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Rutherford County Hunting
Public hunting land, 2026-27 seasons, deer and turkey harvest, and processors, taxidermists and shops in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Photo: Don Sniegowski (CC BY 3.0)
Hunters checked in 2,189 deer in Rutherford County during the 2025-26 season, 20th among Tennessee’s 95 counties. The county has 619 square miles of land.
Public hunting land in and near Rutherford County
4 public hunting areas sit at least partly inside Rutherford County, and 8 more are within about 45 miles. Orange markers are in the county.
Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural Area
185 acres. Listed for deer, turkey, small game.
Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area
230 acres. Listed for deer, turkey, small game.
Haley-Jaqueth WMA
About 14 miles from the center of Rutherford County, in Williamson County. 200 acres.
Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
About 16 miles from the center of Rutherford County, in Wilson County. 5,329 acres.
Cedars of Lebanon State Natural Area
About 17 miles from the center of Rutherford County, in Wilson County. 2,690 acres.
Coy Gaither Bedford Lake
About 25 miles from the center of Rutherford County, in Bedford County.
Headwaters WMA
About 26 miles from the center of Rutherford County, in Cannon County. 600 acres.
Maple Springs WMA
About 26 miles from the center of Rutherford County, in Coffee County. 122 acres.
Normandy WMA
About 27 miles from the center of Rutherford County, in Coffee County and Bedford County. 750 acres.
Pea Ridge WMA
About 27 miles from the center of Rutherford County, in DeKalb County and Cannon County. 2,000 acres.
Gear for hunting Rutherford County
Picks from the deer rifle hunting checklist. Buttons search Amazon for current prices.
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Blaze orange vest
Not needed on archery-only hunts, but Tennessee requires 500 sq in of orange or pink when an archery-only deer season overlaps a big game gun season such as bear, and during combined muzzleloader or gun seasons.
Blaze orange hat
The 500 sq in orange or pink requirement covers the head as well as the upper body, so a hat is part of meeting the rule.
Full-body safety harness
Tree stand falls cause many serious hunting injuries; a full-body harness worn from the ground up keeps a slip from becoming a fall.
Binoculars
Glassing the edges helps you spot deer early enough to get ready for a shot.
Rutherford County deer and turkey harvest
Rutherford County hunters reported 2,189 deer in 2025-26 and down 11% from 2024-25. The ten-season average is 2,213 deer. About 258 of the 2025-26 deer came off wildlife management areas. Spring turkey hunters checked 631 gobblers in 2026 spring, 12th in the state.
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 Rutherford County right now
Every 2026-27 statewide season that applies in Rutherford County, with what is open today marked. Tennessee hunting laws covers legal weapons, baiting, trespass and what you cannot hunt.
- Deer: August (archery only, velvet)Aug 28 to Aug 30, 2026
- Deer: ArcherySep 26 to Oct 30, 2026
- Deer: ArcheryNov 2 to Nov 6, 2026
- Deer: Young Sportsman (gun/muzzleloader/archery)Oct 31 to Nov 1, 2026
- Deer: Young Sportsman (gun/muzzleloader/archery)Jan 9 to Jan 10, 2027
- Deer: Muzzleloader/ArcheryNov 7 to Nov 20, 2026
- Deer: Straight-wall cartridge rifle (new)Nov 14 to Nov 20, 2026
- Deer: Gun/Muzzleloader/ArcheryNov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027
- Turkey: Fall archerySep 26 to Oct 30, 2026
- Turkey: Fall archeryNov 2 to Nov 6, 2026
- Turkey: Fall shotgun/archeryOct 17 to Oct 30, 2026
- Turkey: Spring Young SportsmanMar 27 to Mar 28, 2027
- Turkey: Spring general seasonApr 3 to May 16, 2027
- Ducks: Wood duck & teal (September)Sep 12 to Sep 16, 2026
- Ducks: Ducks, coot & mergansers (segment 1)Nov 28 to Nov 29, 2026
- Ducks: Ducks, coot & mergansers (segment 2)Dec 5, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027
- Waterfowl: Youth waterfowl daysFeb 6, 2027
- Waterfowl: Youth waterfowl daysFeb 13, 2027
- Waterfowl: Veterans and active military daysFeb 7, 2027
- Waterfowl: Veterans and active military daysFeb 14, 2027
- Canada goose: SeptemberSep 1 to Sep 20, 2026
- Canada goose: OctoberOct 10 to Oct 22, 2026
- Canada goose: Regular (segment 1)Nov 28 to Nov 29, 2026
- Canada goose: Regular (segment 2)Dec 5, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- White-fronted goose: RegularNov 28 to Nov 29, 2026
- White-fronted goose: RegularDec 5, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Brant: All segmentsSep 1, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Light geese: Regular (same splits as Canada goose)Sep 1, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Light geese: Conservation orderFeb 15 to Mar 31, 2027
- Dove: Segment 1Sep 1 to Sep 28, 2026
- Dove: Segment 2Oct 10 to Nov 1, 2026
- Dove: Segment 3Dec 8, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027
- Woodcock: Segment 1Nov 14 to Dec 6, 2026
- Woodcock: Segment 2Jan 10 to Jan 31, 2027
- Snipe: SeasonNov 14, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- 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
- Crow: SegmentJan 1 to Feb 28, 2027
- Crow: SegmentJun 11 to Jul 11, 2027
- Squirrel: Fall/winterAug 22, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Squirrel: SpringMay 8 to Jun 13, 2027
- Rabbit: SeasonNov 7, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Quail: SeasonNov 7, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Grouse: SeasonOct 10, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Raccoon: Private landsYear-round Year-round
- Raccoon: Taking seasonSep 18, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Opossum: Taking seasonSep 18, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Coyote: DaytimeYear-round Year-round
- Coyote: Night season (with bobcat)Jan 16 to Mar 14, 2027
- Coyote: Night season (with bobcat)Jun 5 to Aug 8, 2027
- Bobcat: Private landsSep 26 to Nov 19, 2026
- Bobcat: SeasonNov 20, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Feral hog: Private land controlYear-round Year-round
From the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 9, 2026. WMAs can set shorter dates; check the area listing.
Rutherford County hunting seasons and rules for 2026-27
Unit 3 deer limits
3 per day in Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons. None in August hunt. Antlered deer: 2 per season statewide, 1 per day.
Rutherford County deer season dates
Archery opens Sep 26. Muzzleloader runs Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026. Gun season runs Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. These are statewide dates for 2026-27.
Baiting in Rutherford County
Deer baiting on private land is legal here with the Deer Bait Privilege License, new for 2026-27. One site per 5 acres, 500 yards apart, scattered only.
Fall turkey in Rutherford County
Fall turkey is open: archery with the deer archery dates and shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, 1 male turkey for the fall.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 9, 2026. Read the guide.
Legal shooting light in Rutherford County this week
Legal hunting hours for big and small game run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Turkey and migratory birds end at sunset.
Times calculated for the center of Rutherford County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Deer processors, taxidermists and shops near Rutherford County
In Rutherford County first, then the counties that border it.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Hunting events in Rutherford County
8 past results listed, checked October 2026.
Recent results
| Date | Event | Winner or result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2024 | Virgil Beasley Sr. Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog Classic | Rebel Gold (pointer male), owned and handled by David E. Williams | Source |
| Nov 29, 2024 | Region 6 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship | Foxy Lady Sadie (Irish setter female), owned and handled by Mike Fox | Source |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Tennessee Valley Field Trial Club Amateur Shooting Dog | Gentry's Little Jane (pointer female), owner Jimmy Gentry, handler Taylor Henley | Source |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Virgil Beasley Sr. Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog Classic | Hytime Dixie (setter female), owned and handled by Ben Weddington | Source |
| Nov 28, 2025 | Region 6 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship | Foxy Lady Sadie (Irish setter female), owned and handled by Mike Fox | Source |
| Dec 5, 2025 | Tennessee Valley Field Trial Club Trial | Miller's Flowers and Lace, owner Allen R. Linder, handler Buddy Morrison | Source |
| Jan 17, 2026 | Virgil Beasley Sr. Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog Classic | Bryant's Give It A Rip (setter male), owned and handled by Kenton Bryant | Source |
| Feb 25, 2026 | ABHA Tennessee State Classic and Cumberland Field Trial Club Amateur Trial | Fast Money (Open Shooting Dog), owners C. W. & Patty Moore, handler Justin Crook | Source |
Shooting ranges in and near Rutherford County
5 ranges in Rutherford County, checked October 2026.
Archery and 3d archery. Open to the public.
Trap, skeet and shotgun. Members only.
Upcoming matches
| Date | Event | Type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10 to Oct 11, 2026 | RK Gun Show Murfreesboro | Gun show | Details |
| Dec 26 to Dec 27, 2026 | RK Gun Show Murfreesboro | Gun show | Details |
| Mar 19 to Mar 20, 2027 | State 4-H BB and Air Rifle Jamboree | Youth match | Details |
Counties bordering Rutherford County
Towns in Rutherford County: Hunting near Murfreesboro.
Fishing in the same county: Rutherford County fishing spots.
Rutherford County hunting questions
Where can I hunt public land in Rutherford County?
Percy Priest WMA, Long Hunter State Park, Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural Area and Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area are inside the county. Nearby options include Haley-Jaqueth WMA, Cedars of Lebanon State Forest and Cedars of Lebanon State Natural Area.
How many deer were killed in Rutherford County?
Hunters reported 2,189 deer in Rutherford County in 2025-26, ranking 20th of 95 counties.
What deer unit is Rutherford County in?
Rutherford County is in deer Unit 3 for 2026-27. 3 per day in Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons. None in August hunt.
Is Rutherford County a CWD county?
No. Rutherford County is not CWD-positive and is not in the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Can I bait deer in Rutherford County?
Yes, on private land with the Deer Bait Privilege License ($50 resident). Baiting is still not allowed on WMAs.
Is there a fall turkey season in Rutherford County?
Yes. Fall archery follows the deer archery dates and fall shotgun runs Oct 17 to 30, 2026, with a limit of one male turkey.
Can I hunt bear in Rutherford County?
No. Counties not listed in a bear hunting zone are closed to bear hunting.
When is legal shooting light in Rutherford County?
Big and small game: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Turkey and migratory birds end at sunset. The table above shows this week’s times for the county.
Where can I get a deer processed in Rutherford County?
Listed processors in or next to Rutherford County include Odom's Taxidermy and Deer Processing, LLC, Hogwood Custom Processing and Lebanon Locker.
Plan your Rutherford County hunt
Check the 2026-27 TWRA guide and each area listing before you hunt in Rutherford County.