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 Decatur County.  They are included herein for reference purposes.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1889, Chapter 171, was an act in which Decatur, and several other counties, exempted themselves from the provisions of a general game regulation which declared it unlawful for a person to hunt, trap, or kill, deer for profit but which could be killed for one's own personal use between August 1 and January 1.  The same prohibition was also placed on quail, or partridge, being killed for profit, but which could also be legitimately killed for one's own use between November 1 and the following March 1.
2. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 321, provided for an election to be held in Decatur County to ascertain the will of the people in regard to a stock law.  The election would be conducted within ten to fifteen days after notice had been given with ballots to be marked simply "For" or "Against".  The Election Commission would canvass the vote and certify the results to the Senator and the Representative representing Decatur County in the General Assembly.
3. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 405, was an act which exempted nearly every county in the State from the provisions of Public Acts of 1919, Chapter 61, which was a statewide act regulating the care and keeping of dogs in the State.
4. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 128, was applicable to Benton, Decatur, Dickson, and Houston Counties, making it the duty of the Election Commissions in those counties to hold an election to determine the feeling of a majority of the people on the question of a stock law for those counties.  The Ballots would be marked "for" or "against", and the results certified to those representing these counties in the State Legislature.
5. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 34, provided for another election to be held in Decatur County on the question of a stock law, the same conditions and requirements as before being repeated in this act.
6. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 45, required that another election be conducted in Decatur County within ten days from the passage of this act to ascertain the will of a majority of the people regarding a stock law for that county.  The results would be certified to the delegation in the General Assembly and would also be published in the Decatur Herald in Decaturville, Tennessee.
7. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 800, set the open season for the hunting and shooting of squirrels in Decatur County to be from May 1 until August 1, and from October 1 until the following February 1.  The open season for shooting and killing quail was fixed to run from December 10 until the following February 20.  This act was repealed by the one following.
8. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 17, repealed Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 800, Item 8, above, in its entirety.
9. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 449, made it unlawful in Decatur County, identified by the use of the 1930 Federal Census figures, for any owner, or custodian, of horses, mules, cattle, goats, sheep, or swine, to knowingly, or negligently, permit such stock to run at large.  Any person damaged could have a lien for that amount on the trespassing stock which could be enforced by attachment.  The violation of this act was further declared to be a misdemeanor for which one could be fined from $5.00 to $50.00 for each offense.
10. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 480, declared it to be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, to take, catch, or kill, or attempt to do so, any fur, or hair bearing animal by means of box, trap, snare, steel trap, deadfall, or any other device in Decatur County.  Violators would be punished by fines from $10 to $25 but any landowner, tenant, or farmer may take, catch, or kill fur, or hair bearing animals at any time when the same are a menace to their crops or poultry.
11. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 484, provided that C. B. Morgan is hereby authorized to practice veterinary surgery in Decatur County without the necessity of obtaining a license from the State Board of Veterinary Examiners but nothing herein shall be construed as authorizing him to prescribe narcotics.
12. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 485, conferred upon Al Johnson, being duly qualified and of good moral character, the privilege of practicing veterinary surgery in Decatur and adjoining counties without having to obtain a license from the State Board but he also was prohibited from prescribing narcotics.
13. Public Acts of 1974, Chapter 703, amended Section 51-417, Tennessee Code Annotated, by adding a provision that the last portion of the first paragraph, "while having in his possession or under his control any firearm or bow and arrow", and the following two provisos regarding the hunting of deer from a motor vehicle with artificial light at night would not apply to several counties, including Decatur, which were identified by 1970 population figures.