall down traps, fish basket, and seine.
3. Private Acts of 1897, Chapter 181, made it a misdemeanor for any person to hunt or fish on the enclosed lands of another which lay in Gibson or Crockett counties, without first obtaining the written permission of the owner or his agent.  The said lands were not required to be posted for the Act to be applicable.  Any violator, upon conviction, would be subject to a fine of not less than one dollar ($1.00), nor more than five dollars ($5.00).
4. Private Acts of 1897, Chapter 240, provided that any resident of Hardin, Gibson, Crockett, Tipton, Fayette, Franklin, Grundy, and Marion counties, could catch fish, except from April 1st to June 1st, of each year, by any means except poison, dynamite, or wing nets across any stream.
5. Private Acts of 1897, Chapter 250, made it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, at any season of the year, to ship from Carroll, Obion, Madison, and Crockett counties any quail or partridges. Further, it was unlawful, to kill, catch, or entrap any quail or partridges  for  the purpose of shipment, or to destroy the nest or eggs of quail.  Any violator, upon conviction, was subject to a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00), nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00) and imprisonment at the Judge's discretion.
6. Acts of 1903, Chapter 124, declared it unlawful for any owner of hogs, sheep, goats, or geese to allow them to run at large in Crockett County.  Any damage done by said animals would constitute a lien upon the trespassing animals in favor of the aggrieved landowner.  Also, one damaged by the said trespassing animals could take up, care for and feed such animals, the expense of which would also be a lien.  Any violation of this Act was a misdemeanor, subject to not less than a two dollar ($2.00), nor more than a ten dollar ($10.00) fine.  This Act was not to be construed as relieving railroads of any liability for damage done to stock or geese.
7. Acts of 1903, Chapter 128, made it unlawful to kill or capture any bird in Obion and Crockett counties, except birds of prey, eagles, owls, hawks, and English sparrows, for a period of two (2) years following the passage of the Act.  Fines for this misdemeanor, upon conviction, ranged from one dollar ($1.00) to ten dollars ($10.00) for each bird killed or captured.  The money received from the fines would go into the county school fund.
8. Acts of 1903, Chapter 211, stated that in addition to the fences declared by statute to be lawful fences, four-wire, four plank, four rail or slat fences were also lawful in Crockett County.  The Act set specifics of the particular type of fences.
9. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 153, declared it unlawful for the owner of, or person in charge of, horses, mules, cattle, goats, sheep, swine and geese to willfully, knowingly, or negligently permit said animals to run at large in Crockett County.  Any damage done by said animals would constitute a lien upon the trespassing animals in favor of the aggrieved landowner.  Also, one damaged by the trespassing animals(s) could take up, care for and feed such animals(s), the expense of which would also be a lien in favor of the aggrieved landowner.  Any violator of this Act, upon conviction, was subject to a fine of not less than five dollars ($5.00), nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
10. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 288, made it illegal to net, trap, shoot, or, in any way, kill or capture quail or partridges, pheasants, field larks, or other insect destroying birds in Crockett County for a period of five (5) years after the passage of the Act.  Violators of this Act were subject to a fine of not less than five dollars ($5.00), nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
11. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 73, amended Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 288, above, by removing quails and partridges from the provisions of the 1915 Act which had prohibited the killing or capturing of certain animals for five (5) years after the passage of the 1915 Act.  This amending Act set up an open season on quail and partridges from November 15th to January 1st of each year.  Violators were subject to a fine of not less than five dollars ($5.00), nor more than twenty-five ($25.00).
12. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 725, amended Public Acts of 1919, Chapter 61, which was a statewide dog law regulating the owners, as to their keeping and harboring of dogs, by exempting several counties, including Crockett, from its operation.
13. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 327, declared it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, to take, trap, catch, hunt, or kill any wild animals by any means in Crockett County, with the exception that rabbits could be killed, bought, sold, or transported from November 25th to February 1st.  Any resident of Crockett County could chase, capture, and kill wild animals at night with dogs from November 1st through February 1st, and any male resident of the County under sixteen (16) years of age could trap animals with one legal device between the same dates.  A landowner could kill any wild animal any time when said animals became a menace to his crops or poultry.  Violators, upon conviction, were subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00).
14. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 440, authorized the State Board of Veterinary Examiners to issue to J. W. Climer, of Friendship, Tennessee, who had practiced veterinary surgery for eight (8) years, a license authorizing him to practice veterinary surgery in Crockett and surrounding counties.  The Board, at their discretion, could require proof of the good moral character of J. W. Climer.
15. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 587, authorized the State Board of Veterinary Examiners to issue to R. T. Nanning, of Friendship, Tennessee, who had practiced veterinary surgery for eight (8) years, a license authorizing him to practice veterinary surgery in Crockett and surrounding counties.  The Board, at their discretion, could require proof of the good moral character of R. T. Nanning.
16. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 733, permitted any resident of Crockett County to fish in said County with hook and line and  natural bait without being required to procure a license to do so.
17.  Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 134, amended Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 623, removed rabbits from the list of animals that are lawful to kill by any means and at any time of the year.