Species guide · 2026-27
Tennessee Black Bear Hunting
Season dates, bag limits, the best counties by harvest and the public land open to bear hunting in Tennessee.
Photo: Christian von Montfort at German Wikipedia (Public domain)
Tennessee bear season dates 2026-27
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted bear reserve hunt (Kettlefoot & Laurel Fork) | Sep 19 to Sep 25, 2026 | private lands within reserve boundaries | Dogs allowed. 1 bear either sex, does not count toward statewide limit. |
| Archery only | Sep 26 to Oct 23, 2026 | BHZ1, BHZ2, BHZ3, BHZ4, BHZ5, Transitional | No hounds. |
| Early dog season | Oct 3 to Oct 5, 2026 | BHZ1 | Hounds allowed. Also Oct 10-11. |
| Early dog season | Oct 10 to Oct 11, 2026 | BHZ1 | |
| Early dog season | Oct 3 to Oct 18, 2026 | BHZ2 | |
| Early dog season | Oct 3 to Oct 4, 2026 | BHZ3 | Also Oct 10-16. |
| Early dog season | Oct 10 to Oct 16, 2026 | BHZ3 | |
| Young Sportsman (still hunt) | Oct 31 to Nov 1, 2026 | BHZ1, BHZ2, BHZ3; BHZ4 and BHZ5 private land only | Ages 6-16. No hounds. |
| Mid dog season | Nov 9 to Nov 16, 2026 | BHZ1 | |
| Mid dog season | Nov 2 to Nov 6, 2026 | BHZ2, BHZ3 | |
| Gun/muzzleloader/archery (still hunt) | Nov 21 to Nov 24, 2026 | BHZ1, BHZ2, BHZ3 | No hounds. |
| Late dog season | Nov 30 to Dec 16, 2026 | BHZ1 | |
| Late dog season | Nov 30 to Dec 15, 2026 | BHZ2 | |
| Late dog season | Nov 30 to Dec 13, 2026 | BHZ3 | Also Dec 31-Jan 3. |
| Late dog season | Dec 31, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | BHZ3 | |
| Late season | Dec 12 to Dec 13, 2026 | BHZ4, private land only | Listed in the hounds table for BHZ4. |
| Gun/muzzleloader/archery (still hunt) | Dec 12 to Dec 13, 2026 | BHZ5, private land only | No hounds. |
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 9, 2026. WMA dates can differ. Read the guide.
Black Bear bag limits and rules
Bear
1 per license year, either sex. No cubs (75 lb or less) or females with cubs.
Rule
Bear hunting is open only in the listed bear hunting zones; every other county is closed.
Also note
Limit is 1 bear per license year, either sex; no cubs or females with cubs.
New or changed
Hounds are allowed only in BHZ1 to BHZ3 dog seasons.
Watch for
Hunters mail a premolar tooth to TWRA by Feb 15, 2027.
Best counties for bear in Tennessee
540 bears were taken statewide in 2025-26.
Harvest numbers from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports and TWRA species pages. County totals include WMA harvest.
Public land for bear hunting in Tennessee
19 public areas on this site list bear among their species. Area rules and dates are in each listing.
Plateau Tennessee
- Alpine Mountain WMA1,642 acres, Overton County
- Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA17,000 acres, White, Van Buren
- Catoosa WMACumberland, Morgan
- Keyes-Harrison WMA1,740 acres, Cumberland County
- Luper Mountain WMA5,617 acres, Cumberland County
- Pickett State Forest & WMA19,200 acres, Pickett, Fentress
- Skinner Mountain WMAFentress, Overton
- South Cherokee National Forest & WMAMonroe, Polk
- Tellico Lake WMA8,000 acres, Monroe, Loudon
East Tennessee
- Buffalo Springs WMA342 acres, Grainger County
- Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA24,705 acres, Union, Campbell
- Cove Creek WMA2,450 acres, Campbell County
- Foothills WMA10,000 acres, Blount County
- Forks of the River WMA648 acres, Knox County
- Henderson Island Refuge525 acres, Jefferson County
- Kyles Ford WMA1,000 acres, Hancock, Hawkins
- Martha Sundquist State Forest2,001 acres, Cocke County
- North Cherokee National Forest & WMACarter, Johnson
- North Cumberland WMA205,000 acres, Campbell, Scott
Tennessee bear hunting questions
When is bear season in Tennessee?
For 2026-27, bear seasons run Sep 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 across all segments. The table above lists each segment.
What is the bear bag limit in Tennessee?
bear: 1 per license year, either sex. No cubs (75 lb or less) or females with cubs.
Where can I hunt bear on public land in Tennessee?
19 public areas list bear, including North Cumberland WMA, Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA and Pickett State Forest & WMA.
Do I need hunter education?
Yes, if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1969. An Apprentice Hunter Education Permit can stand in for up to three years.
What are legal shooting hours?
Big and small game: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Turkey and migratory birds end at sunset.
How do I check in my harvest?
Big game is checked in by midnight on the day of harvest through the TWRA On The Go app, online or at a check station.
Which counties are open to bear hunting?
Only counties in bear hunting zones BHZ1 to BHZ5 and the Transitional zone; every other county is closed.
Can I use dogs for bear?
Only in BHZ1 to BHZ3 during the dog seasons.