Welcome to the official website of the Tennessee Bear Hunters Association! We appreciate you stopping by for a visit and we hope our site will be an enjoyable experience for you. Whether you are a seasoned houndsman or a just a curious browser we hope you will find our site educational and entertaining.
Bear hunting with hounds is a time honored tradition in the mountains of Tennessee. Since the days of the early Appalachian pioneers, mountain families have hunted the highlands for black bear with hounds. The hounds they bred and trained were valuable assets to the mountain people. Their hounds helped put food on the table and clothes on their backs. Hounds were just as important to their survival as a good mule or a cross cut saw.
Through the years this mountain heritage has been passed from one generation to the next and is an integral part of our Appalachian culture. Hound hunting is much more than a sport to us, it's a legacy passed down to us from our fathers and their fathers before them. Following our hounds deep into the mountains is, to us, the very essence of what it means to live free as Americans. We do not take our hound hunting heritage or freedom to do so lightly.
Bear hunting with hounds is the epitome of "fair chase" hunting. No other method of bear hunting even comes close to the ethical standards of "fair chase" as does hunting bear in the Appalachians with hounds. The bear has every advantage when he is acutely aware that he is being pursued and can use his home turf to his full benefit. The rugged nature of the terrain often overwhelms the hunter in the course of the day, but the bear is right at home. Bear hunting with hounds is more than a mere sport to us, but as a sport is reigns supreme as one of the greatest challenges in North America.
The TBHA exists to enjoy, promote, defend, and protect bear hunting with hounds in Tennessee and surrounding states. We seek to work closely with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, The United States Forest Service, The University of Tennessee, elected officials and other conservation groups to insure that the black bear population and habit is continually protected and enhanced.
Previous generations of Tennesseans have lived free and hunted the mountains of our beautiful state with their hounds. The memories of our forefathers and the distant echoes of their hounds still linger in our hearts. By the grace of God, we hope to pass this beloved heritage to our children and grand children after them.
