Tennessee · 2026-27 seasons
Tennessee Public Hunting Land, Seasons and Local Services
189 wildlife management areas, refuges and forests, all 95 counties, 2026-27 season dates from the TWRA guide, and deer processors, taxidermists and shops near each one.
Photo: AppalachianCentrist (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Public hunting land by region
TWRA splits the state into four regions. Each area page has acreage, species, the season rules that apply, a map and the nearest processors.
Tennessee seasons by species for 2026-27
Dates, bag limits, best counties by harvest and the public land open to each species.
Largest public hunting areas in Tennessee
Acreage as published by TWRA, the Forest Service and the refuges.
Top deer counties in Tennessee
Ranked by reported harvest in 2025-26. Every county has its own page with public land, rules and services.
Tennessee hunting season dates 2026-27
Open seasons are marked. Statewide dates; WMA dates can be shorter.
- Squirrel: Fall/winterAug 22, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- White-tailed Deer: August (archery only, velvet)Aug 28 to Aug 30, 2026
- Canada Goose: SeptemberSep 1 to Sep 20, 2026
- Brant: All segmentsSep 1, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Light Geese: Regular (same splits as Canada goose)Sep 1, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Dove: Segment 1Sep 1 to Sep 28, 2026
- Rails (Virginia, Sora): SeasonSep 1 to Nov 9, 2026
- Gallinule And Moorhen: SeasonSep 1 to Nov 9, 2026
- Crow: SegmentSep 1 to Sep 7, 2026
- Crow: SegmentSep 11 to Dec 20, 2026
- Ducks: Wood duck & teal (September)Sep 12 to Sep 16, 2026
- Raccoon: Taking seasonSep 18, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Opossum: Taking seasonSep 18, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Black Bear: Restricted bear reserve hunt (Kettlefoot & Laurel Fork)Sep 19 to Sep 25, 2026
- White-tailed Deer: ArcherySep 26 to Oct 30, 2026
- Wild Turkey: Fall archerySep 26 to Oct 30, 2026
- Black Bear: Archery onlySep 26 to Oct 23, 2026
- Elk: Archery only (quota)Sep 26 to Oct 2, 2026
- Bobcat: Private landsSep 26 to Nov 19, 2026
- Black Bear: Early dog seasonOct 3 to Oct 5, 2026
- Black Bear: Early dog seasonOct 3 to Oct 18, 2026
- Black Bear: Early dog seasonOct 3 to Oct 4, 2026
- Elk: Gun/muzzleloader/archery (quota)Oct 3 to Oct 9, 2026
- Canada Goose: OctoberOct 10 to Oct 22, 2026
Processors, taxidermists, guides and shops
Phone numbers, directions and a call-ahead note on every listing.
Tennessee hunting events and competitions
45 upcoming events: field trials, coon hunts, calling contests, youth hunts, banquets and expos, with results and the county each is held in.
Bird Dog Field Trials
Field trial and retriever hunt test dates, champions and grounds in Tennessee, from Ames Plantation to the West Tennessee and Carroll County grounds.
Coon Hunts
UKC nite hunts, bench shows and state championships across Tennessee, with winning hounds and the clubs that host them.
Calling Contests
Duck calling qualifiers at Union City and the DU Expo in Memphis, and the NWTF Grand National calling championships in Nashville.
Youth Hunts
Young Sportsman seasons, youth dove fields, the youth elk hunt and mentored hunts for new adult hunters in Tennessee.
Conservation Banquets
Ducks Unlimited and National Wild Turkey Federation chapter dinners and auctions across Tennessee, with dates and venues.
Hunting Expos
The NWTF Convention and Sport Show, the Ducks Unlimited Expo, the SCI convention and outdoor expos held in Tennessee.
Hunting Classes
Tennessee Wildlife Federation classes, TWRA workshops and Becoming an Outdoors Woman, in person and online.
Tennessee shooting ranges and matches
Sight in before the season: public TWRA ranges, indoor lanes, trap, skeet and sporting clays, and the matches held at each.
Tennessee hunting laws and gear
What you can hunt
Game species with open seasons, and the hawks, owls, songbirds and other animals that are protected.
Legal weapons by season
Archery, crossbow, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle week and gun season equipment rules.
Baiting and trespass
The new Deer Bait Privilege License, CWD county bans, permission and purple paint posting.
Gear checklists
What to bring for each hunt, with items the law requires marked.
Tennessee hunting questions
Where can I hunt public land in Tennessee?
TWRA manages more than 120 wildlife management areas, and hunters also use Cherokee National Forest, Land Between the Lakes, Big South Fork and the national wildlife refuges. This site lists 189 areas with maps and rules.
When does deer season open in Tennessee?
Archery opens Sept 26, 2026, muzzleloader Nov 7 and gun season Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Do I need a WMA permit?
Hunters 16 to 64 need a WMA permit on TWRA areas unless they carry an Annual Sportsman license, which includes it.
Which Tennessee county kills the most deer?
Sumner County, with 3,753 deer reported in 2025-26.
What are the CWD counties in Tennessee?
23 counties are CWD-positive for 2026-27, mostly in West Tennessee. See the CWD page for the list and carcass rules.
What are legal shooting hours in Tennessee?
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for big and small game. Turkey and migratory birds end at sunset.
Is deer baiting legal in Tennessee?
New for 2026-27, on private land with a Deer Bait Privilege License, outside the 26 CWD-related counties. Never on WMAs.
How current is the information here?
Seasons and limits come from the 2026-27 TWRA guide and were checked October 9, 2026. Each page lists its source. Always confirm with the guide before you hunt.