OutdoorHub
State Audit Reveals Serious Problems at Tennessee Wildlife Agency
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is working to address significant deficiencies identified in a recent state audit, just as the agency faces potential termination under Tennessee’s sunset law in 2026.
The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury released a comprehensive audit in September covering TWRA and the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission from 2017 through 2025. The audit revealed serious problems with evidence handling and information systems security that could impact the agency’s law enforcement operations.
Auditors found that TWRA’s Boating and Law Enforcement Division failed to properly document, package, and store seized evidence. During site visits to evidence facilities, investigators discovered incomplete and inaccurate evidence data, items removed without proper documentation, and undocumented items in agency custody.
“The agency routinely seizes evidence ranging from vehicles and wildlife carcasses to firearms and narcotics,” the audit stated. Wildlife officers lacked consistent procedures for handling evidence, creating potential risks to prosecutions and chain of custody requirements.
TWRA’s budget deficit since 2022 highlights the financial challenges facing Tennessee’s wildlife agency as it seeks alternative funding sources. Graph: TN Comptroller’s Office
TWRA management acknowledged the problems and committed to finalizing new procedures for evidence handling. The agency implemented a new electronic tracking system called SmartEvidence in 2021 and has since entered all remaining evidence from the old system into the new database.
The audit also identified ongoing problems with information systems security, though specific details were omitted for confidentiality reasons. This marks the second consecutive audit where TWRA failed to meet state information security standards, raising concerns about potential data breaches or unauthorized access.
TWRA agreed to revise existing internal controls to address these security gaps.
The 55-page performance audit covered TWRA and the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission from May 2017 through June 2025
Beyond the audit findings, TWRA faces a budget deficit that has persisted since 2022. Earlier this year, the agency withdrew a request for hunting and fishing license increases after legislative pushback, leaving officials scrambling for alternative funding sources.
The agency’s future remains uncertain under Tennessee’s sunset provision, which will automatically terminate TWRA and the Fish and Wildlife Commission on June 30, 2026, unless the legislature intervenes. The Joint Government Operations Committee will use this audit to help determine whether the agencies should continue, be restructured, or terminated.
TWRA officials expressed confidence that they can address the audit findings before the 2026 deadline. The agency plans to implement annual evidence inventory audits and improve training procedures for wildlife officers.
The audit results highlight the challenges facing Tennessee’s hunting and fishing community’s agency responsible for managing the state’s wildlife resources. The coming legislative session will likely determine TWRA’s funding structure and continued existence.
The 2026 legislative session promises to be pivotal for Tennessee’s outdoor recreation community as lawmakers weigh the agency’s future against ongoing operational challenges.
The post State Audit Reveals Serious Problems at Tennessee Wildlife Agency appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...
State Audit Reveals Serious Problems at Tennessee Wildlife Agency
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is working to address significant deficiencies identified in a recent state audit, just as the agency faces potential termination under Tennessee’s sunset law in 2026.
The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury released a comprehensive audit in September covering TWRA and the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission from 2017 through 2025. The audit revealed serious problems with evidence handling and information systems security that could impact the agency’s law enforcement operations.
Auditors found that TWRA’s Boating and Law Enforcement Division failed to properly document, package, and store seized evidence. During site visits to evidence facilities, investigators discovered incomplete and inaccurate evidence data, items removed without proper documentation, and undocumented items in agency custody.
“The agency routinely seizes evidence ranging from vehicles and wildlife carcasses to firearms and narcotics,” the audit stated. Wildlife officers lacked consistent procedures for handling evidence, creating potential risks to prosecutions and chain of custody requirements.
TWRA’s budget deficit since 2022 highlights the financial challenges facing Tennessee’s wildlife agency as it seeks alternative funding sources. Graph: TN Comptroller’s Office
TWRA management acknowledged the problems and committed to finalizing new procedures for evidence handling. The agency implemented a new electronic tracking system called SmartEvidence in 2021 and has since entered all remaining evidence from the old system into the new database.
The audit also identified ongoing problems with information systems security, though specific details were omitted for confidentiality reasons. This marks the second consecutive audit where TWRA failed to meet state information security standards, raising concerns about potential data breaches or unauthorized access.
TWRA agreed to revise existing internal controls to address these security gaps.
The 55-page performance audit covered TWRA and the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission from May 2017 through June 2025
Beyond the audit findings, TWRA faces a budget deficit that has persisted since 2022. Earlier this year, the agency withdrew a request for hunting and fishing license increases after legislative pushback, leaving officials scrambling for alternative funding sources.
The agency’s future remains uncertain under Tennessee’s sunset provision, which will automatically terminate TWRA and the Fish and Wildlife Commission on June 30, 2026, unless the legislature intervenes. The Joint Government Operations Committee will use this audit to help determine whether the agencies should continue, be restructured, or terminated.
TWRA officials expressed confidence that they can address the audit findings before the 2026 deadline. The agency plans to implement annual evidence inventory audits and improve training procedures for wildlife officers.
The audit results highlight the challenges facing Tennessee’s hunting and fishing community’s agency responsible for managing the state’s wildlife resources. The coming legislative session will likely determine TWRA’s funding structure and continued existence.
The 2026 legislative session promises to be pivotal for Tennessee’s outdoor recreation community as lawmakers weigh the agency’s future against ongoing operational challenges.
The post State Audit Reveals Serious Problems at Tennessee Wildlife Agency appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...