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 Fentress 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 1893, Chapter 59, made it unlawful in several counties including Fentress to hunt, kill or capture any wild deer from the first day of December to the thirtieth day of September of each year. This act also made it unlawful to hunt, kill, or capture any wild turkey in Bledsoe, Rhea, Fentress and White Counties from the first day of May to the first day of October.  Fines for violations ranged from $25 to $50 for each offense.
2. Private Acts of 1897, Chapter 241, made it unlawful for any person to catch, kill, or wound fish in any streams or rivers in Fentress and other Counties listed by use of seine, trap, net, gig, poison, dynamite, or in any way except by rod and line or trot line from the first of January until the first of June. It was also unlawful for any dam, fish gate or obstruction to be built across any stream for the purpose of catching fish. Those persons fishing for home consumption were excluded from this law provided that the meshes in seine or nets was not less than one inch apart. Fines for violation ranged between $5 and $25 for each offense. Fishing by means of poison or dynamite or any other explosive carried a fine from $10 to $50 along with a six month jail term.  All fines collected would be paid into the county treasury for the benefit of the common school fund.
3. Acts of 1909, Chapter 502, defined and described the requirements for a lawful fence along public roads and open lands in Fentress and other counties. Four strands of barbed wire and woven wire netting securely fastened to posts set in the ground not more than 16 feet apart made a lawful fence. Livestock owners would be liable for any damages caused by the trespass of their stock.  The party damaged had a lien on the animal causing the damage.
4. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 401, made it lawful to kill squirrels at any season of the year upon unenclosed lands and upon enclosed lands with the permission of the owner, without securing any hunting license in Fentress and other counties.
5. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 511, made it unlawful to allow bulls to run at large after they had reached the age of eight months or to allow boars to run at large after having reached the age of four months, unless they were registered. The fines for violation ranged from $50 to $20.
6. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 405, exempted several counties including Fentress, from the provisions of Public Acts of 1919, Chapter 61, which dealt with the regulation of the care and keeping of dogs throughout the State.
7. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 456, was a dog law for Fentress County that prohibited the running at large of dogs between the hours of 6:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. The act did not apply to dogs used while hunting. The fines for violation of this act ranged from $25 to $50, with one-half (1/2) of the fine being paid to the prosecutor in the case. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 805.
8. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 227, defined and described the requirements of a lawful fence in Fentress and other counties. Four strands of barbed hog wire with hour points, or the same wire with woven wire, plant and natural barriers of rock or cliff, secured to post or trees not more than 16 feet apart constituted a lawful fence. Livestock owners would be liable for any damages caused by the trespass of their stock. The damaged party had a lien on the animal which caused the damage. The provisions of this act have been superseded by the general law found in Title 44, Chapter 17 of Tennessee Code Annotated.
9. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 211, made it unlawful for owners of dogs or those having possession, care or control of dogs to run at large between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in Fentress County and other counties. Fines for violation ranged from $25 to $50, with one-half of the fine to be paid to the prosecutor. This act did not apply to dogs used in hunting activities.