The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission on Tuesday voted to delay final action on a proposed North Cumberland off‑highway vehicle (OHV) permit fee package until its March meeting after extended public comment and commissioner questions about funding, enforcement and local economic impacts.

Deputy Brandon Ware told the commission the agency needs a dedicated permit and fee structure to close a long‑standing licensing gap and build a predictable revenue stream for trail maintenance and mitigation. Ware said North Cumberland contains more than 350 miles of trails and that a University of Tennessee survey and financial modeling estimated optimal annual maintenance could approach $6 million to $6.6 million.

Ware described a graduated three‑year fee structure the agency proposed to balance revenue needs and user acceptance: a per‑vehicle annual permit proposed at $150 for residents and $300 for nonresidents in year one, rising to $175/$400 in year two and $200/$500 in year three (staff presented per‑vehicle pricing rather than per‑person fees used by nearby private parks).

Commissioner Chip Saltzman moved to continue consideration of the package to the March meeting so staff could provide additional budget context and engage more directly with local officials and stakeholders; the motion carried on a roll call vote.

Local business owners and residents urged caution during the public‑comment period. Justin Jones, owner of Ride Royal Blue ATV Resort, said ridership was ‘‘already down this year… the first quarter was especially bad, down 40%,’’ and warned that abrupt fee increases could push riders to neighboring states that are investing heavily in OHV tourism. Other speakers said the program should either begin with price parity to current options or phase in increases more slowly and that counties that benefit from tourism should be engaged in funding conversations.

Agency staff and some commissioners said the commission needs a dedicated permit to track users and to avoid losing federal Pittman‑Robertson matching funds that currently attach to hunting‑and‑fishing license sales used as an inexpensive way for many riders to access the area. Licensing staff said it is technically possible to ask purchasers of smaller WMA permits whether they intended to OHV ride, but that voluntary survey answers would be imperfect; staff recommended a specific North Cumberland OHV permit to provide reliable accounting.

Next steps: The commission asked staff to continue stakeholder engagement, prepare clearer budget models (including federal match implications), and return with refined language and analyses in March.