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West Tennessee
Benton County Hunting
A county guide for Benton County hunters: public areas in and around it, deer and gobbler counts, seasons and services.
Photo: Dana Beveridge (CC BY 2.0)
The 2025-26 deer count for Benton County was 1,435, good for 50th statewide, on a land area of 394 square miles and 42 square miles of water. Roughly 3.6 deer were checked for every square mile of land. Statewide, that is a 0.9% share of reported deer.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Benton County
Benton County public hunting areas
The list shows 7 in Benton County and 5 in nearby counties. The orange markers fall within the county line.
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
Listed for deer, turkey, dove, small game, waterfowl.
Benton County harvest history
Compared with 2024-25, the 2025-26 harvest of 1,435 deer was down 19%. A typical season here, averaged over ten years, brings 1,727 deer. 2022-23 topped the decade at 2,226 deer, while 2025-26 bottomed out at 1,435. About 119 of the 2025-26 deer came off wildlife management areas. The 2026 spring turkey season produced 314 birds, ranking 50th statewide.
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.
Seasons open around Benton County
Benton County has no bear season. Benton County falls inside the CWD zone. Benton County bans baiting and feeding.
- 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.
Benton County hunting seasons and rules for 2026-27
Benton County antlerless limits
This is one of the liberal units: 3 does a day in each of the youth, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall and gun seasons, none in August. The buck limit is statewide: 2 for the season, no more than 1 per day.
Benton County deer season dates
Bow season starts Sep 26, the muzzleloader week is Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026, and rifle season is Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. The county follows the statewide calendar.
Bait and carcass rules, Benton County
Baiting and feeding are banned and only approved parts may leave the CWD Management Zone.
Fall turkey status for Benton County
You can hunt a fall gobbler here, with archery tied to the deer bow dates and shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026; the bag is one male.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Read the guide.
This week’s legal hunting hours, Benton County
Big game and small game hours: half an hour before sunrise through half an hour after sunset. Turkeys, doves and waterfowl end at sunset.
Times calculated for the center of Benton County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Benton County deer processing and shops
In Benton 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.
What is on in Benton County
October 2026 listing: 2 upcoming events.
Next dates
| Date | Event | Type | Where | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Sandy River Coon Club Nite Hunt | Coon hunt | Camden, Benton County | Event details |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Sandy River Coon Club Nite Hunt | Coon hunt | Camden, Benton County | Event details |
Burning rules in Benton County
Today's Benton County status is on the Tennessee burn ban list.
- Permits: 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.
- Ban orders: 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.
- Public land 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.
Shooting ranges in and near Benton County
Benton County has no listed range; the nearest are below, in straight-line miles from the county center.
Open to the public. Disciplines: trap.
Open to the public. Disciplines: rifle and pistol.
Counties bordering Benton County
Hunting from a Benton County town: Hunting near Camden.
Fishing in the same county: Benton County fishing spots.
Neighboring counties: 7. Those with a larger deer count last season: 4.
Common questions from Benton County hunters
Do CWD rules apply in Benton County?
The county is a zone county, not a positive one.
What deer unit is Benton County in?
The county falls in Unit 1 this season. Units 1 to 3 allow 3 antlerless deer a day through Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall and gun seasons. The August velvet hunt allows no does.
Is fall turkey open in Benton County?
It is open: bow during deer archery, gun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, 1 male turkey.
Is baiting legal in Benton County?
The CWD rules make baiting and feeding illegal here.
When can I start hunting in the morning in Benton County?
Half an hour on either side of sunrise and sunset for deer and small game, with turkeys and migratory birds stopping at sunset.
What bear zone is Benton County in?
No. Counties not listed in a bear hunting zone are closed to bear hunting.
What WMAs are in or near Benton County?
The county’s listed public land is Big Sandy WMA, Camden WMA, Harmon Creek WMA, Lick Creek WMA, Natchez Trace State Forest & WMA, New Hope WMA and Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. Nearby options include West Sandy WMA, Sergeant Lee Russell Refuge and Buffalo Ridge Refuge.
Who processes deer in Benton County?
Try Barrett's Deer Processing, J D's Deer Processing and Singleton's Deer Processing & Custom Slaughter.
What was the Benton County deer harvest last season?
The 2025-26 count was 1,435 deer, 50th of 95.
More for Benton County hunters
Before a Benton County hunt, confirm dates in the 2026-27 guide and on the area page.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); Maslowski, Steve, USFWS (Public domain); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0); (stephan) (CC BY-SA 2.0); formatc1 (CC BY-SA 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).