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Middle Tennessee
Sumner County Hunting
Public hunting land, 2026-27 seasons, deer and turkey harvest, and processors, taxidermists and shops in Sumner County, Tennessee.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 4.0)
Sumner County covers 529 square miles of land and 15 square miles of water. In the 2025-26 season hunters reported 3,753 deer here, which ranked 1st of 95 Tennessee counties.
Public hunting land in and near Sumner County
1 public hunting area sits at least partly inside Sumner County, and 8 more are within about 45 miles. Orange markers are in the county.
Old Hickory Lake Lock 5 Refuge
About 16 miles from the center of Sumner County, in Wilson County and Trousdale County. 900 acres.
Cedar Hill Swamp WMA
About 30 miles from the center of Sumner County, in Robertson County. 200 acres.
Percy Priest WMA
About 30 miles from the center of Sumner County, in Rutherford County and Davidson County. 10,768 acres.
Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
About 30 miles from the center of Sumner County, in Wilson County. 5,329 acres.
Cordell Hull WMA
About 39 miles from the center of Sumner County, in Jackson County and Smith County.
Cheatham Lake WMA
About 39 miles from the center of Sumner County, in Cheatham County and Dickson County. 5,152 acres.
Cheatham WMA
About 40 miles from the center of Sumner County, in Cheatham County. 20,810 acres.
Cordell Hull Waterfowl Refuge
About 42 miles from the center of Sumner County, in Jackson County. 600 acres.
Sumner County deer and turkey harvest
Sumner County hunters reported 3,753 deer in 2025-26 and down 2% from 2024-25. The ten-season average is 3,149 deer. About 181 of the 2025-26 deer came off wildlife management areas. Spring turkey hunters checked 692 gobblers in 2026 spring, 6th 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.
Sumner County hunting seasons and rules for 2026-27
Unit 2 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.
Sumner 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 Sumner 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 Sumner 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 Sumner 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 Sumner County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Deer processors, taxidermists and shops near Sumner County
In Sumner 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.
Sumner County hunting questions
Where can I hunt public land in Sumner County?
Old Hickory WMA is inside the county. Nearby options include Old Hickory Lake Lock 5 Refuge, Cedar Hill Swamp WMA and Percy Priest WMA.
How many deer were killed in Sumner County?
Hunters reported 3,753 deer in Sumner County in 2025-26, ranking 1st of 95 counties.
What deer unit is Sumner County in?
Sumner County is in deer Unit 2 for 2026-27. 3 per day in Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons. None in August hunt.
Is Sumner County a CWD county?
No. Sumner County is not CWD-positive and is not in the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Can I bait deer in Sumner 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 Sumner 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 Sumner County?
No. Counties not listed in a bear hunting zone are closed to bear hunting.
When is legal shooting light in Sumner 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 Sumner County?
Listed processors in or next to Sumner County include Shackle Island Meats, Country Boy Trades and WSB Outdoors.
Plan your Sumner County hunt
Check the 2026-27 TWRA guide and each area listing before you hunt in Sumner County.