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Tennessee Legal Shooting Hours
Pick a county for this week’s legal shooting light, sunrise, sunset and moon phase.
Big and small game: 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset. Turkey and migratory birds end at official sunset. Sandhill crane: sunrise to 3 p.m. Opening day of dove season starts at noon. Exceptions: bullfrogs, raccoon, opossum, fox/rabbit chasing, and the night coyote/bobcat season. Centerfire rifles and handguns may not be used from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
Calculated for the county center with the standard sunrise formula; local terrain shifts light by a few minutes. Rule from the 2026-27 TWRA guide.
Shooting hour rules
Big and small game
From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Turkey and migratory birds
End at official sunset.
Dove opener
Opening day of dove season starts at noon.
Exceptions
Raccoon, opossum, bullfrogs and the private-land night coyote and bobcat season.
Shooting hours questions
When can I start hunting in the morning?
30 minutes before sunrise for big and small game.
When does turkey hunting end?
At sunset.
Why do times differ by county?
Tennessee spans two time zones and about 550 miles east to west.
Which counties are on Eastern time?
Thirty East Tennessee counties, including Knox, Hamilton and Sullivan.
Can I hunt coyotes at night?
Only in the private-land night seasons, shotgun only, with written permission.
Are WMA hours different?
Some quota hunts and areas set their own hours; check the listing.
Is the moon phase official?
It is a calculation for planning, not part of the regulations.
Where is the rule written?
In the TWRA guide’s general regulations.