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Plateau Tennessee
Bradley County Hunting
Where to hunt in Bradley County, what the 2026-27 rules are, how many deer and turkeys came out of it, and who processes and mounts game nearby.
Photo: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0)
With 1,237 deer reported in 2025-26, Bradley County ranked 64th of 95 counties for deer harvest. It spans 329 square miles of land. Per square mile, hunters took about 3.8 deer. Its share of the statewide check-in was 0.8%.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Bradley County
Bradley County and nearby public land
2 public hunting areas sit at least partly inside Bradley County, and 8 more are within about 45 miles. Orange markers are in the county.
Chickamauga WMA
TWRA lists deer, turkey, waterfowl, small game here. It covers 4,000 acres.
North Chickamauga Creek WMA
29 miles away in Sequatchie County and Hamilton County, 5,400 acres.
Prentice Cooper State Forest & WMA
33 miles away in Marion County and Hamilton County, 26,945 acres.
Harvest numbers for Bradley County
The 2025-26 deer total was 1,237, down 8% on the 1,347 of 2024-25. The ten-season average is 1,098 deer. The best season in the chart was 2024-25 with 1,347, and the lowest was 2018-19 with 888. Public WMA ground accounted for 74 deer in 2025-26. Gobbler hunters added 225 birds in 2026 spring, a 76th place finish.
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 Bradley County right now
Bradley County hunters follow zone Transitional bear rules. With a Deer Bait Privilege License, bait is legal on private land in Bradley County.
- 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
- Bear
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
What the 2026-27 regulations mean in Bradley County
Bradley County deer bag
Doe limits run by season in this unit: archery 4, youth 2, muzzleloader and straight-wall 2, gun 2, and none in the August velvet hunt. You get 2 antlered deer for the season statewide, taken 1 per day at most.
When deer season opens in Bradley County
The deer year opens to archery on Sep 26, moves to muzzleloader for Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026 and to gun for Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Bradley County bait license
Baiting deer on private property is legal under the 2026-27 bait license; piles and feeders are out, scattered bait only, 500 yards apart, 1 site per 5 acres.
Bradley County fall turkey season
The county is open for fall turkey, archery on the deer archery dates plus shotgun from Oct 17 to 30, 2026, one male turkey total.
Bradley County bear zone
Listed under Transitional: Anderson (east of I-75, south of Old Lake City Hwy and Dutch Valley Rd), Bradley, Campbell (south of Hwy 63, east of I-75), Claiborne (east of 25E, south of Hwy 63), Grundy, Marion, Hamblen, Hamilton, Grainger, Jefferson (west of Hwy 411), Knox, Loudon, McMinn (west of Hwy 411), Sequatchie, Union.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Read the guide.
Legal shooting light in Bradley County this week
Shooting light opens 30 minutes ahead of sunrise and closes 30 minutes past sunset for big and small game, but turkey and dove or duck hunters quit at sunset.
Times calculated for the center of Bradley County in Eastern time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Bradley County processors and taxidermists
Local Bradley County shops come first, then the ring of counties around it.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Burning rules in Bradley County
The Tennessee burn ban page shows Bradley County today.
- When a permit is needed: 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.
- Who declares bans: 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.
- Fires on public land: 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.
Ranges for sighting in around Bradley County
2 ranges in Bradley County, checked October 2026.
Sporting clays. Open to the public.
Upcoming matches
| Date | Event | Type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2026 | Cleveland TN IDPA November 2026 | IDPA | Details |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Cleveland TN IDPA December 2026 | IDPA | Details |
Counties around Bradley County
Bradley County town guides: Hunting near Cleveland.
Lakes and streams here: Bradley County fishing spots.
Of its 4 neighbors, 3 out-harvested Bradley County last season.
Bradley County hunting questions
What is the fall turkey limit in Bradley County?
Yes. The fall bag is one male turkey, archery or the Oct 17 to 30, 2026 shotgun segment.
Does Bradley County have a bear season?
Yes. It is in Transitional; dates and dog rules depend on the zone.
What are legal hunting hours in Bradley County?
Big and small game: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The table above shows this week’s times for the county.
What deer processors serve Bradley County?
Middle Valley Deer Processing, Don's Meat Shop and Sale Creek Deer Processing are listed in or beside the county.
What public areas can I hunt from Bradley County?
Charlotte Ann Finnell Neal WMA and Chickamauga WMA are inside the county. The nearest outside the county are Hiwassee Refuge, Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee NF and William L. Davenport Refuge State Natural Area.
What is the deer harvest in Bradley County?
2025-26: 1,237 deer, 64th statewide.
How many does can I take in Bradley County?
It is in Unit 5. Doe limits run by season in this unit: archery 4, youth 2, muzzleloader and straight-wall 2, gun 2, and none in the August velvet hunt.
Does Bradley County have chronic wasting disease?
No. It is outside the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Do I need a bait license in Bradley County?
You may bait private land after buying the $50 resident bait license. WMA baiting remains illegal.
Next steps for Bradley County
Double check the current guide and any quota hunt dates for the area you pick.
Other photos on this page: Peter Sheik (CC BY 2.0); Lisa Zins (CC BY 2.0); (stephan) (CC BY-SA 2.0); HeyRocker (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (CC BY 2.0); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0).