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Middle Tennessee
Macon County Hunting
Where to hunt in Macon County, what the 2026-27 rules are, how many deer and turkeys came out of it, and who processes and mounts game nearby.
Photo: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
With 1,730 deer reported in 2025-26, Macon County ranked 39th of 95 counties for deer harvest. It spans 307 square miles of land. Per square mile, hunters took about 5.6 deer. Its share of the statewide check-in was 1.1%.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Macon County
Macon County and nearby public land
Nothing on the public list falls inside Macon County, so the 8 nearest are shown instead. Orange markers are in the county.
Standing Stone State Forest & WMA
30 miles away in Overton County and Clay County, 8,309 acres.
Harvest numbers for Macon County
The 2025-26 deer total was 1,730, up 5% on the 1,654 of 2024-25. The ten-season average is 1,360 deer. The best season in the chart was 2025-26 with 1,730, and the lowest was 2016-17 with 1,099. Public WMA ground accounted for 13 deer in 2025-26. Gobbler hunters added 330 birds in 2026 spring, a 46th place finish.
Source: TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox harvest reports, county totals including WMA harvest. Deer seasons run July 1 to June 30. Recent seasons can still be revised slightly by TWRA.
What you can hunt in Macon County right now
Bear hunting is closed in Macon County. Deer baiting on private land in Macon County needs the bait license.
- Deer
- Turkey
- Ducks
- Waterfowl
- Canada goose
- White-fronted goose
- Brant
- Light geese
- Dove
- Woodcock
- Snipe
- Rails (virginia, sora)
- Gallinule and moorhen
- Crow
- Squirrel
- Rabbit
- Quail
- Grouse
- RaccoonYear-round
- Opossum
- CoyoteYear-round
- Bobcat
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
What the 2026-27 regulations mean in Macon County
Macon County deer bag
You can take 3 antlerless deer per day in every season here except the August hunt, which is antlered only. You get 2 antlered deer for the season statewide, taken 1 per day at most.
When deer season opens in Macon County
The deer year opens to archery on Sep 26, moves to muzzleloader for Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026 and to gun for Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Macon County bait license
Baiting deer on private property is legal under the 2026-27 bait license; piles and feeders are out, scattered bait only, 500 yards apart, 1 site per 5 acres.
Macon County fall turkey season
The county is open for fall turkey, archery on the deer archery dates plus shotgun from Oct 17 to 30, 2026, one male turkey total.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Read the guide.
Legal shooting light in Macon County this week
Shooting light opens 30 minutes ahead of sunrise and closes 30 minutes past sunset for big and small game, but turkey and dove or duck hunters quit at sunset.
Times calculated for the center of Macon County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Macon County processors and taxidermists
Local Macon County shops come first, then the ring of counties around it.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Events in Macon County
Checked October 2026: 2 upcoming events.
Scheduled
| Date | Event | Type | Where | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 28, 2026 | Macon County Coon Hunters Association Bench Show and Nite Hunt | Coon hunt | Lafayette, Macon County | Event details |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Macon County Coon Hunters Association Bench Show and Nite Hunt | Coon hunt | Lafayette, Macon County | Event details |
Burn bans and permits in Macon County
The Tennessee burn ban page shows Macon County today.
- Burn permit: October 15 through May 15 each year (TCA 39-14-306(a)(1)); required for open-air fires within 500 feet of any forest, grassland or woodland.
- Burn bans come from: Under TCA 39-14-306(b), the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Forester and at the request of county mayors, issues county burn bans.
- Warming fires: TWRA wildlife management areas: Rule 1660-01-14-.13(5)(i) says 'No warming, camping or any type fire shall be allowed except at designated camping areas.
Ranges for sighting in around Macon County
2 ranges in Macon County, checked October 2026.
Sporting clays · trap · skeet · 5-stand. Call ahead about access.
Rifle · pistol · trap · long range rifle. Members and their guests.
Counties around Macon County
Lakes and streams here: Macon County fishing spots.
Of its 5 neighbors, 3 out-harvested Macon County last season.
Macon County hunting questions
What deer processors serve Macon County?
Owl Holler Processing, WSB Outdoors and Country Boy Trades are listed in or beside the county.
What public areas can I hunt from Macon County?
None of the TWRA-listed areas fall inside Macon County. The nearest outside the county are Old Hickory WMA, Cordell Hull Waterfowl Refuge and Cordell Hull WMA.
What is the deer harvest in Macon County?
2025-26: 1,730 deer, 39th statewide.
How many does can I take in Macon County?
It is in Unit 3. Does count at 3 a day in this unit for every fall and winter segment. No antlerless harvest is allowed in August.
Does Macon County have chronic wasting disease?
No. It is outside the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Do I need a bait license in Macon County?
You may bait private land after buying the $50 resident bait license. WMA baiting remains illegal.
What is the fall turkey limit in Macon County?
Yes. The fall bag is one male turkey, archery or the Oct 17 to 30, 2026 shotgun segment.
Does Macon County have a bear season?
No, it is not part of any bear hunting zone.
What are legal hunting hours in Macon County?
Big and small game: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The table above shows this week’s times for the county.
Next steps for Macon County
Double check the current guide and any quota hunt dates for the area you pick.
Other photos on this page: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); colmmcsky (CC BY-SA 2.0); USDAgov (Public domain); GerryT (CC BY 2.0); simonov (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).