The Benton County Circuit Court has ruled in favor of two landowners who found Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) cameras on their property. Hunter Hollingsworth and Terry Rainwaters sued TWRA and some of its employees over privacy rights.
TWRA must now obtain a search warrant before going on private property, something they say will make their job more difficult and increase wildlife crime.
TWRA Director of Communications Emily Buck said, “Our issues are often very time-sensitive, so if someone is hunting game illegally, they’re going to be gone by the time we obtain that search warrant.”
While Hollingsworth has been charged with poaching violations in the past, something he regrets, he said the installation of cameras went too far.
