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West Tennessee
Decatur County Hunting
A county guide for Decatur County hunters: public areas in and around it, deer and gobbler counts, seasons and services.
Photo: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain)
The 2025-26 deer count for Decatur County was 1,286, good for 60th statewide, on a land area of 334 square miles and 11 square miles of water. Roughly 3.9 deer were checked for every square mile of land. Statewide, that is a 0.8% share of reported deer.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Decatur County
Decatur County public hunting areas
The list shows 3 in Decatur County and 8 in nearby counties. The orange markers fall within the county line.
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
Listed for deer, turkey, dove, small game, waterfowl.
Natchez Trace State Forest & WMA
48,000 acres in Henderson County and Carroll County, near 17 miles off.
Decatur County harvest history
Compared with 2024-25, the 2025-26 harvest of 1,286 deer was down 16%. A typical season here, averaged over ten years, brings 1,377 deer. 2022-23 topped the decade at 1,601 deer, while 2019-20 bottomed out at 1,141. About 42 of the 2025-26 deer came off wildlife management areas. The 2026 spring turkey season produced 240 birds, ranking 69th 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 Decatur County
Decatur County sits outside every bear zone. CWD has been found in Decatur County. Bait and feeders are off limits in Decatur 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
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Decatur County hunting seasons and rules for 2026-27
Decatur 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.
Decatur 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.
Chronic wasting disease in Decatur County
Hunters here cannot bait or feed wildlife, must keep whole carcasses in the zone, and can earn an additional buck by getting antlerless deer tested.
Fall turkey status for Decatur 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, Decatur 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 Decatur County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Decatur County deer processing and shops
In Decatur 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 Decatur County
October 2026 listing: 1 upcoming event and 2 past results.
Next dates
| Date | Event | Type | Where | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2026 | Decatur County Coon Hunter Club Double Header Nite Hunt | Coon hunt | Decaturville, Decatur County | Event details |
Recent results
| Date | Event | Winner or result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2024 | 2024 St. Jude's World's Largest Benefit Hunt (UKC Coonhound) | PR Plants Snoop (TW), owner/handler Robert Plant; 425+ Friday; 225+ Saturday | Source |
| Apr 10, 2026 | 2026 St. Jude Benefit Hunt & Show (UKC Coonhound) | NITECH 'PR' Woodstock TN June Bug (ENG), owner Gary Moore, handler Timmy Pratt; 425+ | Source |
Fires, permits and bans around Decatur County
Decatur County status today: open the Tennessee county list.
- 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 sets a ban: 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.
- Campfires while hunting: 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 Decatur County
Decatur County has no listed range; the nearest are below, in straight-line miles from the county center.
Open to the public. Disciplines: rifle and pistol.
Call ahead about access. Disciplines: trap.
Call ahead about access. Disciplines: trap.
Counties bordering Decatur County
Hunting from a Decatur County town: Hunting near Parsons.
Fishing in the same county: Decatur County fishing spots.
Neighboring counties: 6. Those with a larger deer count last season: 5.
Common questions from Decatur County hunters
Do CWD rules apply in Decatur County?
Yes, CWD has been detected and the county is on the positive list.
What deer unit is Decatur 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 Decatur County?
It is open: bow during deer archery, gun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, 1 male turkey.
Is baiting legal in Decatur County?
The CWD rules make baiting and feeding illegal here.
When can I start hunting in the morning in Decatur 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 Decatur County in?
No. Counties not listed in a bear hunting zone are closed to bear hunting.
What WMAs are in or near Decatur County?
The county’s listed public land is Beech River WMA, Cypress Pond Refuge and Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. Nearby options include Natchez Trace State Forest & WMA, White Oak WMA and Buffalo Ridge Refuge.
Who processes deer in Decatur County?
Try McCormic's Deer Processing, Primal Custom Meats and Nubby's Wild Harvest.
What was the Decatur County deer harvest last season?
The 2025-26 count was 1,286 deer, 60th of 95.
More for Decatur County hunters
Before a Decatur County hunt, confirm dates in the 2026-27 guide and on the area page.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).