Home › Tennessee › Counties › Cannon County
Middle Tennessee
Cannon County Hunting
Harvest history, public land, deer unit rules for 2026-27 and nearby processors for hunters working Cannon County.
Photo: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0)
At 75th of 95 counties, Cannon County produced 1,020 reported deer in 2025-26 from 266 square miles of land. Divided by land area, that is near 3.8 deer per square mile. The county made up 0.7% of all deer checked in Tennessee that season.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cannon County
Public hunting land in and near Cannon County
Inside the county line you have 2 public areas; another 8 sit within roughly 45 miles. On the map, orange means inside the county.
Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
Straight-line distance about 21 miles, in Wilson County. 5,329 acres.
Normandy WMA
Straight-line distance about 25 miles, in Coffee County and Bedford County. 750 acres.
How many deer and turkeys Cannon County produces
1,020 deer were checked in 2025-26, which is 9% fewer than the season before. Its average since 2016-17 is 1,020. Counts ranged from 826 (2021-22) up to 1,126 (2023-24). Wildlife management area hunters checked 21 of them. Spring turkey hunters checked 294 gobblers in 2026 spring, 56th 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.
Cannon County: what is in season
Cannon County has no bear season. Cannon County is open to licensed baiting on private land.
- 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.
Seasons and limits in Cannon County, 2026-27
Deer limits in Unit 3
Does count at 3 a day in this unit for every fall and winter segment. No antlerless harvest is allowed in August. Bucks are limited to 2 a season statewide and 1 a day.
Cannon County archery, muzzleloader and gun
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.
Cannon County: baiting allowed
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.
Cannon County fall turkey rules
Fall turkey runs alongside deer archery, with a shotgun window of Oct 17 to 30, 2026 and a single male turkey limit.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Read the guide.
Sunrise, sunset and legal light in Cannon County
Start shooting 30 minutes before sunrise and stop 30 minutes after sunset for deer and small game; for turkeys and migratory birds the cutoff is sunset.
Times calculated for the center of Cannon County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Meat processing and mounts near Cannon County
Closest to home first: Cannon County, then adjacent counties.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Can you burn in Cannon County?
The Tennessee burn ban page shows Cannon County today.
- Burn permit: 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.
Practice ranges near Cannon County
Checked October 2026: 1 inside the county line.
Shooting here: pistol; rifle; trap; skeet; shotgun; archery. Open to the public.
Adjacent to Cannon County
Same county, different sport: Cannon County fishing spots.
5 of the 5 bordering counties had a bigger 2025-26 deer harvest.
Cannon County hunting FAQ
Where can I get a deer processed in Cannon County?
Listed processors in or next to Cannon County include Hogwood Custom Processing, Odom's Taxidermy and Deer Processing, LLC and Sue's Taxidermy and Deer Processing.
What time does shooting light end in Cannon County?
See the table above for this week. The rule is sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for big and small game.
How many deer were killed in Cannon County?
1,020 in 2025-26, which ranked 75th in Tennessee.
Is there public hunting land in Cannon County?
Cannon County has Headwaters WMA and Pea Ridge WMA. Neighboring areas include Maple Springs WMA, Edgar Evins State Park and Cedars of Lebanon State Forest.
What is the CWD status of Cannon County?
No, the county is clear of the CWD lists for 2026-27.
Is Cannon County in Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6?
TWRA places Cannon County in Unit 3. Antlerless limit: 3 per day in the Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons, and none during the August hunt.
Can I hunt turkey in the fall in Cannon County?
Yes. Archery during the deer bow dates and shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, one male bird.
Can I bait deer in Cannon County?
On private land, yes, with the $50 resident Deer Bait Privilege License; WMAs stay off limits.
Is Cannon County open to bear hunting?
No bear season here; the county is outside the bear zones.
Cannon County hunt planning
Area rules can differ from county rules, so read the listing for the spot you plan to hunt.
Other photos on this page: GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain); USFWSmidwest (Public domain); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States (CC0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).